Online Second Opinion – Information for Referring Physicians
Our expert specialists offer online second opinions to referring physicians and their patients. You know your patients better than anyone else, so we will work with you to ensure that your patient receives the best care.
Request an Online Second Opinion
How Online Second Opinions Work
Our consultations are physician to physician, which means that we involve the patient’s current physician in every step of the consultation process.
1. Submit a request through our OSO portal.
Our case coordinator will review your patient’s case and contact the patient family to obtain signed consent forms and payment. All second opinions are $875, except for cardiac surgery, which is free. Secondary radiology and pathology services are an additional $250 for each. The case coordinator will review the specific price structure of the case with your patient’s family.
2. A case coordinator assigns a physician.
A case coordinator will review the submitted case, and based on the patient’s specific diagnosis and physician availability, will match your patient with a CHLA doctor who is an expert in your patient’s condition.
3. Collect your medical records.
Our case coordinator will work with you and your patient’s family to collect medical records, imaging and pathology (if needed). Please note, secondary radiology and pathology services are an additional $250 for each.
4. Receive the second opinion report.
Your patient’s assigned CHLA doctor will review the medical records and tailor their report to the patient family's specific questions. You will also receive a copy of the report as their local, treating physician.
5. Attend a virtual consultation.
Each patient family has the option to attend a virtual consultation with their local, treating physician and the CHLA physician who completed their report. This serves as a virtual education session. This is an optional offering at no additional cost.
NOTE: For urgent or emergent issues, please call 911 or seek local medical care. This Online Second Opinion service is only for requests that are not time sensitive. We receive and respond to requests during regular business hours.
Participating Programs
- Orthopedics
- Oncology
- Hematology
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery (free of charge)
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
- Neurosurgery
- Retinoblastoma
- Vascular Anomalies
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email onlinesecondopinion@chla.usc.edu. Our team is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST. You can also visit out our FAQs for referring physicians about Online Second Opinion.
