Articles that may be interesting...

[tobagotwo]

I'm sure this is old news to many, but I'm posting it to keep it fresh.

There are many, highly competent facilities for valve surgery. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) is one of them, and is often spoken of and referred to by members in their posts.

An interesting email subscription can be obtained free from CCF, which you can semi-tailor to your own needs. It will bring occasional emails with medical news to your PC. I have subscribed for valve issues for years. While there hasn't been much news about valves in their reports, a lot of interesting articles have crossed my screen. You do have to sign up for it, but I don't believe I've received any emails or spam as a result of it, except the notification of articles requested.

A couple of samples:

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healthextra/default.asp?index=11686

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healthextra/default.asp?index=11688

There is also an eCleveland Clinic Second Opinion Program, which provides a lower-cost way of obtaining a second opinion from the experts at CCF. Information about that can be obtained from their website: www.eclevelandclinic.org

 

[gijanet]

Is it common to charge for 2nd opinions in the adult world?

Is it common to charge for 2nd opinions in the adult world?

Just curious.............we sought out four "second" opinions before Katie's second surgery from several of the leading pediatric heart centers. Not a single institution or surgeon charged us for that additional opinion........not even Dr. Bove when we flew up and met with him for an hour - during his lunch hour, no less, as he had to squeeze us in. We were pleasantly surprised that there were no charges - okay, let me be truthful here - we were shocked. As our insurance company was only willing to pay for one additional opinion, we were prepared to pay out of pocket for the others. Thus, we were elated at the "no charge." Ironically, the only institution that charged us was our home children's hospital, and they had the least to "do" as they already had Katie's complete medical history and records as she had been sent there shortly after birth, and they had performed her first surgery and cath. They charged us $500 for 30 minutes with the surgeon.........

I guess I am just baffled as to why adults have to pay for second opinions when the pediatric surgeons and centers do it for free???????????

Take care and God bless..............

 

[tobagotwo]

I'm just glad the pedes doctors do it for free.

I think the CCF second opinion service is $500, but I'm not sure. The articles are free, though. You can also ask medical questions through the website, but there are so many, you might never receive an answer.

I've never been there, or dealt with them, other than receiving the newsletter.

 

[KimC]

Yes, the CCF charges $500 for a second opinion. I know because I sought one!

Re: peds ... my father practrices a similar finance "policy" with kids. I asked him recently why and he said that helping save a child is worth more than any wealth generated by additional revenue. He's a 67 year old neurosurgeon. He considers most of his work as routine but helping kids brings him the most joy and self-worth from his work.