There are many reasons to seek a second medical opinion from a neurosurgeon.
Neurosurgical conditions are complex and can include brain tumors, epilepsy, traumatic brain injuries, and a multitude of spinal injuries and conditions.
Having additional opinions in complex situations helps to ensure that patients obtain the correct diagnoses and thus can undergo the correct treatments.
There is significant peace of mind and confidence that also comes with having the opinion and expertise of an additional specialist.
At Performance Spine and Brain, we specialize in using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and the latest literature and neurosurgical knowledge to provide accurate and personalized second medical opinions tailored to specific concerns and questions asked.
These second medical opinions can come in the form of an in-person evaluation with an examination or may take place through telemedicine for those patients outside of the region or with significant disabilities preventing an in-person consultation.
We find that people often seek more opinions and visit more dealerships when buying a used car than patients visit neurosurgeons when seeking treatment.
Many neurosurgical procedures are not reversible, and accurate diagnosis and treatment matter significantly.
We also have seen patients in lawsuits trying to determine what their future medical expenses might be.
One patient, in particular, was told there was no cause of her neck pain, but when we employed advanced imaging techniques, we found that she had ligamentous damage in her neck that explained her pain and made it very likely that she would need surgery in the coming years.
This allowed her to settle her case for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than she was initially offered.
We have been able to help other patients avoid fusion surgery by offering minimally invasive decompressions that were safer and more reasonable given their advanced ages and other health conditions.
We encourage you to contact Performance Spine and Brain if you seek a second medical opinion to confirm a diagnosis or treatment plans or seek additional or secondary diagnoses.
We at Performance Spine and Brain have advanced training in spinal and other neurosurgical realms.
Dr. Birinyi is a board-certified neurosurgeon who is active in everything from performing trauma neurosurgical procedures to providing neurocritical care in the intensive care unit to treating traumatic brain injuries to complex and revision spine surgeries.
Dr. Birinyi presents at multidisciplinary medical conferences, has been published extensively, and is the author of a neurosurgical training book.
He performs primary examinations and creates detailed and comprehensive medical reviews and summaries of the treatment plans for patients.
He routinely engages in depositions and court appearances to defend and explain his expert opinions.
While in-person visits provide the best opportunity for Dr. Birinyi to exercise his expertise, we can accommodate virtual second medical opinions and provide detailed answers to specific questions regarding the treatment plans and advanced diagnostic technologies used by other physicians.
The second medical opinion process begins by contacting Performance Spine and Brain.
Our friendly staff will guide the patient or requesting party through the process of obtaining and sending records for review through a secure medical record transfer portal.
Appointments will be made, and the parties will decide on one of the many practice locations of Performance Spine and Brain, or our staff may be able to meet at a designated remote location more convenient to the patient.
After evaluation, the staff at Performance Spine and Brain will prepare a comprehensive medical review and summary of the findings and work in an expedited fashion to return the report typically in a matter of days. Dr. Birinyi often contacts the ordering parties to debrief on his findings.
We may recommend additional diagnostic testing or procedures utilizing cutting-edge technologies to reach additional conclusions.
The Performance Spine and Brain team can work to find access to diagnostic testing where it is most convenient for patients and the parties involved.
A second medical opinion from Performance Spine and Brain can save substantial time, effort, and risk in the future.
By obtaining a neurosurgical consultation and a comprehensive plan of care, unnecessary treatments and surgeries can be avoided.
This also can prevent the need for additional treatments and surgeries down the line for improperly diagnosed and/or treated conditions.
This should offer reassurance to patients and can direct cost-effective care, avoiding the ramifications of unnecessary procedures and/or an incorrect diagnosis.
At Performance Spine and Brain, patients and their representatives should take comfort in knowing that the opinions provided are based upon the latest medical knowledge and technologies and are provided by a neurosurgeon who actively participates in improving the quality of medicine and its effective and efficient delivery of results.
Neurosurgical second medical opinions are often used by insurance companies wanting to know more about the care provided by a physician in a case of workers’ compensation.
At Performance Spine and Brain, we try to provide the most objective and data-supported evaluation of a case while staying neutral and understanding the implications of such an evaluation.
In cases of personal injury and lawsuits, we provide the same while understanding that any position or opinion provided will come under the rigorous scrutiny of the court system and cross-examination.
Only the most sound and objective opinions hold up to this level of inquiry.
The same diligence is taken with a patient simply wanting to know how to proceed with treatment either at Performance Spine and Brain or another neuro or spine surgeon.
Our philosophy is that patients present to physicians in times of need with serious problems and that the goal of care is simply to improve the lives and conditions of patients.
In our opinion, if we can educate a patient further and provide more resources to achieve this goal, it is worthwhile.
Medical technologies are becoming more complex, and the treatment options for neurosurgical conditions are becoming more intricate and specialized.
Performance Spine and Brain is committed to helping patients through their complex conditions and exploring secondary diagnoses in the name of patient outcome improvement.
We accept most medical insurance, including Medicare. As every situation is different, those situations not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance are dealt with on a cash-pay basis.
Depending on the work involved and special requests, rates and costs can vary significantly.
Feel free to contact our expert team to discuss rates and financing options and see if your second medical opinion may be covered by your insurance.
As always, Performance Spine and Brain can work with patients to pay for second medical opinions from health savings accounts (HSAs).
What happens if you really benefit from your second medical opinion and want to continue your care with the team at Performance Spine and Brain?
Although this is not possible in all instances, we will work with you or any of your payors to try to make this happen.
We are happy to continue to provide care once you have established yourself with our team.
We can take over the ordering of tests and the overall treatment of any of your neurosurgical conditions.
We can arrange follow-up consultations outside of any legal or workers’ compensation case to take care of your other neurosurgical conditions and provide continuous, high-level care.
We are happy to explain the process and give you confidence in the information resulting from the process.
In-person and virtual consultations are available and can be conducted beyond normal business hours.
Remember that a second medical opinion provides reassurance in another doctor’s opinion or provides patients with alternative options so that patients can take charge of their own health care.
Second medical opinions are also key to progressing workers’ compensation cases and help determine how to get workers back to work and close cases.
If you are ready to gain peace of mind in an expert opinion and have us evaluate your situation, please give us a call.
Contact us with any special requests. We always try to accommodate them.
Phone: 800-238-0827
Fax: 318-219-5221
[email protected]
Mailing Address
PO Box 11758
Alexandria, LA 71315
