Getting a Second Opinion
When your child has been diagnosed with a condition, deciding on the best treatment plan can feel overwhelming. Getting a second opinion can help you make this important decision – it can help you learn more about your child’s condition, and it can show you different treatment options and outcomes that may be available.
At Children’s National Hospital, our leading pediatric specialists provide second opinions to families in our local community, across the United States and around the world. We offer two types of second opinions.
In-Person Second Opinion
Patients in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and the wider region can schedule an in-person second opinion with our pediatric specialists. Find a provider or make an appointment today.
Remote Second Opinion
For families who are farther away and may be unable to travel, you can access our Remote Second Opinion (RSO) Program. The RSO program is available to families who live in the United States, with the exception of Maine and Massachusetts. If you are outside of the United States, please submit the request and our team will confirm if we can provide the opinion within your country.
Our program offers:
- A designated clinical intake team who will assist you through every step of the process
- Easy online submission process for your child’s clinical information and radiology studies
- Medical review by Children’s National pediatric specialists
- Comprehensive written medical second opinion report
- Post-opinion follow-up and assistance with referrals
How the Remote Second Opinion Program Works
What is a remote second opinion?
A remote second opinion is a written medical opinion based on the review of your child’s medical records. A remote second opinion can be requested after receiving a diagnosis or treatment plan from your child’s current doctor. It allows for another opinion prior to making important decisions about your child’s health.
Why do you need our local provider’s contact information?
Due to regulatory requirements, our program only offers the opinion between physicians. Your local physician can review and discuss the second opinion with you and your family.
What will my remote second opinion report include?
Your comprehensive written opinion on your child’s case will include the following:
- Review of your child’s medical records and health history
- Evaluation of the current diagnosis and treatment recommendations
- Answers to your specific questions
- Biography of provider who rendered the opinion
- Additional resources Children’s National may offer
Please note that all Remote Second Opinions, both domestic and international, are managed by the Global Services Division.
Contact Information
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact our team.
Global Services Division
Children's National Hospital
111 Michigan Ave. NW, Suite M2-2803
Washington, D.C. 20010
Disclaimer
Children’s National provides second opinions as a resource for consultative medical advice and treatment recommendations for patients and/or families who seek a second opinion on their medical conditions. This service is different from the diagnostic service typically provided by a physician. This is because the physician providing this service will not have the benefit of information that would be obtained by examining the patient in person, observing their physical condition, or conducting diagnostic testing to the specifications of the physician. Therefore, the physician may not be aware of facts or information that would affect the physician´s medical opinion of the patient´s condition. In some cases, these facts may be critical to the opinion. Children’s National is not responsible for potential errors in opinion resulting from missing, incomplete, poorly translated or illegible records, or poor-quality images.