Second Opinions

At Peninsula Podiatry, our foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Sarah Neitzel, provides second opinions for patients whose doctors tell them that they have a health problem or suggests a treatment for an illness or injury that causes them concern.

If something doesn’t feel right, listen to your gut. It is important to be proactive about your own healthcare, especially if you are uncomfortable with your current doctor’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Don’t be embarrassed about telling your doctor that you want a second opinion. Being proactive and being well-informed will give you a greater degree of control over your treatment. 

A second opinion is when a second doctor other than your current doctor reviews your medical records and offers an opinion about your diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes a second opinion may be in agreement with your first doctor’s diagnosis and recommended treatment plan, and sometimes not.

Remember that getting a second opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that the second opinion is the right opinion. Sometimes patients even get a third opinion. The key here is whether the diagnosis and treatment recommendation make sense to you.

Dr. Neitzel specializes in clear communication of conditions and explanations of all available treatment options so that patients are more comfortable making an informed decision about their care.

Many health plans cover second opinions but call your health plan provider to make sure it is covered before you schedule an appointment.

You should get a second opinion if

• You have undergone treatment for a condition, but symptoms continue.
• You are diagnosed with a rare disease.
• You are uncomfortable with the diagnosis or treatment recommendations.
• You are diagnosed with cancer.
• You are looking for a less invasive procedure that is not as risky or has lifelong consequences.

Getting a second opinion can be very useful especially if you are considering surgery or some other major procedure. Being well-informed often helps patients to weigh the pros and cons before making a health decision.

The other benefits of getting a second opinion are 

• Confirming a medical diagnosis and treatment options.
• Protecting yourself from a misdiagnosis.
• Considering a different diagnosis.
• Learning about the best treatment options.
• Becoming aware of alternative treatment options.
• Getting peace of mind.

If you have an emergency health issue, however, you may not have the time to wait for a second opinion, and in such cases, you should get the clarity and reassurance you are seeking from your doctor.

Here are some tips you can follow to get the name of a doctor for a second opinion:

• Ask your doctor for the name of another reputable doctor for that specialty, preferably someone at a different institution that is outside of the institutional culture and viewpoint.
• Check the provider listings from your health plan.
• Do an internet search for a foot and ankle surgeon in your city, and check out the patient reviews.
• Ask friends and family for referrals to doctors.

Yes, you should tell your doctor you are looking for a second opinion so that you can have your medical records, labs, and any imaging studies sent to the second doctor. This will also help to keep communication open between the two doctors where they will most likely be discussing the areas of agreement and disagreement.

Once you schedule an appointment for a second opinion, make sure you ask your first doctor’s office to send your test results and other records to the second doctor. Before your appointment, call the second doctor’s office to make sure he/she has received your records.

In preparing for your appointment, write down the concerns that prompted you to get a second opinion, so you can discuss them with the second doctor.

At Peninsula Podiatry, Dr. Neitzel has the ability to explain a patient’s diagnosis often in a way that just makes sense. She believes that understanding the problem clearly helps the patient make significant progress in their treatment, and thus she takes the time to educate her patients fully.

Additionally, Dr. Neitzel has chosen to focus her training and practice on Minimally Invasive Surgery and is pleased to offer her patients surgical and nonsurgical treatments that help keep her patients on their feet and able to enjoy life. Her practice emphasizes custom-designed treatment plans for her patients that highlight a conservative approach. For this reason, when surgery is necessary, Dr. Neitzel is able to offer surgical options with minimal incisions (2-5 mm) and significantly decreased recovery times using her Minimally Invasive Surgical techniques. Her approach is not what you find in typical, high volume offices–in every case, she puts a strong emphasis on education and communication for better patient outcomes.

If you are interested in scheduling a second opinion with Dr. Neitzel, call our office at (360) 286-0404 to schedule an appointment.