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Whether you are looking to collect your medical records to switch doctors, get a second opinion, or to keep your own records, the process can be rather long and cumbersome. Records collection processes can vary drastically depending on the institution you are collecting from and the types of records you are seeking. Every institution has different processes, different request forms, and even different departments charged with record collection. This blog is meant to highlight the most common methods and hurdles we have found in the record collection process, it is by no means an exhaustive list and is only meant to introduce you to this process.  

Lisa Craine’s life changed forever in 2010 after she was diagnosed with stage IV cholangiocarcinoma, a type of rare cancer that forms in the bile duct and has less than 8,000 cases in the United States per year. Lisa was told originally that she had six months to live, but eleven years later she is cancer-free and using her experience to become a passionate advocate for cholangiocarcinoma research. She works as a patient coach and helps people navigate a cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis. Lisa shared her unique perspective and the top 2 things she would want current cancer patients to know.

As a patient who may have recently received the news of a complex or life-threatening diagnosis, it can be extremely difficult to know what to do next. It is important to absorb as much guidance and knowledge as possible during this uncertain time, and seeking a second opinion is an important step in the process. 

When you're confronted with a complex or critical health care diagnosis, you may be scared or confused by the prognosis or treatment recommended. This is often the time patients seek another opinion. Generations ago, patients relied on their personal physicians to make all their healthcare-related decisions. But no single physician is infallible, and most decisions are better when scrutinized by another informed source.

As a patient, when and how do you go about getting a second opinion?