At MediGuide, our member’s health and wellness is our top priority. Which is why, when one of our members is faced with a new diagnosis or dealing with a chronic medical condition, we are always there to help. In today’s world there is no limit to the stream of information on medical disorders on the internet. Members often find themselves surfing the web looking for answers to questions about their medical condition and plans for treatment, “Dr. Google” is possibly the most popular doctor on the face of the earth. This technology allows members to have access to diagnoses, symptoms, laboratory data, medications and their side effects, and images at their disposal 24 hours a day. However, often times this information can be inaccurate, misleading, or members are unable to manage this data unassisted. This is where MediGuide can step in with its expertise in Medical Second Opinion (MSO) and simplify the process for the member. MediGuide will manage all of the logistics in an efficient and timely manner and provide the member information they can trust.
One of the many benefits of the MediGuide MSO and related program offerings is that members have access to the most advanced and cutting edge medical treatments and procedures in the world, regardless of the member’s physical location. We work with World Leading Medical Centers and Expert Physician in the US, Europe, and across Asia alike. Through our all-inclusive and comprehensive case review of member medical data including; medical records, pathology, and diagnostic imaging, we truly bring our members ‘Closest to the Cure’.
MSO case example:
In 2009, a 56 year old woman contacted MediGuide after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Knowing time was of the essence, the clinical team at MediGuide leapt into action and immediately began to collect her medical information. A short time later, our team was able to direct her case to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. At Dana-Farber our member’s case was reviewed by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Erica Mayer, MD, MPH, breast oncologist and board certified medical oncologist. The MSO recommended a change in treatment; adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery vs. the treating physicians recommendation of a surgical approach only.
To this day almost 6 years later, our member is doing well and has been declared cancer free.
MSO Expert Assessment and Treatment Recommendations:
November 13, 2009
PT: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
DOB: XX/XX/XXXX
MRN: USG10-TESTCAL
Presentation:
In 1/17/08 she underwent a stereotactic right breast biopsy, finding invasive ductal carcinoma, well differentiated, ER+/PR-/HER2 2+ with FISH testing negative at 1.5.
Oncotype DX testing was offered but deferred, and she then initiated adjuvant anastrozole in 3/08 and underwent adjuvant RT.
Assessment:
Appropriate adjuvant therapy should focus on endocrine agents. Estimated benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy for a T1bN0 HR+/HER2- grade 2 cancer in a postmenopausal woman is slim. However in general, deferral on Oncotype for a T1b cancer a postmenopausal woman and selection of endocrine therapy alone is a very appropriate decision.
Sincerely,
Erica L. Mayer, MD MPH
Email Follow-up from MediGuide Clinical Staff:
From: Polly Girard
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2015 12:36 PM
Subject: Breast Cancer XXXX XXXXXXXX
Dear Jack,
I am very thrilled to have just spoken to XXXX XXXXXX. We worked very closely together on her MSO and enjoyed doing so. She told me that she is doing exceedingly well and has been cancer free for seven years now. She stated that “it feels like a life time ago” and feels that working with MediGuide helped to make the difference. Everything, she said, seemed to fall into perfect place for her recovery.
We had a wonderful conversation and she couldn’t thank me enough for calling to see how she was.
Sincerely,
Polly
MediGuide strives to bring our members “Closest to the Cure”. The above case review is one of many that MediGuide is proud to have coordinated. While no one can promise a cure, we deliver on the promise that MediGuide members will have access to the world’s finest medical researchers with the most up to date clinical knowledge and experience with similar cases.
- As opposed to having a single doctor review the medical file, MediGuide’s hospitals employ the “Consultative Team” approach. This approach joins together a number of different specialists at the WLMC (World Leading Medical Center), each of whom brings separate and expert knowledge to the review of a single patient.
- Giving your Insured, your employees, or your member access to an independent review from a World Leading Medical Center (WLMC) – at no cost to them, is the right thing to do and a critical first step in keeping them healthy.
A study based out of Harvard reports that 90% of the time, Harvard experts changed or enhanced a treatment patients were originally told to follow. This is a staggering fact, and it represents one of the many serious differences between MediGuide and its competitors. This is why MediGuide says that we put the Insured “Closest to the Cure”. The secret is that the WLMC’s attract the most research dollars. Those dollars allow those Centers to purchase the most up to date scientific equipment, to attract the most dedicated scholars, and to hire the most highly regarded and focused researchers. Furthermore, as opposed to having a single doctor review the medical file, MediGuide’s hospitals most often employ the “Consultative Team” approach. This approach joins together a number of different specialists at the WLMC, for a more comprehensive review of a single patient.
Another critical distinguishing factor that sets MediGuide well apart from all competitors is that MediGuide gathers the medical records for the patient/Insured. Remember that the Insured has just been told that he has been diagnosed with a life threatening disease. The Insured will be fearful, confused, and worried about the well-being of her/his family. To now require her/him to go and collect his medical records before he gets his second opinion, is asking too much of the patient at this difficult time in her/his life.
That’s why – even with Dr. Google around – providing a Medical Second Opinion from MediGuide is the best benefit option for your Insured, Employees, and members.
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