Cleveland Clinic’s virtual second opinions cut costs, improve care
OHIO, UNITED STATES — The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic is transforming patient care with its virtual second-opinion service. Patients benefit from alternative treatment pathways annually, while a new cancer concierge program fills gaps in access to oncology care.
Reduced costs, improved care accuracy
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frank McGillin of The Clinic told Beckers Health IT that two-thirds of cases result in alternative treatment recommendations, preventing unnecessary surgeries and lowering healthcare costs by an estimated $8,700 per patient.
“We’ve found that two-thirds of the time we’re helping identify an alternative treatment pathway for the individual, and we’ve been able to support and help health plans and employers reduce the cost of unnecessary surgery or unnecessary care,” McGillin said.
The service connects patients with the Cleveland Clinic’s 3,500 specialists, offering video consultations or written reports where licensure permits. With Baton Health’s credentialing support, The Clinic now operates nationwide, ensuring broader access to care.
Patients can access the program via employer health plans or pay just under $2,000 out-of-pocket, with opinions delivered within days of receiving medical records.
Concierge cancer program addresses oncology deserts
McGillin highlights that over half of United States counties lack oncologists, making virtual access to care critical for timely and holistic cancer treatment.
Employers also benefit as cancer treatment costs surge. The experience at the Cleveland Clinic contributes to the program’s expertise by integrating perspectives from medical, surgical, and radiation oncology. Not only does the project provide improved outcomes, but it also minimizes the financial burden that the employers and patients suffer in medically underserved regions.
Implications for healthcare accessibility
The expansion of The Clinic is an indication of the growing telehealth advantage in addressing care gaps in specialists.
Virtual second opinions are helping to democratize access to the best medical expertise, especially in use cases such as cancer, by attaching an inhibitor that allows patients to gain faster access to high-quality care.
