Program Overview
The Partners Online Specialty Consultations service is a new program, launched in June of 2001, that allows physicians all over the world to refer cases to our oncologists for expert second opinions. By combining the personalized care of the patient's local physician with the expertise of our oncologists, referring physicians and cancer patients have an opportunity to benefit from state-of-the-art care regardless of their location.

Services
Online consultations can be initiated by a patient or by a physician. If a patient is requesting a consultation independently of his or her local physician, Online Specialty Consultations will assign the patient a referring physician. Once the patient and the patient's existing or assigned physician agree to pursue the consultation, the physician registers with the service and completes a patient history. A Partners HealthCare System specialist will review the case, as described by the referring physician, within three business days. The online consultation service must occur through a physician on behalf of a patient; patients cannot use the service on their own behalf.

Treatment Team
Many members of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center staff participate in online specialty consultations with Partners HealthCare System. Online Specialty Consultations will arrange your consultation with the participating physician whose expertise is most consistent with your type of cancer.

How To Get Consultation Results
The reviewing physician will send his or her opinion to the referring physician. Patients will get an email telling them to contact their referring physician when the specialist's opinion is ready for discussion. All patient information is kept confidential to the patient, the referring physician, and the online specialist. Patient information transmitted over the Web cannot be intercepted or read by anyone other than the referring and consulting physicians. Note: The charge for the online consultation is $600 and typically is the responsibility of the patient, and must be paid prior to the consultation.

Contact Information
The Partner's Online Specialty Consultations serves most areas of the United States and the international medical community. A list of areas not covered by the service can be found on the Partners HealthCare System's Online Specialty Consultation Web site. If you do live in an area served by the program, explain your interest in the service to your physician, and provide your physician with the Referring Physician Letter found on the Web site. Or, at your preference, the program can assign you a referring physician. More Information for patients and physicians interested in the service is available at:

Partners Online Specialty Consultations