Alternate w/c doctor verses second opinion doctor

[asel]

What is the name of your state? Florida. Hi all. Need a little help with understanding if there is a difference between an alternate doctor and a second opinion doctor. I need to know if they are one and the same. The reason being is that we requested a new doctor. W/C sent a letter confirming the conversation by phone along with the date the conversation took place. The letter states that we requested an "alternate" doctor and given the address and time of appointment for evaluation. We were told to call during the middle of the week to be sure all the medical records arrived from the other doctor that we no longer trusted and after reading the "WORKERS COMPENSATION MANAGED CARE ARRANGEMENTS" pamplet, that we had a "right to obtain "ONE" change from the initial choice if desired. At the end of the doctors visit we asked what do we do next, we were told that my husband needed to see another type of specialist and after W/C received his findings that we would hear back from W/C as to who to go see next. We feel that we have been misled. It seems as though W/C is saying that the alternate doctor was just a "second opinion" and not a replacement doctor. EXCUSE ME, BUT, the definition of alternate in the Webster's Dictionary is to "substitute". The definition of "substitute" is "SOMEONE WHO TAKES THE PLACE OF ANOTHER". Any input would be sincerly appreciated.

 

[ellencee]

I understand your confusion over the terms alternate and second opinion, especially if you are depending on a broad, general definition from a dictionary.

An alternate doctor can be as simple as changing doctors within the same practice because you don't like Doctor X and you prefer to have Doctor Y as your personal physician.

A 'second opinion' doctor is one who starts at the beginning and performs his or her own assessment of your condition and either confirms or rejects the first diagnosis and treatmeant plan.
(yes, Dr. Y would have reviewed everything to make sure he or she was in agreement with Dr. X, but this is not the same.)

The difference lies in that the 'second opinion' doctor ususally has no duty to treat the client, but simply to either confirm or reject the diagnosis and treatment. If the client, and WC, agree to go with the 'second opinion' doctor for medical care, then that physician becomes the primary physician, or primary surgeon, etc. and the first physician is no longer a part of the treatment or care.