Policies: General Questions and Case Review General Questions The Cardiovascular Research Institute of Southern California (CVRI) in affiliation with the Cardiovascular Medical Group of Southern California (CVMG) and Access Clinical Trials (ACT) will answer simple inquires and questions regarding health care and general matters. We are pleased to do so at no charge as a public service. Please find the physician you wish to contact, use e-mail or submit your question here. Request for a Case Review from a Faculty Member of the CVRI In some circumstances you may benefit from a comprehensive impartial case review from the CVRI which can be performed without a visit to our facility. A case review might include the following: An e-mail dialogue which would focus on a determination to see if we can help you without a visit. If we believe we can be of service without a visit, we will then need to determine what information should be sent to us for review. Normally, we would require all of your office and hospital records. We will need a signed release of information form and a signed agreement which will be sent to you. A comprehensive history will be obtained from your records, e-mail and phone interviews. If previous medical test material is relevant, we would need to evaluate the source material. This material may include: the actual electrocardiograms, exercise tests, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization data and films and whatever else is available. This material must be mailed or sent to us electronically. For us to talk to your physicians or other parties, we will require a written (or email) authorization from you. Do not send any information until we request it and the consents are completed. If requested and with prior arrangement, we will present your case to a panel of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons to obtain a wide spectrum of opinions for you. You may listen to this conference over the phone if desired. We have the ability to arrange for a video conference if you have video conference capabilities in your community. After all the information has been obtained, we will organize and review all the material in a written report. In some cases and especially if requested, we will also perform a literature review of your condition and provide references supporting and documenting our opinion. We can also provide a list of physicians who can perform the services we recommend. Differences Between a Case Review and a Formal Medical Opinion A case review does not substitute for a formal medical opinion. A case review without a visit to the doctor may not be as complete as a formal medical opinion obtained from an interview and a physical examination. Please review the sections Advantages and Limitations and Disclaimers below. Advantages of a Case Review A case review may supplement and validate a formal medical opinion or raise the need for further formal medical opinions. The case review may be used to discuss and plan your care with your own doctors. A case review from the CVRI may be convenient for individuals who wish to receive our impartial opinion, but may not be able to travel. A case review gives you an opinion from a different geographic area where practice patterns and recommendations may be different than in your community. A case review allows you to receive the benefits of the expert opinions of the staff of the CVRI. Each physician of the CVRI has a special focused expertise in cardiology, and has performed research and teaching in their specialty area. A case review can be performed for legal purposes. Limitations and Disclaimers In some conditions, a physical examination is a critical part of a medical opinion. Although we will review the recorded physical examination of others, not performing the physical examination could lead to faulty conclusions. A case review , unlike a formal medical opinion, does not provide a working relationship with you and your health care team in your own local community. The best solution to a medical problem often requires a full understanding of your condition, not just the "hard" medical facts. Often a physician cannot make this assessment without directly visiting, examining and following you over time. The accuracy of testing, conclusions and interpretations performed by others cannot be assured. The conclusions of the case review are based on the available submitted material only. This judgment or opinion may not be the same as the judgment achieved by performing a formal medical opinion. No liability is assumed for the case review since it will always be incomplete without a comprehensive physical examination. CVRI physicians do not enter into a traditional doctor/patient relationship. No results can be guaranteed or assured. Payment Policy A case review involves a significant utilization of CVRI resources and therefore we must obtain reimbursement for these efforts. Despite this payment to us, our physicians do not enter into a traditional doctor/patient relationship, but we do agree to perform the case review with the limitation as described above. You may not be able to bill your insurance carriers for services performed, although the laws and benefits are changing in some states. CVRI requires payment from the person requesting the review and cannot bill third parties. Please contact our office for details. Please remember, CVRI accepts no responsibility for the confidentiality of information transmitted over the internet. Such information, including personal medical records or access to credit cards, can be transmitted to the CVRI via telephone or regular postal mail and only after arrangements have been made. Rights You have the right to withhold or withdraw consent from the process at any time without prejudice. You have the right to inspect all medical information from your case that is transmitted. You understand that communications about your medical care may be transmitted through other states or countries and that no information or images will be disclosed by us to entities without your consent. Our goal is to educate you and provide you with a set of options (from the information provided) which can be taken to your treating physician(s) and discussed. Ultimately the care decided upon must be a choice made between you and your doctor. If you understand and agree to the above and all questions have been answered and you would like to obtain a case review of your situation please contact us at (310) 278-3400.