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Cedars-Sinai's Virtual Second Opinion program offers expert guidance on treatment options for hundreds of conditions to patients in most states.

Gregory Rothaus, left, with his son, Cody Rothaus, received a more accurate diagnosis of Crohn’s colitis thanks to the Cedars-Sinai’s Virtual Second Opinion program.

Newswise — LOS ANGELES (March 9, 2026) -- Cedars-Sinai has expanded availability of its Virtual Second Opinion program to residents of 39 states, giving people across the U.S. fast, convenient, at-home access to expert medical insights on treatment options for more than 600 health conditions.

The expansion comes at a pivotal moment in medical history: Many regions are experiencing shortages of medical specialists, people are increasingly comfortable using online health resources, and more people are seeking reliable information as they take active roles in their healthcare decisions.

“People feel more comfortable asking for a virtual second opinion when they know the process will be fast, convenient, and of high quality,” said emergency medicine physician Shoma Desai, MD, executive director of Digital Innovation at Cedars-Sinai. “A virtual second opinion from a national center of excellence like Cedars-Sinai gives participants confidence and empowers them to make decisions about their treatment.”

For Gregory Rothaus, of Nevada, Cedars-Sinai’s Virtual Second Opinion program provided much-needed clarity. In early 2024, after several weeks of illness, Rothaus’ local physician suggested he “probably” had ulcerative colitis.

“I didn’t want ‘probably,’” Rothaus said. “I wanted certainty.”