Founder Rahul R. Handa, MD on dual-physician Heart Team second opinions for cardiac surgery patients. Aired May 2026.
Veteran Las Vegas attorney and broadcaster Ed Bernstein sits down with cardiothoracic surgeon Rahul R. Handa, MD to walk patients through the most consequential decision they will ever face. Dr. Handa explains how WhiteGloveMD's dual-physician Heart Teampairs a world-class cardiac surgeon with a cardiologist to deliver a White Glove Insightsâ„¢ Report in 24 hours — with triple risk-model scoring (STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, AATS), guideline-mapped treatment alternatives, and surgeon-and-center matching tailored to each patient.
The conversation covers why second opinions change 30 to 40 percent of cardiac surgery treatment plans, what patients should ask before consenting to open-heart surgery, and how the platform handles complex valve, bypass, and aortic cases that often fall into clinical gray zones. Dr. Handa also explains the dual-physician model — every case is independently reviewed by a cardiac surgeon AND a cardiologist — and why having two specialists in the room from the start prevents the most common decision-making errors families encounter when their first surgeon is also their only surgeon.
The segment closes with practical guidance for anyone facing a recommendation for cardiac surgery: ask for the STS PROM score, ask about repair-versus-replace options for valve disease, ask what percentage of the surgeon's annual volume is the specific procedure being recommended, and don't hesitate to seek an independent review before signing the consent form. WhiteGloveMD makes that second opinion accessible at $495 — a fraction of the cost of even a single hospital day, and a meaningful safeguard for the most consequential operation of a patient's life.
24-hour turnaround. Dual-physician Heart Team review. Starting at $495.