475,000 cardiac procedures per year. Almost none get an independent review.
The gap between considering a second opinion and actually receiving one is where preventable harm occurs.
You received a recommendation. You did not receive a risk analysis.
Your surgeon told you that you need an operation. They may have explained the procedure. They almost certainly did not quantify your individual risk of death and major complications using validated scoring models.
They did not compare your case against current clinical practice guidelines from multiple governing bodies. They did not evaluate whether a less invasive alternative might produce equivalent outcomes with lower risk.
They did not match your case to the surgeon and facility with the best published outcomes for your specific condition and risk profile.
This is not a failure of your surgeon. It is a failure of the system. Cardiac surgical decisions are made in 15-minute office visits with no structured decision support.
A 15–25 page clinical artifact. Not a letter.
Every data point source-linked. Every score computed from verified inputs. Every conclusion traceable.
Comprehensive cardiac surgical coverage.
Every major cardiac surgical condition reviewed by specialist physicians.
Don't see your condition? We likely review it.
See all conditions →From records to recommendations in 48 hours.
We do not operate. We do not refer to ourselves. We have no institutional agenda.
Hospital-based second opinion programs review cases within their own system — using their own surgeons, with their own financial incentives. WhiteGloveMD has no hospital affiliation, no surgical revenue, and no reason to recommend an operation that is not in the patient's best interest.
| Feature | Hospital Programs Cleveland Clinic, Mayo, Stanford | Generalist Platforms Accolade, Included Health, Teladoc | WhiteGloveMD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac Specialization | Yes — cardiac-specific | General — all conditions | Cardiac surgery exclusively |
| Independence | Hospital-affiliated | Platform-employed | No affiliation |
| Reviewing Physicians | Single physician | Rotating, varies | Surgeon + cardiologist |
| Risk Quantification | Rarely documented | — | STS + EuroSCORE II + AATS |
| Turnaround | 1–4 weeks | 3–14 days | 48 hours |
| Source-Linked Provenance | — | — | Every data point |
| Surgeon Matching | Internal only | — | Nationwide, by outcomes |
| Post-Surgical Support | — | — | 30 days included |
| Price | $590–$2,000+ | $0 (employer-paid) | From $495 |
WhiteGloveMD is not a replacement for hospital-based programs. It is the independent layer that no hospital program can provide — because independence requires being outside the system.
You are searching for this at 2 AM because someone you love was told they need heart surgery.
We know why you’re here. A cardiologist or surgeon told your husband, your mother, your father, your wife — someone who matters more than anything — that they need an operation on their heart. And now you’re trying to figure out if that’s the right call.
You are not a doctor. You don’t know what an STS score is or whether a TAVR is better than open surgery. You just know that someone you love is about to go through something terrifying, and you want to make sure the decision is right.
That is exactly what WhiteGloveMD was built for.
An independent cardiac surgeon and cardiologist will review the entire case — every record, every test, every number — and give your family a written report that explains the risk, the alternatives, and the recommendation in language you can understand. You can ask every question. Your family can be on the call.
And for 30 days after surgery, a clinical team remains available. Because the fear doesn’t end when the operation does.
What families say after the review.
The report found something in my husband’s CT that no one had flagged. They postponed his surgery, dealt with the other issue first, and then operated six weeks later. His surgeon told us that finding probably saved his life.
I was recommended open-heart surgery at a hospital with poor outcomes. WhiteGloveMD matched me to a three-star program and I ended up getting a less invasive procedure instead. I was home in two days.
The review confirmed my surgeon’s recommendation. That might sound like a waste of money. It wasn’t. I went into surgery knowing — with data — that this was the right decision. That peace of mind was worth everything.
My mother is 81. Her surgeon recommended open surgery and never mentioned TAVR. WhiteGloveMD showed us there was a safer option. She was home the next day.
The cost of a CT scan. For a decision with 1-in-30 mortality.
Transparent pricing. No hidden fees. HSA/FSA eligible. Initial consultation always free.
Initial clinical orientation is free
Frequently asked about cardiac second opinions.
Your incision should be your decision.
Start with a free clinical orientation. No commitment. A cardiac specialist is typically available within minutes.
support@whiteglovemd.com