In 2018, online reviews influenced 66.3 percent of consumers when they were looking for a new primary care physician, which is the second-highest influence of any industry. More than ever,…
In 2018, online reviews influenced 66.3 percent of consumers when they were looking for a new primary care physician, which is the second-highest influence of any industry.
More than ever, patients are visiting multiple websites to find a new healthcare provider, and reviews are influencing their decisions.
Healthcare Review Site Statistics
Before we look at which sites you should be monitoring, here are some interesting numbers worth considering:
A staggering 94 percent of Internet users who have visited a doctor reviews site consider the reviews useful. (Institute for Healthcare Policy, 2014)
85 percent of patients are not comfortable choosing a physician if more than 10 percent of that physician’s reviews have a one-star rating. (Digital Assent, 2013)
About 1 out of 3 patients use either industry-specific medical review sites or more general consumer review sites as tools for finding doctors or healthcare providers. (American Osteopathic Association, 2014)
47 percent of patients who look up a physician online feels differently about that physician after reading his or her profile and reviews. (Vitals, 2013)
By claiming a listing on major healthcare review sites, healthcare organizations can increase their online visibility, review volume, and patient acquisition. Here are the 12 sites where a listing can attract more patients.
Yelp
Healthgrades
Vitals
Wellness.com
Google My Business
ZocDoc
RateMDs
Dr. Oogle
Doctor.com
RealPatientRatings
RealSelf
UCompareHealthCare
1. Yelp
Yelp is commonly known for its restaurant listings and reviews, but the idea came about because co-founder Jeremy Stoppelman was sick and found out that it was difficult to find any doctors in his area. Today, the popular site features more than 171 million reviews, and reviews on healthcare organizations account for eight percent, or more than 13 million, reviews.
You can claim a listing by signing up on the Yelp for Business Owners page. First-time Yelp listing owners should also take a look at our comprehensive Yelp business guide.
2. Healthgrades
Along with Yelp, Healthgrades ranks as today’s most trusted site for online reviews and ratings of doctors, dentists, and hospitals. The site lets users browse and find specialists by location, by specialty, by condition, and by procedure. All in all, Healthgrades features over 1.1 million provider listings and seven million reviews and ratings.
You can learn to claim and update your free profile on Healthgrades with our short, yet detailed guide.
The site also has advertising programs for providers looking to promote their practice. If you’re managing or marketing a hospital or some other healthcare facility, you can also check out Healthgrades’ solutions suite to drive growth, increase engagement, and improve quality and clinical performance.
3. Vitals
Another leading resource for healthcare reviews and information is Vitals, which features over 1 million physician profiles, 165,000 facility listings, and more than 9 million reviews and ratings. Vitals’ database allows users to search by specialty, name, location, condition, and insurance.
You can claim a Vitals listing by following the directions on the site’s signup page. On the listing, you can manage and edit information, including display name, practice address, specialties and expertise, and education and awards.
4. Wellness.com
In addition to healthcare listings, Wellness.com features multiple resources for all kinds of health and medical information in the form of wellness blogs and interactive visitor surveys. Listings include including ratings, reviews, accepted forms insurance, certifications, and more.
You can get listed on Wellness.com by enrolling in the site’s Wellness Provider Program. There are three tiers within the program, and they all include the ability to create a listing. However, the mid- and high-tier packages include other benefits such as additional exposure on “major search engines” and listing placement on competitor profiles.
For more information, check out the Wellness.com Business FAQ Page.
5. Google My Business
Google is the world’s biggest search engine, and it has also quickly become one of the most powerful local business discovery engines on the Web – thanks to services like Google Maps and Google Search. Survey data shows that Google holds 57.5 percent of all reviews, which is further proof that a Google My Business listing is absolutely necessary.
To create or edit your restaurant listing on Google, visit the Google My Business page. You can also check ReviewTrackers’ guide on how to claim your listing via Google My Business.
6. ZocDoc
ZocDoc offers a platform for booking appointments instantly. The site features doctor reviews, office addresses, and open appointment times. Patients can even use it to fill out basic forms that are typically part of the waiting room experience. It also has a free mobile app to help patients find and book appointments with doctors using their mobile devices.
To claim and manage your listing on ZocDoc – as well as enable instant online bookings and build positive reviews – go to the site’s “Getting Started” page.
7. RateMDs
RateMDs is home to over 2.5 million doctor ratings and 1 million reviews along with current health trends coverage and medical specialties information. It also lists and rates top hospitals and facilities across the US based on review information such as cleanliness and value. For individual providers, reviewers can provide ratings based on punctuality, staff, helpfulness, and overall knowledge.
Doctors and healthcare providers can claim their listings by clicking on the “Claim Doctor Profile” on the top right of the site’s home page.
8. Dr. Oogle
Dr. Oogle specializes in dentist listings and reviews. Each listing also includes a list of the most used keywords from reviewers, office hours, coupons, and photos and videos. Reviewers can leave text feedback and an overall rating. However, they can also rate the experience based on multiple factors such as results, cost, and hygiene.
Those who want to claim a listing can do so with their email address, Facebook profile, or Google profile.
9. Doctor.com
Doctor.com is a platform that lets you tap into multiple healthcare networks on the Web, and it covers an audience of about 30 million people each month on popular review sites, like Google, Yelp, Bing, Vitals, and Healthline. However, it also features listings on its own site.
Signing up for Doctor.com gives you visibility on the sites across its network, as well as access to review generation tools, your practice’s own Showcase Page, and experienced practice consultants. Each profile can include a provider’s information on training, certification, hours, accepted insurance plans, and payment options.
10. RealPatientRatings
RealPatientRatings owns one of the largest databases of verified plastic surgery patient reviews. The reviews generated by the site all come from a survey completed by real patients who have completed a qualified visit to a doctor’s office. Currently, the site features over 189,000 verified reviews. Site visitors can filter reviews by provider or a specific treatment.
Surgeons can sign up for RealPatientRatings by visiting Vizium360, which created the RealPatientRatings platform.
11. RealSelf
Another site specializing in cosmetic treatments is RealSelf, which has over 20,000 physician listings and 9.9 million consumers that visit the site every month. Patients can find a provider through the site’s “Treatment Finder” tool.
Providers can include multiple elements on their listing such as deals, links to third-party sites, and a Q&A section. Those interested in a listing can go to the site’s claiming page and enter information about their board certification, name, email address, and website.
12. UCompareHealthCare
UCompareHealthCare allows users to search for doctors, medical professionals, hospitals, and nursing homes by location, specialty, or doctor name. The site offers highly comprehensive comparisons of healthcare providers based on data available from federal and state government agencies and multiple third-party sources. Chances are that your practice is already listed on the site, but if you would like to add your listing, contact the UCompareHealthCare team.
Best Practices for Maintaining a Healthy Listing
Once you’ve created or claimed your listing, you can follow these best practices in managing your online reputation.
Update your information. Always ensure that the information in your listing is up-to-date, accurate, and complete. Incorrect listings set up a bad first impression to patients, and it might convince them to look for another provider.
Respond to reviews. On sites where you can, respond to what patients are saying about your practice. This allows you to minimize the impact of a negative review or reinforce the great user experience detailed in a positive review. More importantly, this helps build patient engagement. However, make sure that responses are HIPAA-compliant to avoid financial penalties.