Protecting Your Online Reputation
Today there are a growing number of provider and medical group rating Websites - like Healthgrades, Vitals and RateMDs. These Websites solicit patients to rate and comment on their provider experiences. Research is indicating that before making an appointment, more and more patients are looking up providers on these websites - and making decisions based on what they read.
There are problems with these Websites
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The physician rating Websites used by patients let anybody say almost anything - and patients do.
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Angry, upset patients are much more likely to post negative reviews.
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In specialty searches, providers with the best reputations show up first - those with the worst reputations, show up last.
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Except for the most egregious and defaming comments, what is posted on these Websites stays forever.
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Negative ratings and comments follow providers from one medical group to another.
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Doctors and managers do not have the time to keep up with what is being said on these social media Websites.
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Negative ratings drive patients away.