The Secret to Growing Your Medical Practice? Reputation Management via The Power of Patient Reviews

Reputation Management For Medical Practices Has One Of The Highest Rates of Return For Time Spent

We live in the age known as the knowledge economy, with instant access to any form of information or medium we want. Quick question, the last time you took your family out to a new restaurant, did you look up its online reviews first?

Statistically speaking, you did. Most people do, and that’s just for a quick meal. Would you buy your car from a dealership without checking out their online reviews?

You see where I’m going with this!

Online reputation management is essential for any medical practice that wants to attract and retain patients. Patients now can share their experiences and opinions about their healthcare providers on a variety of online platforms, such as Google, Yelp, and Healthgrades. These online reviews can have a significant impact on a medical practice's reputation and bottom line.

In fact, studies show that nearly 80% of patients read online reviews before choosing a healthcare provider. Therefore, it's crucial for medical practices to have a solid reputation management strategy in place to ensure that they are portraying a positive image to prospective patients. In this article, we will explore the dos and don'ts of reputation management for medical practices and provide tips on how to effectively manage your online reputation to attract new patients and retain existing ones.

As a medical professional, you probably prefer to see the data of it all, the raw facts and figures. We’re obsessed with data too, so we understand.

• Online reviews are a critical factor in patients' decision-making process. According to a survey by Software Advice, 82% of patients read online reviews when searching for a new healthcare provider.

• Positive online reviews can help attract new patients. In a survey by BrightLocal, 93% of consumers said that online reviews influence their purchasing decisions, and 68% said that positive reviews make them more likely to use a business.

• Online reviews can improve search engine rankings. Search engines like Google and Bing take online reviews into account when determining search rankings. According to Moz, online reviews are the third most important factor in local search ranking.

• Negative reviews can harm your practice. A study by PatientPop found that 70% of patients would choose one provider over another based on online reviews. Additionally, 53% of patients said they would consider driving a farther distance to see a provider with better reviews.

• Responding to reviews can improve patient satisfaction. According to a study by the Journal of Medical Internet Research, providers who respond to reviews have higher patient satisfaction scores than those who do not.

• Most patients expect providers to have online reviews. A survey by Software Advice found that 72% of patients expect providers to have a minimum of 10 reviews, and 84% said they would be more likely to choose a provider with reviews.

One can't easily argue with cited statistics!

It's simple, positive reviews will attract new patients and improve search rankings, while negative reviews will harm your practice. Responding to reviews can improve patient satisfaction, and most patients expect providers to have online reviews. By actively managing your online reviews and encouraging patients to leave feedback, you can help improve your practice's reputation and attract new patients.

Still not quite convinced of the importance of reputation management to your business’s growth? Well, who doesn’t like a few real-world examples!

Real-World Examples of Medical Practices That Have Grown By Building Up Their Online Reputation Through Reviews

Midwest Dental Sleep Medicine

This dental practice in Illinois increased its revenue by 34% in just six months by focusing on online reputation management. They implemented a review management system and asked patients for reviews, which led to an increase in positive reviews and improved search rankings.

Westwood Dermatology

This dermatology practice in Los Angeles increased its patient volume by 31% in six months by implementing a review management system and focusing on online reputation management. They also responded to patient reviews and used patient feedback to improve their services.

Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma

This orthopedic practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, increased its patient volume nearly 25% in six months by implementing a review management system and actively managing its online reputation. They responded to patient reviews, improved their services based on patient feedback, and encouraged patients to leave reviews.

The Skin Center Medical Spa

This medical spa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, increased its revenue by 44% in one year by implementing a review management system and focusing on online reputation management. They asked patients for reviews, responded to patient feedback, and used patient feedback to improve their services.

These examples demonstrate the power of online reputation management for medical practices. By actively managing their online reviews and using patient feedback to improve their services, these practices were able to attract new patients and increase revenue.

From Good To Great: How To Ask For And Get More Online Customer Reviews

Make it easy for patients to leave a review: Provide patients with clear instructions on how to leave a review on your preferred review platforms such as Google, Yelp, or Healthgrades. You can also include links to these platforms on your website or in email communications with patients.

Ask patients directly: After a patient has had a positive experience, ask them if they would be willing to leave a review. You can do this in-person, via email or text message, or through a follow-up survey.

Provide incentives: Offer patients a small incentive, such as a discount on their next visit or a free teeth cleaning, in exchange for leaving a review. Just make sure that the incentive is not contingent on the content of the review.

Send automated review requests: Use an automated review management system to send review requests to patients after their appointment. This can save you time and make it easier for patients to leave a review.

Respond to reviews: Respond to both positive and negative reviews to show that you value patient feedback and are committed to providing quality care. This can also encourage patients to leave reviews in the future.

Use signage and social media: Place signs in your office or on your website asking patients to leave a review, and promote your review profiles on social media to increase visibility and encourage reviews.

Remember that online reviews can have a significant impact on your dental practice, so it's important to try to encourage patients to leave feedback.

The Dos and Don'ts of Reputation Management for Medical Practices

Now you know how to go about getting those valuable business-building reviews from your patients, but knowing why you need them and asking for them isn’t everything you must know.

Let’s go over some dos and don'ts of reputation management for medical practices because there are a few things you’re going to want to avoid during this process.

Do's:

1. Encourage patients to leave reviews: The more positive reviews you have, the better your online reputation will be. Encourage patients to leave reviews on popular review platforms such as Google, Yelp, and Healthgrades.
2. Respond to reviews: Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, shows that you care about patient feedback and are committed to providing excellent care. Always thank patients for positive reviews and address any concerns raised in negative reviews.
3. Monitor your online reputation: Use tools such as Google Alerts or social media monitoring software to track what people are saying about your practice online. This will help you address any negative comments or reviews quickly and proactively.
4. Use patient feedback to improve your services: Take patient feedback seriously and use it to improve your practice. This will not only improve patient satisfaction, but also lead to more positive reviews.
5. Stay compliant with HIPAA regulations: When responding to reviews or engaging with patients online, make sure you are following HIPAA regulations and protecting patient privacy.

Don'ts:

1. Create fake reviews: Creating fake reviews, either positive or negative, is unethical and can harm your practice's reputation if discovered.
2. Ignore negative reviews: Ignoring negative reviews can make the situation worse and lead to more negative comments. Always address negative reviews in a professional and respectful manner.
3. Respond to reviews emotionally: Responding to negative reviews in an emotional or defensive way can harm your practice's reputation. Always respond professionally and address the patient's concerns.
4. Violate patient privacy: When responding to reviews or engaging with patients online, make sure you are not sharing any patient information that could violate HIPAA regulations.
5. Assume all reviews are fake or malicious: While there may be some fake or malicious reviews out there, assuming that all negative reviews are fake or malicious can harm your practice's reputation. Take all reviews seriously and address them professionally.

In summary, managing your medical practice's online reputation is important, but it's important to do so ethically and professionally. Encourage patients to leave reviews, respond to reviews, monitor your online reputation, use patient feedback to improve your services, and stay compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Avoid creating fake reviews, ignoring negative reviews, responding emotionally, violating patient privacy, and assuming all reviews are fake or malicious. If you follow that advice, you’ll save your sanity, your valuable time, and your practice’s reputation while building your patient roster.

But the fact is that managing your online reputation can be a daunting task, particularly for busy medical professionals. That's where Akzis VIP comes in. With Akzis VIP, you can have a team of experts manages your online reputation for you, saving you time and ensuring that your practice is portrayed in the best possible light online.

Akzis VIP offers a Done-For-You service of reputation management that includes monitoring your online reviews, responding to reviews on your behalf, and providing you with regular reports on your online reputation. By using Akzis VIP, you can focus on providing excellent care to your patients, while leaving your online reputation in the hands of experienced professionals.

In today's competitive healthcare market, a strong online reputation is essential for attracting and retaining patients. Don't let a negative online reputation hold your practice back. Consider partnering with Akzis VIP to ensure that your practice is portrayed in the best possible light online.