As a professional, knowing what your potential patients are looking for when they search for a doctor can help you connect with more people, provide better care, and increase patient satisfaction.

Here are six of the most important factors that influence a patient’s choice of doctor, according to a study conducted by Vitals, one of the nation’s largest online doctor review platforms.

1. Doctor’s score and reviews

Let’s be honest, a lot of bad reviews are unfair, and they have serious consequences for professionals and their practices (learn how we can help you remove them). A doctor’s review score is the single most important factor when it comes to what people consider when choosing a physician. If the review score is low, most people will not even take the other factors into consideration. This is why doctors must do their best to get a good rating on online review platforms and increase their chances of being chosen by new clients. If you do not have a high valuation, you will lose many customers. Why? Because users often filter their searches to immediately exclude professionals with a rating of less than 4 stars. Also, some platforms promote the highest rated doctors on the website home page.

Removing negative reviews can help you significantly improve your average score.

Remember: Review removal is the undisputed best option. A negative review can cause a review rating to plummet far more quickly than a positive one can raise it. Deleting one review can be equivalent to adding dozens of 5-star reviews, plus it gets rid of the negative or damaging comment. Check our prices!

2. Being part of a network

Most people surveyed believe that the most important thing for them is that the doctor is in-network, as this directly affects their ability to accept insurance or not. If you don’t have a contract with an insurance company, it may be time to consider it.

3. Location

Although many patients are willing to travel for quality care, most still prefer the convenience of having their trusted doctor nearby. If you plan to change your practice area or are opening a new practice, choose your location carefully!

4. Attention and bedside manner

Good bedside manner improves your patients’ experience and helps you reduce errors during the consultation. Having an established protocol of care, incorporating patient information into medical treatment, and modulating your voice are some of the most valued qualities.

Remember, your patients are likely to visit you at a time of stress and anxiety. Your bedside manner can make a big difference.

5. Credentials and studies

A physician with their credentials, professional background, and associations displayed in their profile tends to stand out from the competition. It is a simple way to assure patients that they will receive top-quality care, and they react positively to this.

Don’t have a profile on doctor review platforms yet? Read our blog and discover the top doctor review sites.

6. Availability and office hours

Patients try to avoid losing work hours when scheduling a doctor’s appointment. It is also important for them to know that they have their doctor’s support on holidays or unusual days. Although it is not a factor with a high impact on a patient’s decision, adjusting your office hours can help you reach more patients. However, keep in mind that the more patients you see, the more you expose yourself to the possibility of receiving a negative review, which could affect your online reputation!

If you have received unfair negative reviews, send us a message and we will gladly remove them for you. We specialize in removing bad reviews from Google, Vitals, Healthgrades, RateMDs, and more. No payment is required until and unless the review is deleted.

We invite you to watch some of our clients’ testimonials. At RemoveBadReviews, we can help! Contact us today!

Contact Us