Like it or not, the internet and social media have become a routine part of our daily lives. Google and Facebook have now become the first places we look to for recommendations and reviews on almost anything, from smartphones to chinese restaurants. The same is now true when it comes to our health with many patients using Google and other online review sites to learn about doctors before they schedule a visit. For some people, these online reviews have an influence on which doctors they choose for their care.
Although I don’t use Google, even I research a physician’s background before a member of my family or I make a new appointment. And, with more than enough doctor rating websites on the internet today it’s important that patients know which doctor review sites are trustworthy and which are not reliable sources of information. At the end of this post I have included a link to a nice article which goes over the better online doctor review websites, explaining each site’s physician rating scales, and describing how you can rate your doctors on the sites.
In my opinion online review sites are a valuable research tool in any field. When they are run properly. Unfortunately, few of them are run properly. The following are flaws which may apply to all online physician review sites:
- Physician Information may not be accurate or up-to-date.
- Patient reviews can sometimes be inaccurate and unfair.
- Patient reviews are often difficult to track and monitor.
- Patients can review physicians any time after their visit (one day after, or one year after).
- Physicians do not always have the chance to respond to reviews.
Many sites have systems in place to make sure that their reviews and ratings are valid and made by real patients. Perhaps the most well-known website that does not have an effective method to validate their ratings and continues to receive complaints from both patients and physicians due to inaccuracies is www.healthgrades.com.
Physician information on Healthgrades.com frequently shows incorrect office addresses, medical school/residency training, affiliated hospitals, and participating insurance companies. Their reviews are based only on a star-rating, without the ability to leave comments and the only form of validation required is an email address. This means that there is no real way of knowing whether a poor review was given by a patient, by a competing physician trying to steal your business, or by the mailman who wasn’t that impressed by the christmas gift you gave him last year. At the same time, I could have all my family and friends give me 5-star ratings once a day. All they need is a valid email address.
Hospitals also pay Healthgrades as a consultant to basically rate them highly on their website. As a result, certain physicians who are on staff at these hospitals will have sponsored listings on the Healthgrades.com website. You will notice that these physicians also have excellent ratings on the website causing patients to become disappointed when their visits with the doctor do not live up to expectations.
So where should you go if you need information you can trust when looking for a doctor? If you have any friends or family members that also know the doctor, talk to them. They’re your best source of information. Visit your state’s medical board website to check for credentials and malpractice history. If the doctor has a website or blog, explore it to get a feel for their personality. Websites like Yelp, Avvo, and HealthTap have patient reviews without the anonymity that sites like Healthgrades have.
To learn more about the “rate my doctor” websites read: Rate My Doctor Websites
Have you seen a physician who was totally different that his/her online review? Are you a physician that has received a fake review? We’d love to hear from you. Leave us a comment!
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