This is part 3 of a 3 post series addressing physician online reputation management. While we have seen a continued increase in online activity in the healthcare space over the past few years, I don’t think we are even scratching the surface of what’s to come.
Aside from consumer-driven trends on the web, cloud computing is having a dramatic impact on the business enterprise environment, and healthcare is next. All these points in one direction for doctors….your online reputation may become as or more important than your offline reputation. It stands to reason that physicians in elective fields probably have a bit more at stake, but one’s online reputation can have a myriad of career implications for all.
More important? Yes…the reach of the web is far greater than word of mouth.
Don’t mistake my comments to mean I advocate physicians need to get absorbed in web hype…and there is plenty. Rather, pay pro-active attention to your online reputation and the building thereof. Despite even the most judicious oversight, however, getting a “ding” is easier than ever. While most sites will correct factual mistakes it’s not always simple or quick.
Also, negative reviews by patients are not likely going to get removed unless they cross some boundary the site in question deems inappropriate. In those cases, the only recourse is to develop enough positive press to effectively bury the negative press. There is nothing wrong with asking pleased patients to write a little review for you. A steady stream of positive comments puts you far ahead of the game.
To help with the reactive side of reputation management, here are a few items to review and bear in mind:
AMEDNEWS: Negative online reviews leave doctors with little recourse
Another quality article was published in the Journal of Orthopedics in August 2009 entitled: Word of Mouth in the Digital Age: Online Ratings The article makes note of some of the primary sites for physicians to keep an eye on Healthgrades, Vitals, Angie’s List, and Yelp.
Additional physician rating sites are popping up all the time, so some diligence is required. (see ZocDoc, UComparehealthcare, Avvo, Bookofdoctors, Citysearch, and RateMDs)