Skip to main content
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Current News
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • Digital Health
    • Transformation
    • ESG
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Blogs
    • AI
    • Deals
    • Layoff Tracker
    • HIMSS 2023
  • Opinion
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • From the Editor
  • Events & Awards
    • Awards
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Virtual Briefings
    • Webinars
    • Nominate/Eligibility
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 40 Under 40
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Innovators Awards
    • Diversity in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
      • - Leaders to Watch
    • Women Leaders
    • Digital Health Transformation Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
    • - Looking Ahead to 2024
    • - AI and Digital Health
    • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
  • Data & Insights
    • Data & Insights Home
    • Hospital Financials
    • Staffing & Compensation
    • Quality & Safety
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Data Archive
    • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
    • Surveys
    • Data Points
  • Newsletters
  • MORE+
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Providers
February 17, 2014 11:00 PM

More patients using online doctor reviews to choose a physician

Sabriya Rice
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More

    More consumers are turning to physician-rating websites to seek information on their doctors, in the same way as they would when evaluating a new car to buy or a movie to watch, according to a survey released today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study authors caution there are possible implications to treating reviews of physicians in this manner.

    The survey found 65% of respondents were aware of online physician ratings, and of those who used the sites, 35% reported selecting a physician based on good reviews, while 37% avoided a physician based on bad reviews.

    “The stakes are higher now for physicians,” said Dr. David A. Hanauer of the University of Michigan Medical School, who co-authored the report. “Choosing a physician is not like choosing a movie. If you pick a 'bad' movie you might have wasted a few dollars and a few hours. If you pick a 'bad' doctor, your health and well-being could be at stake,” Hanauer said.

    As healthcare providers grapple with the ability of consumers to publicly share opinions about individual practices, several doctors have filed lawsuits to defend their reputation. A Santa Clara University document lists more than 30 examples of doctors filing lawsuits over negative online reviews, posted on sites like Facebook, Yelp and RateMDs, by a patient or a patient's relative. One case made headlines in Boston last year when a surgeon sued the family of a patient who posted negative comments on a personal blog; the surgeon accused the individual of defamation and demanded financial compensation for the damage to her career.

    While some of the information posted on the Web, particularly on user review sites, might seem unfavorable or even erroneous, Hanauer say physicians should not dismiss the trend.

    “Many are hesitant to embrace such ratings sites, but the reality is that they are now becoming a part of how the public makes decisions. If nothing else, physicians should probably at least be working toward ensuring that these sites are truthful and representative,” he says.

    They should also note that word of mouth recommendations are still the best medicine—43% of respondents in the JAMA survey reported a “lack of trust” in the information found on virtual rating sites.

    “A known social connection between people still counts a lot when it comes to sharing this kind of advice,” Hanauer said.

    Follow Sabriya Rice on Twitter: @MHSRice

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Nurses choosing
    Nurses seeking work in U.S. on the rise despite visa pause
    Hospice care
    Banner Health sheds Arizona hospice operations
    Most Popular
    1
    5 factors impacting next year's hospital financials
    2
    Epic CEO Judy Faulkner touts gen AI, clinical research tools
    3
    Labor challenges slowing nonprofit hospital recovery: Fitch
    4
    Meet the 2023 Most Influential People in Healthcare
    5
    CVS Health unveils 'cost plus' drug pricing model
    Sponsored Content
    Modern Healthcare A.M. Newsletter: Sign up to receive a comprehensive weekday morning newsletter designed for busy healthcare executives who need the latest and most important healthcare news and analysis.
    Get Newsletters

    Sign up for enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today
    MH Magazine Cover

    MH magazine offers content that sheds light on healthcare leaders’ complex choices and touch points—from strategy, governance, leadership development and finance to operations, clinical care, and marketing.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Modern Healthcare empowers industry leaders to succeed by providing unbiased reporting of the news, insights, analysis and data.

    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Help Center
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Current News
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • Digital Health
      • Transformation
        • Patients
        • Operations
        • Care Delivery
        • Payment
      • ESG
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Blogs
      • AI
      • Deals
      • Layoff Tracker
      • HIMSS 2023
    • Opinion
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • From the Editor
    • Events & Awards
      • Awards
        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • 40 Under 40
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Innovators Awards
        • Diversity in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
          • - Leaders to Watch
        • Women Leaders
      • Conferences
        • Digital Health Transformation Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Looking Ahead to 2024
        • - AI and Digital Health
        • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
      • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
    • Data & Insights
      • Data & Insights Home
      • Hospital Financials
      • Staffing & Compensation
      • Quality & Safety
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Data Archive
      • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
      • Surveys
      • Data Points
    • Newsletters
    • MORE+
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing