A continuing series on physician online reputation. For more KevinMD minutes, please visit my YouTube channel.
Did you know that criticism on physician rating sites can help improve your practice? When patients leave comments on these rating sites, sometimes it’s the only way they have a voice. When patients leave my exam room I don’t know what they thought about me, the nurses, the medical assistants, whether there was enough parking or whether the magazines in the waiting room were up to date.
All of these issues matter to patients, and sometimes, they are frustrated with our health care system. For instance, they could be frustrated that doctors are too busy looking at their computer screens in the exam room, rather than looking at patients when they’re talking to them.
I’ve made changes in my practice based on what I’ve read online. I no longer bring a computer into the room anymore because I want to look at patients when I’m talking to them. Those type of changes could only be made possible because I read those criticisms on physician rating sites.
Indeed, it’s valuable feedback.
Kevin Pho is an internal medicine physician and co-author of Establishing, Managing, and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices. He is on the editorial board of contributors, USA Today, and is founder and editor, KevinMD.com, also on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.
