VIDEO: Physicians should perform online searches of themselves, their practices
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Physicians should consider searching online for mentions of their practices and themselves to know what patients see when they perform a web search for a new physician or specialist.
“Obviously, you want them to find your practice and if you do not have a strong online reputation or a strong web presence, you are unlikely to show up in the top 10 [search results],” Orrin I. Franko, MD, founder of SurgiSurvey LLC and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at East Bay Hand Medical Center, told Healio. “I advise that doctors should be searching for themselves, their practice name and even their own personal name, at least quarterly to know what patients are finding out about you. You might be surprised at what you discover, and there is always room for improvement.”
When physicians search for online mentions of themselves or other doctors in their area, Franko said it is important to change up the keywords used. While patients may search by using a physician’s name, practice or specialty, Franko noted they may also type in a certain disease or condition.
“They might say ‘knee doctor’ or ‘doctor for knee arthritis’ or they might type in ‘knee replacement specialist’ or ‘knee surgeon,’” Franko said. “All of those things are different than typing in ‘orthopedic surgeon’ or ‘arthroplasty specialist.’”
Franko recommended that physicians think like a patient and use a variety of terms when performing a web search of their names and their practices to fully understand what patients are finding when they look for physicians in the area.
While searching, physicians may find both positive and negative reviews of themselves, according to Franko. He noted it is important that physicians respond to both positive and negative reviews to show they are engaged and communicating with their patients.
“It is important that you do not violate HIPAA. Even if you know who the patient is, you cannot disclose details about their care, but you can certainly demonstrate empathy and express to the patient in a comment publicly that you sympathize with the patient’s experience and that you want to make it better,” Franko said. “That is important so that future patients see that you are engaged and you want to provide high-quality care.”
References:
- www.Birdeye.com
- www.SocialClimb.com
- www.SurgiSurvey.com
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