--- title: 5 Strategies to Encourage Positive Online Physician Ratings description: Patients are leaning heavily on online physician reviews to help them select a physician. This special report describes the nature of these reviews and offers strategies for encouraging positive ones to help you maintain a positive online reputation. image: https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Resources/NORCAL_SR_Positive-Online-Ratings_thumb.png --- - [Sign In](https://secure.proassurance.com?hsLang=en-us) - g Search Site [Contact Us](https://www.proassurance.com/contact-us/?hsLang=en-us): **844-466-7225** [![PRA-MMI-Logo®-RGB](https://www.norcal-group.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PRA-MMI-Logo%C2%AE-RGB.png?width=215&height=62&name=PRA-MMI-Logo%C2%AE-RGB.png)](https://www.norcal-group.com?hsLang=en-us)   - [About](https://norcal-group.com/about) - [About Us](https://norcal-group.com/about) - [Coverages](https://norcal-group.com/state) - [Claims](https://www.proassurance.com/report-a-claim/) - [Resources](https://www.norcal-group.com/resources) - [HIPAA Resources](https://proassurance.com/hipaa) - [Website Accessibility](https://proassurance.com/accessibility) - [Pay](https://www.norcal-group.com/pay) ## [Resource Library](https://www.norcal-group.com/library?hsLang=en-us) # 5 Strategies to Encourage Positive Online Physician Ratings April 1, 2019 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Patients are leaning heavily on physician reviews to help them select a physician.1 Recent developments also suggest that these reviews may one day affect physician availability in payer networks.2 As important as these reviews are—and may become—it helps to understand what they actually say and what your practice can do about them. This special report describes the nature of these reviews and offers strategies for encouraging positive ones to help you maintain a positive online reputation. ## Online Physician Reviews Reflect Patient Experience, Not Medical Care [![INFORGRAPHIC: 5 strategies to encourage positive online physician reviews from your patients](https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Resources/NORCAL_SR_Positive-Online-Ratings_thumb.png) Download the Special Report](https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Resources/NORCAL_SR_Positive-Online-Ratings.pdf) **Concerns** - 72% of patients use online reviews as their first step in finding a new doctor1 **Challenges** - 96% of patient complaints in online reviews relate to customer service, not medical care3 **Best Practices** - Encourage positive online physician reviews from your patients with these 5 strategies ## Related Content [Encourage Positive Online Physician Ratings with These Best Practices](https://www.norcal-group.com/library/encourage-positive-online-physician-ratings-with-these-best-practices?hsLang=en-us) [The Increasing Importance of Patient Experience for Medical Practices](https://www.norcal-group.com/library/the-increasing-importance-of-patient-experience-for-medical-practices?hsLang=en-us) ## References 1. Lisa Hedges. “[How Patients Use Online Reviews](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/how-patients-use-online-reviews/).” *Software Advice*, 2/11/2019. (accessed 9/9/2019) 2. Susanne Madden. “[Online Reviews: Payers Are Paying Attention Too](https://www.physicianspractice.com/marketing/online-reviews-payers-are-paying-attention-too).” *Physicians Practice*, 1/31/2018. (accessed 9/9/2019) 3. “[Doctor Complaints Online? Blame Customer Service, Not Doctors’ Care](https://vanguardcommunications.net/patient-complaints/).” *Vanguard Communications*. (accessed 9/9/2019) 4. “[Neurologists Sue for Defamation](https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2010&issue=09020&article=00011&type=Fulltext).” *Neurology Today*, Vol. 10, Issue 17, p. 1-42. 9/2/2010. 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