Many physicians are pursuing strategies to protect their online reputations in response to websites that allow patients to review their doctors, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
An increasing number of rating websites, online chats, blogs and social media sites allow patients to praise or criticize physicians. Physicians often want to respond to criticism but feel they cannot because of patient privacy concerns, according to the Inquirer.
Strategies
To protect their reputations, some physicians have tried:
- Requiring patients to sign contracts that give doctors the right to suppress negative online comments;
- Blogging or using Facebook and Twitter to create a more positive online image; or
- Soliciting positive online reviews from satisfied patients.
In addition, some medical professionals have hired online reputation companies that solicit positive reviews and manipulate the order in which review sites appear after an Internet search.
Patient Perception
Eric Goldman, a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, said that although physician review sites should provide assurance that comments are credible, doctors should not be overly concerned about a few negative online comments.
According to Goldman, patients are smart enough to identify exaggerations, and most will overlook comments that are overly negative or overly positive (Burling, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/6).