Infographic: Social Media Sites Outrank Physician and Hospital Websites in Search Results


This post was written by Melanie Matthews for Healthcare Intelligence Network

As Americans enroll in healthcare through the Affordable Care Act for the second year in a row, a new study reveals how physicians are being evaluated by prospective patients. The study released by Mercury360®, which helps companies manage their online reputation, found that for over half of physicians observed the first link on a search engine results page (SERP) is a social media site and the percentage is even higher for physicians practicing in several medical specialties. The study has implications for how physicians manage their reputation, communicate with their patients, and how patients come to learn about their doctor.

Online health information combined with social media channels like Twitter and Facebook has created a new generation of patients. They are empowered. They have a voice in their own care that they never had before, and more are using social media and physician review sites to choose their doctor or medical practice. Given these stakes, you can’t afford to leave your online reputation to chance.

Kick off your social media efforts today with Establishing, Managing and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices, a comprehensive resource. In addition to unique insights from practicing physician and social media pioneer Kevin Pho, MD, this book offers doctors a step-by-step guide on how to use social media to manage an online reputation. It also provides insider tips on how to respond to online ratings and a guide to work with all of the major physician review sites.

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