First few Article Sentences
Say that you are a healthcare provider (either a physician or facility) who recently treated a patient. By all accounts, the interaction with this patient was uneventful and routine. Later, you learn that the patient posted an online review to various platforms, expressing dissatisfaction with their interaction with you. The patient provides a detailed account from their perspective, which includes several exaggerations and maybe even some fabrications. Your recollection of the interaction is very different then what the patient described in their review. How do you handle the situation?
We live in a society where consumers are looking for ways to make their voices heard. Online reviews of healthcare providers are on the rise with the emergence of healthcare rating websites such as Healthgrades, Vitals, or RateMD's, as well as social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and even YouTube. In 2015, a study showed that nearly one-third of patients used an online review platform to rate their provider. This number continues to grow. Patients are looking to share their healthcare experience with others, whether it is positive or negative.