Patients still ask friends and family to recommend a doctor, but to an extent, that word-of-mouth has moved online. Reviews are now one of the most powerful factors in how patients choose a clinician. In fact, 90% of people read online reviews before booking, and many trust them as much as a personal recommendation.
For clinicians, this shift is both an opportunity and a risk. When reviews reflect the care you provide, they can showcase your compassion, your communication, and your expertise. But sometimes, online reviews drift into territory you can’t control – from reception delays and confusing signage to billing issues or patchy Wi-Fi. Doctify helps protect you against the factors beyond your control, keeping the focus on the quality of care you deliver.
Why traditional reviews fall short in healthcare
Most review platforms throw everything into one basket.
Imagine a patient looking up a specialist: they see a two-star review, assume poor clinical care, and look elsewhere. Yet that review might be about an appointment booking system, not the consultation itself. When feedback isn’t separated, everyone loses: patients make decisions based on half the story, and clinicians are rated on things they can’t fix.
This isn’t just anecdotal.
A BMJ Open study (2020) found that many online reviews focused heavily on “the building, particularly its accessibility, aesthetics and cleanliness,” as well as facilities such as parking and waiting rooms, logistics, and service delivery. Only a minority of comments referred to the treatment itself or the clinician’s expertise, showing how often non-clinical factors overshadow clinical quality.
How this impacts trust in healthcare
Mixing clinical and non-clinical feedback ends up creating confusion for everyone involved:
- Patients may be misled by irrelevant complaints.
- Clinicians risk reputational harm from factors beyond their control.
- Hospitals and clinics miss the chance to act on feedback directed at them.
How Doctify protects clinicians’ reputations
For clinicians, reputation lives in the stories patients share. To capture this fairly, feedback needs to focus on clinical care itself, not be overshadowed by issues tied to hospitals or clinics.
On most review platforms, even those in healthcare, feedback is often bundled into a single score that can unfairly reflect on clinicians. A patient’s frustration with the reception desk ends up sitting right next to praise for a clinician’s surgical skill.
Doctify was designed to solve this, creating a fairer, more transparent review ecosystem. Patients are guided to reflect on the parts of care that matter most:
- how clearly their clinician communicates
- the empathy and compassion shown
- the quality of care throughout their journey
What I really value about Doctify is the way patient feedback is structured, allowing a patient to assess the doctor’s care distinctly. Unlike other platforms that give one overall score, Doctify separates reviews into clear criteria – like cleanliness, waiting time, and the individual doctor. That way, if a patient comments on something like waiting times, it doesn’t unfairly reflect on the doctor’s care. I really appreciate that separation.
Dr Theodora Kalentzi, Accredited Menopause Specialist, and Founder of Medical Prime Menopause Clinic
Feedback about facilities or administration is gathered separately under the clinic or hospital profile. This way, clinicians aren’t evaluated on issues outside their control, while patients still get a clear view of the wider care experience by looking at a dedicated clinic or hospital profile.
The result? Feedback that’s clearer, fairer, and more actionable:
- Patients gain confidence that reviews reflect the care they’ll personally receive.
- Clinicians are represented accurately, with reviews focused on their practice.
- Hospitals and clinics receive constructive feedback on services and facilities.
What this means for clinicians today
The way patients choose care has changed forever. Reviews now sit at the centre of decision-making, influencing who they trust with their health. For clinicians, this is both a responsibility and an opportunity: to let verified feedback highlight your care on your terms, not be diluted by issues outside your control. With Doctify, your reputation is anchored where it belongs; in your clinical expertise and the experiences you create for patients.
You might also be interested in this blog: Google reviews are great, but they aren’t enough in healthcare.
Ready to protect your reputation and showcase the care you provide? Start collecting verified feedback today.
