How Much Stock Do You Put in Online Doctor Reviews?

I don't even read them because they tend to be worthless. Nope, I ask my doctor for a referral and even my doctor was referred by other doctors I trust.

The reason I don't take them into account is in general the bad reviews are from patients that ignored advice or warnings and then found out that they aren't going to get a huge settlement so they are bitter and have internet access....
___________________
I would like to think people can tell the difference between a rant and a review. :)

I would probably ignore it. Every service professional is going to have someone who didn't like the service. If you saw a pattern of bad reviews, then it's worth worrying... but one? Nah, ignore it.

Not much. Some people don't click. Like the dr my son sees, he has very mixed reviews on those sites. However he's first dr who actually cares about my son, and is wilting to listen to HIM not just what I have to say.

I love health care provider reviews but I think you have to take them with a grain of salt. It also depends on what the negative review says.

For instance, this review would be persuasive to me: "Dr. D is awesome; however, his staff stinks." The staff is important to me too because they are generally the gatekeepers.

Sour grapes type posts don't interest me if there are lots of good reviews.

I also think competitors chime in with negative reviews sometimes.

Most people can sort through that stuff.

ETA after your SWH: "pushes pills" would concern me but I'd probably give him a chance if there are good reviews and he's on my insurance. After all you can always say NO! The "greedy" comment would not bother me (with lots of good reviews to off-set). Docs need to make a living too. If you don't like the pricing go elsewhere.

I would discount the critical review. There are always 1 or 2 " crazies" or someone overly emotional about a health crisis.

It depends on what the negative is upset about. IF it's something that resonates for me and that which I too would be upset, then I might not use that doctor.. Example, if the front office is constantly screwing of medical insurance and not submitting it correctly, that to me is a huge headache. Also, a dermatologist that tries to sell more cosmetic products than they do to try and address the problem at hand.. or on the face .. etc etc :)

Our best doctors have been recommended by friends and family... I rarely look at online reviews for something as dynamic and personal as a physician. The only thing I would check online is whether or not they accept our insurance.

I would totally discount one negative review in a sea of 15. I am also married to a Doc. And he has to work with some very irrational nut cases.
But unrelated to physicians, I was just yelping this morning for a decent appliance repair service. I was getting discouraged with on my third co. there were nothing but 1 and 2 stars. Finally I came to a service with 15 reviews and at a glance about 14 were positive 4 and 5 stars. I made an appointment with that co. and I didn't even bother to read the negative review. There are always people out here who can find fault with anyone and anything. Thats why I will always write off one or two negative reviews.

Not knowing that person and what his/her issues are, I wouldn't take any stock in it. Ask 10 people their opinion and you will not get the same answer. If it's your doctor and you like him, really that's all that matters. Now if 15 people said he had hurt them and they all have malpractice suits going, then I'd think twice.

Just look at this site - look at all of the varying opinions (both normal and crazy as hell) - any one of us could have posted about your doctor. :)

I prefer word of mouth from other people. Do t trust on line reviews for a doctor.

I think people who put stock in (negative) online reviews are going to problems in and of themselves. These kinds of people fail to realize most people who take the time to review online have an axe to grind and hence are not an unbiased source. Basically I argue people who heed these reviews are of the personality type which is quick to leap to conclusions/judgments and which blow with the wind. A sweeping generalization but my opinion nonetheless.

Personally I don't bother reading online reviews. If I bothered to read the reviews, though, and there was only one bad review in the bunch, I would toss it out completely as being an outlier.

Queen:

All depends upon what the seething one was about...did the doctor miss something important or vital? Was he late? Can you give us an example of what was said in mediocre and seething?

The mediocre and seething "catch" my attention - and I pay attention. I truly read those - if the doctor missed something vital? Yeah - that will turn me off to the doctor.

When I read glowing reports - it might sway me. I don't know. I have participated in on-line reviews for doctor's, even the phone call interviews. I try to give my experience without being too harsh...

Honestly, with the numbers you're posting...I would utterly disregard the one negative comment.

I do pay attention to them and put a fair amount of stock in them. But when most of the reviews are glowing, and there's one that just rags, I don't even read the bad one all the way through.
Everyone can have a bad experience, and one's truly awful experience, particularly of that nature, just reeks of personality conflict to me more than anything.

Personally I wouldn't put much stock into it. It is pretty easy to pick out stupid people in reviews. I read a lot of reviews for a variety of things. When the number of good reviews are much much higher than the bad ones, it is usually because the bad reviewers are angry about something petty that has nothing to do with what/who they are reviewing. I have read bad product reviews written because the person thought the package it came in "wasn't pretty enough".
Unless there is a trend of a common problem, in the case of a doctor, something like "Dr. refuses to listen to me when I tell my issues" or something to that effect, from many different people, I wouldn't see the one bad review as anything. People throw fits when they don't get their way. They also think they tough from behind a keyboard, but really they just look like an angry kid.

I would be impressed since most people only review things when they are unhappy. More of a complaint line! If that many people took the time for positive reviews I would be more than willing to visit that doctor