Back in the "old" days, before rating websites such as Yelp existed, the best way to find a good restaurant was to ask a friend for recommendations. Unfortunately, the recommendation was dependent upon whether your friend enjoys the same kinds of food you do. It didn't take too long before you narrowed down your restaurant advisors to a few select individuals who (in your opinion) actually knew what good food tastes like.
Online Provider Ratings: What Matters (and What Doesn't)
Nowadays, Yelp and other rating sites allow you to find the "best" restaurant based on the experiences of people you don't even know. They provide ratings on almost every business, including chiropractic. Yelp even has a "Best Chiropractor" list based on patient ratings and reviews. But while five stars may appear to guarantee the highest quality of care, a newly published study suggests otherwise.1
Researchers compared the online ratings from five different websites (including Yelp, Healthgrades and Vitals) with MDs' actual "specialty-specific performance scores, primary care physician peer-review scores, and administrator peer-review scores." What they discovered is that "online ratings of specialist physicians do not predict objective measures of quality of care or peer assessment of clinical performance." [Italics added] Interestingly enough, the authors also found that providers' online ratings were consistent between websites.
If your patients aren't rating you on the quality of your care, what are they rating you on? An article on the study appearing in Modern Healthcare suggests, "[C]onsumers are more likely to evaluate aspects of care they understand, such as their personal expectations and experiences."2
If you read through the reviews of the "Best Chiropractor in [your city and state]" you will see some common themes:
A Word on Negative Reviews
The personal interaction between the patient and you, your staff and your office clearly has a tremendous influence on how your patients perceive the quality of your care. It also has an impact on their decision to rate, review and refer your services.
While the prospect of a bad review can be disconcerting, it is understood by most people who visit rating sites that every business will receive negative reviews. The top-rated DC in my town received one- and two-star negative reviews that appeared on the first page. But they were easily drowned out by the positive reviews, which made up most of his 110 total reviews.
Your Opportunity
If you haven't read your reviews in a while (or at all), it is probably time to do so. If you aren't near the top of the Yelp-rated "Best Chiropractors," you will want to read some of those reviews first before reading yours. Reflect on their reviews and what seems to be contributing to their high rankings. Then learn from their success stories to take action in your own practice.
References
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/wrblog/. You can also visit me on Facebook.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
