Podcast

An Ethical Way To Get Patient Referrals?

By Cynthia Geppert, MD, PhD, MPH — Series Guest Speaker | June 10, 2010

I'm busy establishing a private practice in a city where the market for mental health services is competitive. I've been looking over the websites of fellow psychiatrists who have established practices, and found that a few of their sites included testimonials from patients.

I'm well aware that such word-of-mouth recommendations from former or current patients to colleagues and friends are a major source of new referrals, so I don't want to put my practice at a disadvantage by not pursing this promising and economical approach. I would, of course, obtain informed consent from my patients to post their "reviews." But are patient testimonials an ethically appropriate means of informing the public about my services?

An Ethical Way To Get Patient Referrals?
An Ethical Way To Get Patient Referrals?
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by Adeline Caron | July 05, 2010 8:21 PM EDT

I suppose I'm old fashioned, or perhaps it was something I read in the APA (American Psychological Assn) ethical standards, but the idea just makes me uncomfortable. I would not have any hesitation in posting testimonials that flattered my website or comments that praised my blog, but uncomfortable with the idea of testimonials for my practice.

Here's a self-promotion! drannepratt.com ;-)

by Patricia Blackmon | June 17, 2010 2:15 PM EDT

As a patient, I would like my opinion to be utilized to help grow a practice, or in the case of inept physicians, alert other patients to what I believe are a doctor's shortcomings. I have been in the psychiatric system for many years, and wish opinions from patients could have been available years ago. I have gone to the various websites that rate physicians based on patient opinion, but to be honest, I don't put very much validity in the "star system"of ratings. The patient quotes give me a sense of being "made-up" by the website. I will never be "cured" of my disorder, but thank my psychiatrist for where I am today. Patricia B

by Saundra Maass-Robinson | June 17, 2010 1:55 PM EDT

Some of my best referrals over the years have come from my patients - and I think that is the highest compliment - I also put testimonials on my website (of course there is no way to identify via the testimonials who these people are) at my patients' request...and to be honest, when searching for a physician myself the first people I ask are her/his patients -colleagues may not be completely honest, objective at times...dr rob

by Charles Land | June 11, 2010 12:26 PM EDT

Its already practiced by thousands on patients on rating sites like HealthcareReviews.com , refer patients to independent thrid party sites like this if you are concerned about the ethics of posting your own patient comments. This site even provides doctors with a free account to reply to or censor anonymous patient comments, great tool for promoting your business.

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An Ethical Way To Get Patient Referrals?

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