More and more, patients are consulting online reviews via sites such as Yelp and Google when determining which healthcare facility and provider to use, and are sharing their healthcare experiences online, as well, according to a new survey from Binary Fountain.

The results of the second annual Healthcare Consumer Insight & Digital Engagement Survey, released this week, indicate that:

• 95% of the surveyed respondents find online ratings and reviews “somewhat” to “very” reliable.
• Of the 95%, 100% of respondents between the ages of 18-24 and 97% of respondents between the ages of 25-34 find online ratings and reviews “somewhat” to “very” reliable.
• 70% of Americans say online ratings and review sites have influenced their decision in selecting a physician.
• 51% of Americans said they share their personal healthcare experiences online via social media and review sites, which is a 65% increase from the previous year.
• Millennials are most likely to share their physician or hospital experiences online, with 70% saying they have done so.
• 68% of Americans aged 18-24 said they have shared their healthcare experiences online, which is a staggering 94% increase over last year.
• Facebook is the most used method of sharing healthcare experiences for ages 25-54.
• Patients between the ages of 18-24 indicated that Google is their preferred online platform to share their healthcare experiences.

Have you Googled your facility lately?

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.