Why Your Google Reviews Matter More Than Ever for GP Recruitment
Recruiting General Practitioners has never been more competitive.
Practices often focus on factors such as remuneration, location, billing model and facilities when trying to attract doctors. While all of these are important, there's another factor that is frequently overlooked, your online reputation.
For many GPs considering a career move, Google Reviews provide one of the very first insights into what it's like to work in your practice.
Long before they submit an application or walk through your doors, they're researching your business online.
And what they find can influence whether they decide to take the next step.
Today's GPs Have Choices
With ongoing GP shortages across Australia, doctors often have multiple opportunities available to them.
When comparing practices, they naturally begin narrowing down their options before arranging interviews or site visits.
Location, patient demographics, billing model and earning potential all play a role, but so does something much simpler:
What are patients saying about this practice?
A strong online reputation helps reinforce the impression of a well-managed, professional practice that values patient care.
Equally, a poor rating, or very few reviews at all, can raise questions that may never be answered because the doctor simply moves on to another opportunity.
Your Google Profile Is Often Your First Impression
Think about your own behaviour when researching a business.
Most people search online before making a decision.
Doctors are no different.
A practice with hundreds of positive reviews and a high star rating immediately creates confidence. It suggests patients feel valued, communication is strong and the practice operates professionally.
Conversely, unanswered negative reviews, inconsistent feedback or an outdated Google profile can unintentionally create doubt.
Whether that's a fair reflection of the practice or not, first impressions matter.
Great Reviews Start With Great Patient Experiences
Google Reviews shouldn't be viewed as a marketing exercise.
They are the outcome of consistently delivering a positive patient experience.
To explore this further, we spoke with experienced healthcare business consultant and practice owner Rakesh Vyasabhattu, whose practice has built an impressive online reputation, with more than 1,200 Google Reviews and a 4.8-star rating.
According to Rakesh, practices should focus on getting the fundamentals right before actively encouraging reviews.
"Traditionally, people only actively leave a review for a medical practice if they've had a bad experience."
"If you're going to encourage reviews, you need to make sure people are having a consistently positive experience. Simple things like a warm welcome from reception or keeping patients informed about appointment delays can make a significant difference."
Rakesh invested heavily in customer experience by:
The result wasn't simply better reviews, it was a stronger overall patient experience.
As Rakesh explains:
"Once those foundations are in place, patients are much more likely to leave positive feedback. The reviews become less about a single appointment and more about the overall experience of visiting the practice."
Don't Be Afraid to Ask
One of the biggest misconceptions is that patients will naturally leave reviews after a positive experience.
In reality, most won't. Many happy patients simply need to be asked.
The easier you make the process, the more likely patients are to take a moment to share their experience. This could be as simple as having a Google Review sign at reception with a QR code patients can scan, or sending a follow-up text message or email after their appointment with a direct link to leave a review.
Following up with a polite request for feedback is entirely appropriate, provided reviews aren't incentivised.
At DXC Medical, we've seen firsthand the impact that consistently asking clients and candidates for feedback can have on building a strong online reputation.
Small, consistent actions over time can make a meaningful difference.
Every Review Deserves a Response
Responding to reviews demonstrates that your practice listens, values feedback and takes patient experience seriously.
This applies to both positive and negative reviews.
When responding to negative feedback:
Handled well, even a negative review can demonstrate professionalism to future patients, and future GPs researching your practice.
If a review is abusive or inappropriate, it can also be reported to Google for investigation.
Make Reputation Management Part of Practice Operations
For larger practices, consider creating a simple process for managing online reviews.
This doesn't need to be complicated.
Assign responsibility for monitoring reviews, establish response timeframes and ensure everyone understands the importance of maintaining a positive online presence.
Google may be the primary platform, but the same principles apply across Facebook and other review sites.
The Bottom Line
Google Reviews won't be the only reason a GP chooses your practice, but they can absolutely influence whether your practice makes the shortlist.
Your online reputation reflects the experience patients have every day. It also provides prospective doctors with an insight into your culture, professionalism and commitment to quality care.
In a competitive recruitment market, that's an advantage worth investing in.
If you're reviewing your recruitment strategy or looking for ways to better position your practice to attract quality GPs, we'd be happy to discuss how your online presence forms part of the bigger picture.
Most practice owners can tell you how many consulting rooms they have. Far fewer can tell you how effectively those rooms are being utilised. While room utilisation is often viewed as a simple numbers exercise, experienced healthcare business consultant and practice owner Rakesh Vyasabhattu believes empty rooms are usually a symptom of a much larger issue.
