Do online reviews of doctors matter?

According to Rater8, in 2025, the majority of patients choose their health care provider long before they walk through the door, and online reviews are central to this decision-making process. Patients are navigating their health care journeys much like consumers in other industries: browsing online for options, comparing providers based on profile descriptions, reading reviews from other patients, and booking appointments based on convenience.

The findings from Rater8’s patient preferences survey highlight patients’ growing reliance on reviews and offer a path forward for health care providers.

Here are the key findings: