Few patients using Web sites that rate physicians
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
June 18, 2008
Although there is more information than ever about specific physicians on the Internet, most patients are not using the many new tools that provide it, says American Medical News. A new poll says that only 25% of the 80% of the public who go online for health information have used a physician-rating tool, and of those who have used one, only 2% have switched physicians based on the information they found.
This does not mean that physician-rating sites will not catch on as a means for the general public to learn more about their doctors. The Web sites are new, and increased usage may not occur until more pressure is given by insurance companies to subscribers to use highly-rated doctors. Also, new Web sites such as these often need word-of-mouth support to get more visitors—something which will take time, the article says.
To read the article, click here.
