Journal logo

Factors that influence patients' choice of physician

This is quite an interesting topic.

By Holly HoldenPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
Factors that influence patients' choice of physician
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

6 out of 10 patients choose their doctor to treat them according to how close the hospital is to their location, but in addition to this very important aspect, other relevant criteria help them make the decision. appropriate, such as the opinion of those around you, the success of the doctor, friendly staff, etc.

Most of the time, especially when it comes to children's and family health, the process of choosing the appropriate doctor is lengthy. As a result, to be among the patients' preferred physicians, doctors must be aware of the critical factors that they consider when selecting the best doctor. Here are the factors to consider if you are a physician and want to be on the patient list:

How do patients choose a new doctor?

The first thing you need to know is that the choice is not quick, but from the moment of awareness, it goes through several stages. Awareness of the need for medical practices is the first step, followed by the research and examination process.

At this stage, patients use several means of information, in the first place being the Internet and social networks, after which there is a need to ask for an honest opinion from those around them.

During the research phase, patients will seek pros and cons, so according to statistics, 94% of them read online reviews to evaluate doctors and medical institutions. After finding out and talking to trusted people around them, they will make a decision and make an appointment. At this stage, they will take into account the friendliness of the staff, the speed of scheduling, and the difficulty of the process itself.

After they have presented themselves at the check-in, you have to keep in mind that they are going to tell those around you about the experience at the office, about the services they received and more, so you have to make sure that they leave satisfied and they will come back, moreover, because they will recommend you to other people.

If you make sure that the medical services you provide are preferred by patients at every stage of the decision-making process, you will create long-term beneficial relationships, they will become loyal patients and will recommend you.

Proximity

One of the most important factors that patients take into account when looking for a suitable doctor is their proximity to their home. Often, this is the main search filter in the online environment and not only, for them the doctor must be as close as possible to the location where he is so as not to waste much time on the road, to easily reach the hospital where he will find the right doctor.

Online presence

The Millennials generation appreciates the presence of specialists in the online environment, especially on specialized sites or social networks. Also, the reviews on the pages you have are very important and influence potential patients to choose whether or not to choose you.

The reputation of the doctor and the hospital

In most cases, recommendations from family or friends have a significant bearing on a patient's decision. However, it is good to make sure that you are appreciated and recognized in the online environment, the main source of information for the current generation.

There is no such thing as a patient template; instead, you must understand that patients make various decisions in different scenarios.

Many patients' judgments appear to be influenced just a little by comparative data since they base their decisions on a range of essential features. However, the percentage of people who take these factors into account is relevant, so it is advisable to take all of these things into account if you want to be appreciated and recommended by patients.

humanity

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.