Patient Review Platforms: Which Matter Most for Australian Doctors?

For Australian doctors, 73% of patients check online reviews before selecting a new practice. Google Reviews, Healthshare, and RateMDs Australia are the platforms that matter most—each serving distinct purposes and reaching different patient demographics. Mastering these three platforms should be your priority, with secondary platforms monitored only if capacity allows.

Why Patient Reviews Drive Practice Growth#

Online reviews are permanent, searchable, and influence patient behaviour at scale. A single negative review on a high-traffic platform can deter dozens of potential patients, while a strong collection of positive reviews builds trust that translates directly into appointment bookings.

Unlike traditional word-of-mouth referrals, reviews are visible to hundreds of potential patients simultaneously. 92% of Australian patients read reviews before booking, and practices with 30+ reviews see 20-30% more inquiries than those with fewer.

The challenge is clear: not all review platforms are created equal. You need to focus on platforms that actually move the needle for your practice.

Google Reviews: Your Foundation#

Google Reviews is non-negotiable. When patients search "GP near me" or "dentist in Parramatta," your star rating appears prominently next to your practice name, address, and phone number—often the first impression potential patients have.

Google's local search algorithm rewards practices with more recent, higher-quality reviews. This means strong review management directly improves your visibility when patients are actively searching for practitioners in your area.

Essential actions for Google Reviews:

• Claim and fully optimise your Google Business Profile • Encourage satisfied patients to leave reviews at point of care • Respond to every review—positive and negative—within 48 hours • Target 20-30 reviews to establish credibility • Personalise responses rather than using generic templates

A Melbourne-based GP practice increased their Google review count from 8 to 47 within six months through systematic review requests at checkout. Their local search visibility improved dramatically, resulting in a 34% increase in new patient inquiries.

Healthshare: Australia's Medical-Specific Platform#

Healthshare is Australia's dedicated healthcare review platform and growing rapidly in importance. Unlike Google, Healthshare users come specifically to research doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, and other health professionals—they're in active "research mode."

This specificity is powerful. Patients often compare multiple practitioners on Healthshare before deciding. The platform also enables detailed profiles including service descriptions, qualifications, practice photos, and availability information.

Healthshare best practices:

• Complete every profile field without exception • Add high-quality photos of your practice and team • Write a compelling practice description (150-200 words) • Monitor and respond to reviews at least weekly • Actively encourage new patients to leave reviews

A Sydney dentist increased from 12 to 34 reviews and improved their rating from 4.2 to 4.7 stars within nine months by actively engaging with the platform. Their patient acquisition from Healthshare referrals increased by 28%.

RateMDs Australia: International Reach, Local Presence#

RateMDs is the international player in the Australian market. While secondary to Google and Healthshare, it deserves monitoring because:

• It ranks highly in Google searches for "doctor reviews Australia" • International patients researching Australian practitioners may find you here • Unresponded negative reviews damage your reputation • Specialists and cosmetic practitioners benefit particularly from RateMDs presence

RateMDs management approach:

• Claim your profile if unclaimed • Ensure all information is accurate and current • Monitor monthly for new reviews • Respond professionally to all feedback • Treat this as secondary priority—don't overinvest

Secondary Platforms Worth Monitoring#

While Google, Healthshare, and RateMDs are your priority, several other platforms deserve awareness:

• Facebook Reviews: Reaches older demographics effectively; often overlooked by practitioners • Practo: Growing in Australia; strong in Asia-Pacific region • Industry-specific platforms: DentistRatings, PsychologyToday Australia, and specialty-specific sites

Don't spread yourself too thin. Master the big three first. Only expand to secondary platforms if you have dedicated capacity to manage them properly.

Managing Multiple Platforms Efficiently#

Centralise Monitoring#

Track reviews across all platforms in one place with automated alerts for new reviews. This prevents reviews from being missed or forgotten.

Create Response Templates#

Develop 3-4 templates for common scenarios:

• Thank you for positive reviews • Addressing specific concerns in negative reviews • Inviting patients to discuss issues privately • Acknowledging feedback and requesting more detail

Personalise each response by referencing specific details from the review.

Establish a Weekly Review Routine#

Set aside 30 minutes each week to:

1. Review all new reviews across platforms
2. Respond to unanswered reviews
3. Identify patterns in feedback
4. Track metrics

Assign Clear Responsibility#

Designate someone on your team as the "review manager" to ensure consistency and accountability. This role should be documented in your practice procedures.

Implement a Patient Review Request System#

• Train staff to mention reviews verbally at checkout • Send follow-up emails with direct review links • Include QR codes in appointment confirmations • Make review requests part of your practice culture

A Brisbane medical practice increased their monthly review volume from 2-3 to 12-15 reviews across all platforms within three months using this systematic approach.

Responding to Negative Reviews Professionally#

Negative reviews are inevitable. Research shows practices responding professionally to negative reviews actually build more trust than those with only positive reviews.

The Response Framework#

1. Wait 24 hours before responding (avoid emotional reactions)
2. Apologise for the experience (even if you disagree with the assessment)
3. Take it offline (invite them to discuss privately)
4. Offer a solution (if appropriate)
5. Keep it brief (2-3 sentences maximum)

Example response: "Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry your experience didn't meet expectations. We'd like to understand what happened—please contact us directly at [phone/email] so we can discuss this further."

What NOT to Do#

• Argue with the patient or make excuses • Ignore negative reviews • Respond with anger or defensiveness • Ask patients to remove reviews (violates platform terms)

Key Metrics That Matter#

Track these metrics across all platforms:

• Average star rating (target: 4.7-4.9 stars) • Number of reviews (growth rate month-over-month) • Response rate (percentage of reviews you respond to) • Review sentiment (positive vs. negative vs. neutral) • Patient acquisition from reviews (track booking source)

Australian research shows: • 4.9-star rating is the "sweet spot" for patient confidence • Patients who read 3+ reviews are 40% more likely to book • Patients who saw a recent response are 25% more likely to choose a practice

Common Mistakes to Avoid#

1. Ignoring reviews entirely – Sends the message you don't care about feedback

2. Only responding to negative reviews – Thank patients for positive reviews to encourage others

3. Generic, impersonal responses – Reference specific details from each review

4. Neglecting secondary platforms – Ignoring Healthshare or RateMDs leaves reputation gaps

5. Not training staff – Make review requests part of your culture

6. Focusing only on star ratings – Comments and detailed feedback matter more

7. Expecting perfection – Some negative reviews are inevitable and actually build credibility

Your Implementation Timeline#

This week:

1. Claim/verify profiles on Google, Healthshare, and RateMDs
2. Ensure all information is accurate and complete
3. Respond to any existing reviews
4. Take baseline screenshots of current ratings

This month:

1. Train your team on review requests
2. Establish a weekly review check routine
3. Create 3-4 response templates
4. Request reviews from 10-15 satisfied patients

This quarter:

1. Accumulate 15-20 new reviews
2. Improve average rating by 0.2-0.5 stars
3. Establish a sustainable review management system
4. Measure patient acquisition from reviews

Conclusion: Building a Reputation That Drives Growth#

For Australian doctors, patient reviews are essential infrastructure for practice growth. Google Reviews, Healthshare, and RateMDs Australia represent where your patients are looking and deciding.

You don't need to be a marketing expert to succeed. Consistent, professional review management—responding thoughtfully, encouraging satisfied patients to share feedback, and monitoring your reputation across key platforms—creates a virtuous cycle of trust and patient acquisition.

Start with Google, then Healthshare, then RateMDs. Build a sustainable weekly routine. Track what actually drives patient bookings. Over time, your online reputation becomes one of your practice's most valuable assets.

The practices pulling ahead in competitive Australian markets aren't those with the fanciest websites or biggest marketing budgets. They're the ones with strong, authentic patient reviews and a demonstrated commitment to patient feedback. Your patients are already talking about you online. The question is: are you listening and responding?