Online ratings and reviews have become commonplace for many consumer products and have steadily increased for healthcare services such as doctors, hospitals, and insurance plans.

We look for a doctor the same way we look for the best restaurants, clothes, or shoes: checking their reviews.

As healthcare services quickly moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic, provider reviews and ratings became essential. Doctor and hospital visits were allowed in some cases, but in-person care was limited. Many people also felt more comfortable conducting these visits in the privacy of their own homes, according to a 2024 study.

Researchers found that online reviews became increasingly important as more people started using telehealth or virtual doctor appointments. The study also discovered that negative reviews and how doctors responded to them significantly affected whether a person chose that doctor.

But can you rate a doctor the same way you rate a pair of jeans? The short answer is yes, but there are several factors to consider when rating a doctor.

We’ve partnered with Octave to learn more about doctor ratings, what factors to consider, plus how you can use them to help you choose a doctor that fits your unique needs.

Many websites and organizations offer ratings for doctors, hospitals, and health plans.

Each site is unique based on its audience, but the primary goal is to help users like you compare and choose a provider based on performance in certain areas.

You may find ratings for:

  • responsiveness
  • friendliness
  • communication
  • cleanliness
  • timeliness of care
  • appointment scheduling
  • expertise (e.g., of the staff and the doctor)

Along with these ratings, some sites allow users to leave detailed reviews and feedback.

Remember that these ratings are primarily based on a person’s experience and can be biased. Even one negative experience can affect a doctor’s ratings. And an excellent rating can’t guarantee that a doctor will be the best fit for you.

There are also limitations to a rating system, as it doesn’t include all aspects of care. For example, personal preferences, location, or specialty of care aren’t factors that can be measured.

Keep in mind that some websites and organizations offering doctor ratings will feature “sponsored” doctors. These providers may have paid for a profile on the site instead of having a free profile.

To get a more well-rounded view of a doctor, you may want to visit more than one website or organization offering doctor ratings.

Word-of-mouth also works great to get a broader perspective on a doctor. And don’t be shy about talking with the staff and asking the hard questions. Doctor rating websites and reviews are a helpful tool to narrow down your search, but nothing beats good old-fashioned legwork.

Several healthcare rating websites provide reviews and ratings on doctors. Here’s a look at a few and how their ratings work.

Octave

Octave is a modern therapy practice that aims to help users find mental health professionals who offer in-person and online services that fit their needs.

Features: You can filter by insurance, language, location, and condition. You can also book an appointment on the site.

How it works: Octave uses a proprietary tool called the Connect Score to find top-quality therapists who keep their clients engaged and provide excellent care. Using data from over 100 million insurance claims, they have scored over 200,000 mental health professionals.

The metrics used to determine a score include clinical visit history, provider experience, and client retention or satisfaction. Provider scores are refreshed twice a year.

Characterization format: Octave doesn’t have ratings. Rather, each professional gets a characterization for “Clients report a lasting relationship,” with some receiving an additional one for “High satisfaction rate with clients.”

What the characterization is based on: Patient satisfaction surveys

Note: Users are not able to leave comments or feedback on a mental health professional. But you can find a doctor’s license number, therapeutic approaches, and education. The site also lists the provider’s interests, which can be helpful when looking for someone you can relate to on a personal level.

Partner tip

Whether you have a mental health condition, suspect you might, or just need support, talking with a therapist can help you manage the challenges of daily life.

Octave’s online therapy platform can match you with the right mental health provider for your unique needs and budget. Octave’s network of carefully selected therapists, with a wide range of specialties and backgrounds, tailors their conversations to each individual and their goals.

Your needs are unique to you, and Octave therapists share a commitment to provide personalized care and support that meets you where you are.

*sponsored

Healthgrades

Healthgrades provides ratings on doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals.

Features: You can filter by specialty, condition, procedure, and location. You can also find appointment guides, easy-to-understand health information, and more. By creating an account, you can book appointments, receive exclusive discounts on medication, and get appointment reminders.

How it works: Healthgrades uses data from various sources, including patient surveys and reviews, insurance claims, and government sources, to help you find and evaluate your healthcare options. Profiles on Healthgrades will include the doctor’s professional experience, specialties and procedures, hospital affiliations, and feedback and reviews.

Every person featured on Healthgrades who has a listing with the National Professional Identifier Registry (a free directory of all active healthcare professionals) has a free profile. Healthcare professionals can upload photos and add more details to their profiles on the site.

Rating format: Healthgrades uses a 5-star rating scale, with 5 being the best.

What the rating is based on: Patient satisfaction reviews

Note: You can view ratings for the staff’s friendliness, wait times, trustworthiness, and communication. There are also ratings on how well the doctor explained the condition and whether the appointment felt rushed.

Healthgrades also has a feature called “Board Action Check,” which shows if the medical board has taken any actions against the doctor due to a complaint, investigation, or other issue.

U.S. News

U.S. News & World Report features rankings on a variety of services, including education, health, money, and travel. You can find rankings on doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and surgery centers.

Features: You can filter by location, specialty, and insurance. U.S. News & World Report also has condition guides and features “Doctor Advice” articles on various healthcare topics.

How it works: U.S. News & World Report collects feedback from over 200 online sources and uses advanced technology to analyze and categorize the comments. It then scores 10 key client experience areas:

  • ability to answer questions
  • the healthcare professional’s attitude
  • follow-up care
  • time spent with the client
  • inclusion in decision making
  • general feedback
  • thoroughness of the exam
  • clear instructions
  • perceived results
  • loyalty to the healthcare professional

These scores are combined and weighted according to what people find most important. Then, they are adjusted based on the number of reviews to generate an overall rating.

What the rating is based on: Patient satisfaction reviews

Rating format: U.S. News uses a 5-star rating scale, with 5 being the best.

Note: Some doctors may be “sponsored,” meaning the hospital may have paid to feature or “sponsor” that doctor on the site. Some doctors may also have a “Patient’s Top Choice” award, given to those with a 5-star rating. They may also receive awards for any of the 10 experience areas.

Zocdoc

Zocdoc is an online platform where people can find and book appointments with doctors for free.

Features: You can filter by condition, procedure, and doctor. You can also add your location and insurance.

How it works: Zocdoc is a digital marketplace, so doctors pay a fee to list their profiles on its platform. Zocdoc uses a verification process for doctors who sign up.

The platform checks their medical license to make sure it’s active and in good standing in that doctor’s state. They also confirm the doctor’s specialty, education, and board certifications.

What the rating is based on: Patient satisfaction reviews

Rating format: Zocdoc uses a 5-star rating scale, with 5 being the best.

Note: Zocdoc uses a technology called “Patient-Powered Search” to analyze searches and translate everyday language into medical terms. For example, if you search “gyno,” it will match you with an obstetrician-gynecologist without you needing to know how to spell it.

Profiles on Zocdoc include an overall rating based on factors like wait times and bedside manner. They also feature feedback from clients, any awards and publications, and what languages the doctor speaks.

Doctor ratings and reviews can help you narrow your search for the right doctor to fit your needs. However, ratings can be based solely on a person’s experience, and what works for one person might not work for you.

Just like those jeans, you won’t know if a doctor’s the right fit for you until you try them on.