How to Get Patients to Leave Reviews | Easy Guide

You’ve just finished a great appointment with a patient... they leave smiling and thankful. A week later, you check Google—no review, no feedback.

Even the happiest patients rarely leave reviews without a nudge, which is why a smart, ethical review strategy is key to turning their experiences into powerful proof that attracts future patients.

Why Ask Your Patients to Leave a Review?

In healthcare, trust is everything. When someone searches for a doctor, dentist, or clinic, they often turn to online reviews before making a decision.

A well-written review from a satisfied patient acts as social proof, reassuring potential patients that they’ll be in good hands.

Here’s why asking for reviews matters:

• Boosts Your Online Reputation – Reviews from happy patients show consistency and reliability.
• Improves Local Search Rankings – Frequent, quality reviews help your practice appear higher in search results.
• Encourages Practice Growth – Positive feedback can directly increase appointment bookings.

They can also provide valuable feedback for improving your services and help build long-term trust by showing you care about patient satisfaction beyond the consultation room

What Happens If You Don’t Ask Your Patients for a Google Review?

This section walks you through what can happen when you don’t give them that little nudge to share their story on Google.

Reduced Online Visibility

Google considers both the quantity and quality of reviews when ranking local search results. Without a steady stream of feedback, your practice can slip below competitors who actively gather reviews—making it harder for new patients to discover you.

Loss of Patient Trust

A lack of recent reviews can raise doubts. Even if you deliver excellent care, potential patients may assume your practice is outdated, less active, or not well-regarded if they see little to no online feedback.

Slower Practice Growth

Reviews influence decision-making. Without them, you limit the amount of social proof available to win over hesitant patients, which can slow referrals, reduce appointment bookings, and ultimately affect revenue growth.

How to Properly Ask Patients for Google Reviews

The key to getting more Google reviews is to make the process simple, timely, and comfortable for your patients.

Here are some proven methods that work well for healthcare practices:

1. Ask in Person at the End of the Appointment

Nothing beats a face-to-face request while the patient’s experience is still fresh. If they express satisfaction, it’s the perfect time to encourage them to share it online.

Example:

“Thank you for coming in today. We’re so glad you had a great experience! If you have a moment, would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It really helps other patients find us.”

2. Send an Automated Follow-Up Email or Text

Automated review requests ensure you never forget to ask—and they reach the patient when they’re most likely to respond. Keep it short, polite, and include a direct link.

Example:

Subject: Thank You for Visiting [Practice Name]

Body:

“Hi [Patient Name], thanks for choosing [Practice Name]. We’d love to hear about your visit. Please click the link below to leave a quick review—it only takes a minute!”

Want to make this process hands-off? SurgePoint can send automated review requests by email or text right after every visit—so you never miss the perfect moment to ask and your staff doesn’t have to lift a finger.

3. Use QR Codes on Printed Materials

QR codes placed on business cards, brochures, or appointment reminder cards make it easy for patients to scan and go straight to your review page.

Example:

A small card handed after the appointment with: “Your feedback matters! Scan this code to leave us a quick review.”

4. Include Review Links in Patient Portals or Newsletters

If your practice has a patient portal or sends regular email updates, add a friendly reminder with a direct review link.

Example:

“In this month’s newsletter: Stay healthy tips + We’d love your feedback! Click here to share your thoughts on Google.”

5. Leverage Staff Reminders

Train your team to make asking for reviews part of their daily routine—especially front desk staff during checkout.

Example:

Receptionist: “Before you go, we’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a quick review on Google. Here’s a card with the link—it helps us a lot.”

Things to Keep in Mind When Asking Patients for Reviews

Now, before you reach out, here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that whichever method you use will be effective.

Timing Your Request

Ask when the experience is fresh and positive—right after an appointment, procedure, or follow-up visit where the patient expressed satisfaction. Waiting too long reduces the likelihood they’ll take the time to leave a review.

Making It Easy for Patients

The fewer steps, the better. Provide a direct link, QR code, or quick instructions so patients can leave a review in under two minutes. Avoid forcing them to search for your profile, as this can lead to drop-offs.

Staying HIPAA-Compliant

Never include or reference personal health information when asking for reviews or responding to them.

Keep your request generic and avoid specifics about their treatment. If replying to a review that contains sensitive details, thank them and invite them to discuss further through a private channel.

Conclusion

We hope this guide gives you a clear, actionable plan to start getting more reviews from your patients. Whether you’re in healthcare, legal, home services, or any other industry, consistent and authentic feedback can transform how people see—and find—your business.

If you’re in a field like law, dental, medical, med spas, plumbing, or landscaping, we’ve got tailored insights for you—so you’re never stuck wondering where to start.

If you’d like more inspiration, check out our step-by-step guides on asking law firm clients for reviews or requesting testimonials, and dive deeper into reputation marketing to see how reviews fit into your bigger growth strategy.

For those ready to take the next step, our Reviews, Referrals, Insights, and Repeat tools are built to help you collect feedback, track performance, and turn happy clients into repeat business—all without adding more to your plate.

You can explore more tips on our blog or reach out to us directly at info@thesurgepoint.com. Whatever your next move is after reading this, we wish you the best—and we’ll be here to help you every step of the way.

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