By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Little Blue Book Blues: Doctors Think Their Website is a Failure
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Little Blue Book Blues: Doctors Think Their Website is a Failure
eHealth

Little Blue Book Blues: Doctors Think Their Website is a Failure

Kathy Gaughran
Kathy Gaughran
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Although US doctors recognize that many (perhaps most) new patients are searching online for healthcare information and providers, it seems that few doctors believe their website motivates patients to call their office.

Although US doctors recognize that many (perhaps most) new patients are searching online for healthcare information and providers, it seems that few doctors believe their website motivates patients to call their office.

The majority of medical practices in America have a website, but data from The Little Blue Book’s National Physicians Survey 2012: The Health of the Practice suggests that their website fails to bring in new patients. The iconic Little Blue Book (LBB) is just as ubiquitous as physician websites, and is now owned by interactive health and wellness social platform Sharecare.

When the LBB survey asked: How do you advertise for new patients?, respondents said they rely mostly upon word of mouth and professional referrals. Here’s the breakout:

More Read

Social Networking Analysis Shows Promise for mHealth – video interview
SAS and GSK Pull Big Pharma Into Big Data Collaboration
What Social Media Site Is Your Doctor Networking on?
Beyond the Buzz: 3 Free Tools to Help You Measure Your Twitter Influence
FDA Proposed Guidance on Mobile Health Apps
  • Word of Mouth: 71 percent
  • Practice Network referrals: 33 percent
  • Print directories: 29 percent
  • Internet searches: 22 percent
  • Print ads: 2 percent
  • Online sites: 8 percent
  • Don’t advertise: 27 percent
  • Not taking new patients: 5 percent
  • Other: 5 percent

The national physicians survey found that 22 percent believe internet searches bring in new patients, but only 8 percent feel their website is the source. Orthopedic Surgeon Howard Luks, MD, posted his ideas and comments about these results, calling for physicians to “establish a deep digital presence.”

Dr. Luks wrote on his blog: “Ninety-five percent of online health related discussions take place without a physician being present. When ready and capable, root that presence deeply in social media. These enable the basic tenets of outbound marketing efforts. Take advantage of what a deep digital presence offers: humanize your organization, foster your relevance, educate, engage and help patients clear that windshield of doubt.”

He suggests even deeper ways to engage patients. “Embed enabling technologies [allow] patients to schedule visits at a time of their choosing, enable them to manage their PHI online, communicate with your staff digitally and provide them with a secure, intelligent email system which will streamline the communication workflow within your practice.”

We like Dr. Luks recommendations as a starting point for making physician websites earn their keep and bring more new patients into the office. Having a website that is little more than a directory listing is, at best, an inefficient use of marketing resources. Healthcare websites that connect, engage and produce new patient appointments will also support patient and professional referrals.

An infographic summary, and the full report, The Little Blue Book’s National Physicians Survey 2012: The Health of the Practice, is available here. And for related reading about how to avoid the most serious pitfalls in planning and producing a revenue-generating website, see: 7 Mistakes Doctors and Healthcare Organizations Make When Getting Their Website Done.


TAGGED:engaging patients online
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

old school ivory tower hospital
BusinessSocial Media

How Hospital Marketing is Thinking Beyond the Ivory Tower

September 14, 2016
healthcare social media
Social Media

Beyond the Buzz: A Twitter Tool to Better Manage Your Healthcare Marketing

June 13, 2014
mobile health in india
eHealthGlobal HealthcareMobile Health

mHealth India: Insurance and Technology

August 21, 2013
Image
eHealthPublic Health

Person-Centered HealthCare: The FDA Gets Patient-Centric

May 31, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?