WORD-OF-MOUTH AND REFERRAL

In 2007, 28 percent of respondents needed a new specialist physician. 

Among consumers who found a new provider, few engaged in active shopping or considered price or quality information, especially when choosing specialists. 

When choosing specialists for medical procedures, most consumers relied exclusively on physician referrals.

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"Word of mouth and physician referrals still drive health care provider choice." by Tu HT, Lauer JR, Res Brief. 2008 Dec;(9):1-8..

Roughly four out of every ten new patients say information from a family member, friend, relative, neighbor or co-worker is the reason they chose a new physician.

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"Investigating word-of-mouth (WOM) factors influencing patients’ physician choice and satisfaction." Metin Argan, International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 2016, 5, 1:191-198

Research carried out by UK HealthCare found that experience-based WOM marketing was responsible for one out of every four new patients.

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Gombeski Jr W, Britt J, Wray T, et al. Spread the word. Word of mouth is a powerful, but often undervalued, marketing strategy---here's how to harness it. Mark Health Serv. 2011; 31(1): 22-25.