Open Yelp, find your doctor, tap “Write a Review,” rate 1–5 stars, share specifics on care, staff, timing, and outcomes — no private health details.
Why Your Doctor Review Matters To Patients
When someone picks a new clinician, they scan real stories, not ads. A clear Yelp review can guide neighbors toward the right fit, warn about red flags, and thank teams that go the extra mile. Your words also help practices learn what to keep doing and what to fix. That’s real value for the next family in the waiting room.
Giving A Yelp Review For Your Doctor: Step-By-Step
Set aside ten minutes. Grab your notes, discharge instructions, or appointment reminders so details are fresh. Then follow the steps below. You can post from the Yelp app or any browser.
Step 1: Find The Correct Listing
Search the practice name, doctor name, and city. Many clinicians share an office or belong to a group, so check that the location and phone match your visit. If you landed on a duplicate or the wrong profile, back up and try again. Accuracy helps other patients reach the right door.
Step 2: Tap “Write A Review” And Pick A Star Rating
On the profile, select “Write a Review,” then choose one to five stars. Stars set expectations at a glance. Use them to match your overall experience, not just a single moment.
Step 3: Draft A Helpful Title Sentence
Start your first line with a headline-style sentence people can skim: “Fast diagnosis after weeks of pain,” or “Thorough exam, long wait.” That opener frames the rest of your notes and draws readers in fast.
Step 4: Share Specifics That Patients Care About
Think about what you wanted to know before your visit. Tackle the basics: scheduling, check-in, wait time, staff kindness, cleanliness, exam time, clarity of the plan, follow-up, billing, and accessibility. Mention the service type — annual physical, prenatal visit, skin biopsy, root canal referral — so readers understand context.
Step 5: Keep It Privacy-Safe
Share your story without posting anyone’s protected health information or another patient’s details. Don’t upload paperwork that shows full names, medical record numbers, or insurance IDs. Skip faces or badges in photos. Your health story is yours to share, but never publish someone else’s.
Step 6: Add Photos Only If They Add Value
Lobby signage, parking, elevator buttons, or seating can help visitors find their way. Skip exam rooms or anything that might reveal someone’s identity. Caption photos so they make sense months from now.
Step 7: Check Tone And Post
Read your draft out loud. Trim heated words and stick to facts you saw, heard, or received. If you were offered a coupon, gift card, or contest entry for any review anywhere, say so in plain text. Then post.
What To Include And What To Skip
The chart below keeps you on track while writing a Yelp review for a doctor.
| Include | Skip | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment type, date range, and reason in general terms | Diagnosis codes, full names, or ID numbers | Gives context without exposing private data |
| Wait time from check-in to room and room to clinician | Guesses about staff schedules or pay | Helps readers plan visits and set expectations |
| How the team explained tests, meds, or referrals | Medical advice for strangers | Keeps your review informative, not clinical advice |
| Accessibility notes: parking, ramps, elevators | Photos of people or paperwork | Useful wayfinding without privacy risks |
| Billing clarity and surprise charges | Private insurance numbers or credit slips | Flags patterns while protecting sensitive info |
Writing A Yelp Review For A Physician: Do’s And Don’ts
Fair feedback helps everyone who reads. These pointers keep your post readable and trustworthy.
Be Specific, Not Vague
“Great doctor” tells little. “Listened, explained X-ray in plain words, and called back the next day” gives readers something to act on. Aim for two to four short paragraphs with concrete moments.
Share Balance When Mixed Things Happen
If the lab lost a sample but the nurse fixed it fast, say both. Balanced notes carry more weight than all-good or all-bad posts. The star rating can land in the middle while your text explains why.
Use Plain Language
Write the way you speak. Short sentences beat jargon walls. If a term matters — “ultrasound,” “colposcopy,” “arthroscopy” — keep it, then add a word or two so non-specialists track along.
Stick To First-Hand Experience
Post only about visits you had. Don’t rate to help or hurt a friend, don’t copy-paste, and don’t use bots. Authentic notes stand the test of time and stay up.
Mind Photos And Files
Before attaching anything, zoom in. If a name tag, wristband, birth date, barcode, or chart peeks out, don’t upload. If you wrote on a form, blur it or keep it offline.
Account Setup, Logins, And Finding The Right Profile
Create or sign in to your Yelp account, confirm your email, and set a clear screen name. Search by doctor name and street, then open the map to spot the exact listing. Many offices share suites, so double-check floor numbers and the practice logo before posting.
What If Your Doctor Isn’t Listed?
Use “Add a Business” to suggest a new profile with the correct spelling, specialty, location, and phone. If there’s a profile for the practice and one for the clinician, pick the one that best matches your visit so readers find the same front desk you did.
How To Edit Or Update Later
Plans change. If the office follows up well or resolves a bill, open your review and tap “Edit.” Add a dated note at the end. Readers love seeing how clinics respond over time.
Keep Your Review Compliant And Safe
Three rules guard quality and safety across review sites: follow platform rules, avoid conflicts, and disclose incentives. Keep these in your back pocket every time you post.
Follow Platform Rules
Yelp bans harassment, hate, threats, conflicts of interest, and fake experiences. It also tells users not to generate reviews with AI tools or scripts. See the Yelp content guidelines for details.
Avoid Conflicts Of Interest
Don’t rate your employer, a relative’s clinic, or a competitor. Don’t review based on headlines or politics. Post about your own visit and nothing else.
Disclose Any Incentive
If you received a discount, sweepstakes entry, freebie, or anything of value tied to posting a review, say so in clear words near the top. Readers deserve context, and the law expects openness about material connections. The FTC explains this in its Endorsement Guides.
Respect Health Privacy
Never post someone else’s protected health information. Keep names of other patients out of photos and text. If a staff reply appears, they cannot reveal your private details — they should respond in general terms without confirming anything about your care. Learn what counts as protected data in the HIPAA Privacy Rule summary.
Make Your Stars Match Your Story
Stars are a shortcut. Your text explains the “why.” Use the table below to align the two, so readers aren’t confused by a mismatch. Keep your scale steady across similar visits over time when possible.
| Stars | What It Usually Signals | Example First Line |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Clear plan, kind team, smooth visit | “Answered every question and followed up next day.” |
| 4 | Strong care with a small snag | “Great exam, thirty-minute wait at check-in.” |
| 3 | Mixed visit with real gaps | “Helpful nurse, rushed exam, billing confusion.” |
| 2 | Poor experience that needs action | “Long delays and unclear plan; still waiting on results.” |
| 1 | Serious issues you wouldn’t repeat | “Canceled twice and no call back; found care elsewhere.” |
Common Situations And What To Write
Long Waits
Note the time from arrival to room and from room to clinician. Say whether staff gave updates or water. Extra detail turns a rant into useful data.
Rushed Or Confusing Visit
Say how long the exam lasted and whether your questions were answered. If you left unsure about next steps, state that in plain words and share whether follow-up fixed it.
Great Listener
Describe the moment you felt heard: repeating back your concern, drawing a sketch, or printing handouts. That helps others seeking the same style of care.
Billing Surprises
List dates, services in general terms, and who you contacted. Avoid posting invoice images with numbers. If the clinic corrected the bill, add that, too.
Accessibility Wins Or Gaps
Tell readers about parking, ramps, elevators, restrooms, signage, and seating. These small notes save strangers big headaches.
How To Flag Problems Or Report Abuse
If you see hate speech, threats, copied reviews, or conflicts of interest, use the “Report” link next to the post. Moderators compare reports to platform rules and remove what breaks them. Don’t argue in comments; let the process work.
Extra Tips For A Standout Review
Write Soon After The Visit
Post while details are fresh. You’ll remember names, timing, and steps more clearly, which makes your notes trustworthy.
Use Short Paragraphs And White Space
Most people read on phones.
Quote Briefly
If a single sentence from the visit captures the moment — “Let’s talk through your options” — include it. Don’t paste long transcripts.
End With Action
Finish with a quick take: “I’d return,” “I’d try another provider,” or “Great care once you get past scheduling.” That last line helps readers decide fast.
Where To Click: App, Mobile Web, Or Desktop
On phones, the Yelp app is fastest for star ratings and photo uploads. Mobile web works well for quick edits. Desktop shines when you’re writing longer notes on a laptop or computer. Use whatever helps you write clearly and safely.
Quick Templates You Can Adapt
Template For An Excellent Visit
“Booked online, check-in took two minutes, and I was in a room within ten. Dr. Lee listened, explained my options, and set a plan I understood. Nurse Maya called the next morning with results and a friendly reminder about the new prescription. Clean office, easy parking, and a calm vibe. I’d send my family here without hesitation.”
Template For A Mixed Visit
“Front desk was kind and the nurse was patient, but I waited forty minutes past my slot and the exam felt rushed. I left unsure about the next steps for imaging. The office manager returned my call the next day and cleared up the order, which helped. Care seemed solid; timing and clarity need work.”
Template For A Tough Visit
“I arrived on time, waited an hour, and received little explanation during a five-minute exam. My messages after the visit went unanswered for a week. When I finally reached the office, a staff member resolved the referral. I appreciate the help, but I’ll try a different clinic for follow-up.”
Before You Hit Post: A Short Checklist
- Does your first line tell readers the gist in one sentence?
- Did you include scheduling, wait time, clarity of the plan, and follow-up?
- Did you remove names, IDs, and faces from any images?
- Did you disclose any perk tied to writing a review?
- Does your star rating match your text?
- Did you proofread for typos and heated language?
Small Edits That Raise Clarity
Swap Heat For Facts
Instead of “worst visit ever,” say “seventy-five-minute wait and a seven-minute exam.” Numbers travel farther than adjectives.
Use Names Sparingly
Thanking a staff member by first name can be kind, yet long lists distract. One name is fine; a roll call reads like a tag fest.
Break Up Long Blocks
Two or three sentences per paragraph help readers skim. Add short subheads like “Billing,” “Wait Time,” and “Follow-Up” to group details.
Your Review Can Help The Next Patient
One post can save a neighbor weeks of guessing. Share what you saw, keep private facts out, and be open about any perk tied to posting. That’s how your Yelp review for a doctor stays helpful and fair for everyone. Your clear notes make choices easier for families who read them after you on Yelp.