Healthcare

How a Local Family Clinic Reclaimed Its Reputation Online

10 weeks
San Diego, CA
CoastalCare Family Clinic

The Challenge

Where Things Fell Apart

CoastalCare Family Clinic served hundreds of local families with a strong reputation inside the community, yet their online presence told a completely different story. With only fourteen Google reviews collected over several years and a star rating that fluctuated depending on a handful of comments, the clinic appeared less credible than nearby competitors. Despite excellent bedside manner and loyal patients, the team felt the disconnect every time a new patient said, “I wasn’t sure if I should book… your online reviews seemed outdated.”

The staff cared deeply about the patient experience, but asking for reviews during checkouts felt uncomfortable and intrusive. The clinic administrator tried to monitor multiple platforms manually, switching between tabs to check Google, Yelp, and Facebook, but reviews slipped through the cracks or went unanswered for weeks. Without a consistent workflow, the clinic lacked visibility into what patients loved and what needed improvement.

“We’ve always been proud of how we treat people, but our online presence made it look like we didn’t care about feedback at all,” the clinic director shared. “It just didn’t match who we are.”

The Solution

How EchoRatings Stepped In

To bridge the gap between strong in-person reputation and weak online visibility, EchoRatings implemented an appointment-based review request system that triggered after each patient visit. Automated SMS and email follow-ups gently encouraged patients to share their experience without putting pressure on staff during clinical interactions.

EchoRatings then consolidated Google, Yelp, and Facebook reviews into one clean dashboard, allowing the administrator to monitor activity without jumping across platforms. The system identified reviews needing responses and generated warm, professional, healthcare-appropriate reply drafts using EchoRatings’ AI engine. This preserved the clinic’s tone while removing the anxiety and time burden associated with writing each response.

Weekly sentiment reports highlighted themes—such as praise for specific practitioners or recurring concerns about wait times—giving leadership a clearer picture of patient experience patterns.

The Solution

What Happened Next

Over the first ten weeks, CoastalCare saw a noticeable shift. Patients responded to automated follow-ups at far higher rates than verbal requests, resulting in a steady flow of new reviews across their platforms. Review volume increased from 14 to 76, and the clinic’s average rating stabilized at 4.7 stars instead of swinging unpredictably.

Search visibility improved as well. CoastalCare began appearing consistently in the top local results for “family clinic San Diego,” and new patients mentioned the updated reviews during their first visit. Because Echo Ratings drafted timely responses, the clinic’s reply rate rose from 22 percent to 94 percent, reinforcing the perception that the staff cared about feedback and communication.

Internally, the leadership team found unexpected value in the weekly sentiment summaries. They adjusted scheduling practices, improved waiting room communication, and celebrated staff members frequently mentioned in positive reviews. What began as a reputation project evolved into an operational insight tool.

Why It Matters

Why It Mattered for the Clinic

Healthcare is a trust-based industry. Patients want reassurance before choosing a provider, and outdated or sparse reviews introduce hesitation. By turning everyday appointments into a reliable stream of honest, public feedback, the clinic aligned its online reputation with the real-world quality of care it delivered. This shift increased patient confidence, strengthened referral flow, and gave CoastalCare a competitive advantage against larger chains with bigger marketing budgets.

Echo Ratings Features Used

How EchoRatings Made It Possible

  • Appointment-Triggered SMS & Email Review Requests
  • Multi-Platform Review Consolidation
  • AI-Assisted Professional Reply Drafts
  • Weekly Sentiment & Reputation Reports

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