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Remove Negative HealthGrades Reviews

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Guaranteed Removals Comprehensive Guide To Removing Healthgrades Reviews

Welcome to our detailed guide on steps to remove negative Healthgrades reviews, an essential part of our series on content removal and review removal.

This guide offers clear, step-by-step instructions for assessing and, when necessary, removing reviews from your Healthgrades profile.

Whether you’re addressing reviews that violate Healthgrades’ guidelines or responding to patient feedback, this guide provides you with the tools and strategies needed. Our aim is to assist you in upholding a positive online presence, reinforcing patient trust, and ensuring accurate representation on a key healthcare review platform.

Before getting into the removal process, we recommend following these sequential steps for an effective approach:

  • Try to address the patient’s concerns directly, if possible.
  • Evaluate the review to see which guideline it may violate.
  • Flag the review on the Healthgrades platform.
  • If necessary, consider a follow-up or escalation email to Healthgrades.
  • In extreme cases, explore legal options for reviews that may be defamatory or libelous.

Key Points to Remember

  • Healthgrades does not offer a direct “delete” option for reviews.
  • Reviews can be removed only if they are flagged and found to be in violation of Healthgrades’ policies.
  • Reporting a review does not automatically lead to its removal.
  • Negative reviews that comply with the guidelines are typically not removed.
  • Patience is important, as the review assessment process may take time.

If you find it challenging to handle a negative Healthgrades review that you believe violates the platform’s guidelines, or if managing your online reputation is overwhelming, our team of experts at Guaranteed Removals is always here to assist you.

Resolve the Patient or Reviewer's Concerns Directly

Negative reviews on Healthgrades can impact your reputation. Here’s how you can work directly with the review to attempt to remove them professionally.

1. Address Issues Privately

Healthgrades doesn’t have direct messaging, but if you recognize the patient, reach out through appropriate channels.

2. Acknowledge & Respond Professionally

Show empathy. If appropriate, apologize and express your commitment to quality care.

3. Understand & Resolve

Listen to their concerns, clarify misunderstandings, and offer solutions.

4. Suggest a Review Update (If Resolved)

If the issue is resolved, patients may choose to update their review—avoid pressuring them.

5. Learn & Improve

Use feedback to refine your practice and enhance patient experience.

Professional responses build trust and show commitment to patient care. Addressing concerns effectively can turn negative feedback into a positive reputation boost.

Evaluate the Review to See Which Guideline it May Violate

Managing Healthgrades reviews requires following platform guidelines to ensure fair and accurate feedback. Here’s how to identify and report reviews that violate their policies.

Reviews You Can Report

  • False or Misleading Information – Report reviews that misrepresent your services or provide inaccurate details.
  • Conflicts of Interest – Flag reviews from competitors, affiliates, or anyone with a biased agenda.
  • Inappropriate Content – Report reviews with threats, offensive language, or discriminatory remarks.
  • Impersonation & Legal Issues – Reviews should be based on actual patient experiences, not legal disputes or impersonation.
  • Privacy Violations – Report reviews that expose private or confidential patient information.
  • Promotional or Spam Content – Healthgrades prohibits ads or self-promotion in reviews.
  • Misidentification – If a review was meant for another provider, report it as “wrong business.”

How to Report a Review

  • Review Carefully – Ensure the review truly violates guidelines.
  • Select the Right Category – Choose the most relevant reason when reporting.
  • Know the Process – Reporting doesn’t guarantee removal, but it helps maintain accuracy.
  • Stay Professional – Always approach disputes objectively.

Following Healthgrades’ guidelines keeps your profile fair, credible, and reflective of real patient experiences.

For a detailed understanding, you can review all of Healthgrades community guidelines.

Report Reviews to Remove Healthgrades Reviews

To report and remove a Healthgrades review, follow these steps:

Identify the Review: First, locate the specific review you want to report. This could be a fake review or one that violates Healthgrades’ community guidelines, which include name-calling, personal attacks, racist comments, threats, obscenities, phone numbers, email addresses, or URLs.

navigate to healthgrades ratings

Flag the Review: For a comment on Healthgrades: Select the ellipsis (three dots) in the top-right corner of the comment box. For a survey or a fake review: Click “Flag Comment” in the upper right-hand corner of the review.

healthgrades report button

Flag the Specific Survey: For the survey you want to remove, click the ‘Flag’ link to the right.

healthgrades report options

Submit Your Request for Review Removal: After flagging, Healthgrades will review your reasoning and the survey in question before deciding whether to remove it from your profile.

healthgrades report confirmation

Report Reviews in your Healthgrades Provider Profile

This follows the same steps as outlined above for the most part, just from your provider profile dashboard.

  1. Log into Healthgrades Provider ProfileSign in to your Healthgrades provider profile.
  2. Navigate to the Review Page: In the top navigation, click the ‘Patient Experience’ dropdown.
  3. Select ‘Patient Reviews’. This page shows all surveys submitted for you.
  4. Flag the Specific Survey or Review: For the survey you want to remove, click the ‘Flag’ link to the right.
  5. Submit Your Request for Review Removal: After flagging, Healthgrades will review your reasoning and the survey in question before deciding whether to remove it from your profile.
 

Remember, Healthgrades makes the final decision regarding the removal of the review or survey. Reporting a review does not guarantee its removal, even if it is a fake healthgrades review sometimes, but it is an essential step in managing your online reputation.

Escalating Healthgrade Reviews for Removal

To escalate a review to Healthgrades support, including contact by phone and email, you can follow these steps:

  1. Document the Review: Before contacting Healthgrades, document the specific review you wish to escalate. Take a screenshot or note the date, time, and content of the review for reference.

  2. Flag the Review: Initially, flag the review on the Healthgrades platform. This is the first step in notifying Healthgrades of a potential issue with a review.

  3. Prepare Your Case: Compile any evidence or reasons why the review should be escalated. This could include its impact on your practice, why it violates Healthgrades’ guidelines, or any inaccuracies in the review.

  4. Contact Healthgrades Support via Email:

    • Locate the Healthgrades support or contact email address ([email protected]).
    • Compose an email detailing your concerns about the review. Include the documented details and any additional information supporting your case.
    • Send the email and wait for a response. Healthgrades typically provides a timeframe in which they’ll respond.
  5. Call Healthgrades Support:

    • Find the Healthgrades support phone number (1-844-247-2717)
    • Call the number and explain that you have flagged a review and require further assistance.
    • Be ready to provide details of the review and any reference numbers or correspondence you’ve had with Healthgrades.
  6. Follow Up: If you don’t receive a response within the expected timeframe, follow up with another email or phone call. Persistence can be key in getting your issue addressed.

  7. Record All Correspondence: Keep a record of all your communications with Healthgrades, including emails sent and notes from phone calls. This documentation can be useful if there are further complications or if the issue isn’t resolved promptly.

  8. Seek Professional Advice: If the review is particularly harmful or if you’re unsure about how to proceed, consider seeking legal advice or consulting with a reputation management professional.

Remember to approach the situation professionally and courteously, as Healthgrades support staff are more likely to respond positively to reasoned and polite requests. Also, be aware of the limitations and policies of Healthgrades regarding review removals. They may not remove a review simply because a provider disagrees with it; the review must typically violate Healthgrades’ guidelines.

How to Handle Reviews That You Can't Remove

When a negative review on Healthgrades remains after you’ve reported it and followed all appropriate steps to request its removal, consider these alternative approaches:

Legal Considerations

  • Defamation & Illegal Content – If a review contains false, harmful statements, legal action might be an option.
  • Consult an Attorney – Get legal advice on whether the review meets the threshold for defamation.
  • Know the Risks – Lawsuits can draw unwanted attention, damage public perception, and be costly with uncertain outcomes.

Reputation Management Services

  • Professional Help – Reputation management experts specialize in removing harmful content within platform guidelines.
  • Higher Success Rates – Experienced services may have better strategies for addressing violations.
  • Choose Wisely – Vet reputation management providers for credibility and ethical practices.

Strengthen Your Reputation

  • Encourage Positive Reviews – Ask satisfied patients to share their experiences to balance your profile.
  • Deliver Outstanding Care – Great service naturally leads to positive feedback.
  • Highlight Success Stories – Share patient testimonials on your website and social media.

Rather than fixating on a single negative review, take a proactive approach to building a strong reputation. Prioritize patient experience, encourage positive feedback, and use professional help when needed.

Originally published December 19, 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Remove Negative Healthgrades Reviews

Yes, but you cannot directly remove a negative review from Healthgrades. Reviews can only be removed by Healthgrades if they are flagged or reported and found to violate the platform's guidelines or the reviewer removes it on their own. Working with experts like Guaranteed Removals can help ensure that all possible steps are being taken to remove healthgrades reviews.

You can report a review by flagging it on Healthgrades. Find the review on your profile, click on the flag icon or ‘Report’ link near the review, choose the reason that aligns with the violation, and submit your report.

No, Healthgrades does not offer the option to disable all reviews. The platform believes in maintaining transparency and providing patients with the opportunity to share their experiences.

Healthgrades does not typically provide status updates on reported reviews. If a review violates their guidelines, it will be removed; however, this process can take time, and there is no direct way to check the status.

If Healthgrades doesn’t remove a review you reported and you believe it violates their guidelines, you can follow up with an email to Healthgrades for a re-evaluation. In extreme cases, legal advice may be sought, especially if the review is defamatory, but beware of the potential blowback and negative repercussions of taking legal action against reviewers.

Professional reputation management services like Guaranteed Removals can offer expertise and remove healthgrades reviews. They can also help managing your online presence, including generating more reviews, advising on best practices for responding to and managing reviews in compliance with Healthgrades' policies.

The time it takes for a review to be removed (if it is found to violate guidelines) varies and is not specified by Healthgrades. The review process involves careful consideration and can take up to 90 days to work through all possible removal strategies.

There is no cost associated with reporting and removing a Healthgrades review that violates the platform’s guidelines. If you choose to use professional reputation management services like Guaranteed Removals, fees will vary based on the services provided ranging from hundreds to several thousand dollars in most cases.

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Travis Schreiber
Travis Schreiber is a reputation management expert with extensive experience helping individuals and businesses protect their online presence.