Related Terms
Online patient reviews
Healthcare reputation management
See Also
Reviews are a big part of what patients see on a profile. See how practices grow and manage them
Reputation Management
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Category Core: Reputation
Reading time: 1 min
Updated: Nov 2026
Google Business Profile (medical)
Definition
A Google Business Profile for a medical practice is the free listing Google shows in Search and Maps with the practice's name, address, hours, phone number, photos, and patient reviews.
Why the distinction matters
For many patients, the profile is the first thing they see. Based on Curogram's internal data, 90% of new patient leads see a practice's Google Business Profile before they visit its website. That means hours, phone number, and recent reviews do a lot of the first-impression work.
Practices claim and verify the profile through Google, then keep it current. Common gaps are old holiday hours, a phone number that rings to a fax line, or one listing shared across several locations. Multi-location groups usually need a separate profile for each site so patients land on the right address.
Example
A patient searches for a pediatrician near her home on a Saturday morning. Two practices show up. One lists weekend hours, a direct phone line, and reviews from last week. The other shows hours from 2021. She calls the first one.
Frequently Asked
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Is a Google Business Profile free for medical practices?
Yes. Any practice can claim and manage its profile at no cost through Google.
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Should each location have its own Google Business Profile?
Yes, if each location has its own address and staff. Separate profiles send patients to the right office.
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Can a practice remove negative reviews from its profile?
A practice can flag a review it believes breaks Google's content policy, and Google decides. It can reply to any review, as long as the reply shares no patient details.