Medi-Share's PHCS Network and Top Doctor Review Platforms
The Medi-Share network of doctors and specialists (known as a PPO) is called PHCS, which stands for Private Healthcare Systems. It includes over 700,000 healthcare professionals. I can tell you from experience that if there is a particular doctor or healthcare facility that you normally use, the odds are very good that it is part of the PHCS network.
Accessing and Searching the Provider Network
When you join Medi-Share, you will have instant access to their online member's center. If you click on Find A Provider, you are brought to a page where you have options for dental and vision, as well as the 24/7 online doctor's calls done over phone or webcam. You're able to search for specific doctors, or any who meet the criteria you set who are also near you.
To help you find the right doctor for you and your family, you can use the following search criteria:
| Criteria Type | Available Options |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Occupational therapy, pediatrics, and more |
| Distance | 1 mile or 5 miles |
| Demographics | Male or female, certain languages spoken |
From there, you get a comprehensive list of all doctors meeting your criteria. For example, searching for pediatricians within 1 mile, one might get 9 results. However, you need to communicate you have a Private Healthcare System membership when talking with providers. They are likely getting stuck on searching for "Insurance".
Important Considerations for Network Accuracy
So, if your going to use Medishare only do so if the provider is absolutely known to be in network. Do NOT trust their website. Do NOT trust FirstHealth’s Website. Do NOT trust the providers website. Medishare will allow the submission of bill from out of network care but time does not permit me to list all of the unbelievable complications a member has in getting the out of network care bill to Medishare billing. Once/if a bill is processed the can (of course) deny to “share” the bill with you.
The 10 Most Popular and Recommended Doctor Review Websites
Patients today have many options while seeking healthcare providers. How can you make your practice stand out from the wide range of options? It’s time to make sure you’re taking advantage of online reviews because 91% of younger customers trust these more than personal recommendations. Review websites for doctors are a fantastic way to promote your business online and spread the word about how wonderful it is to patients looking for care.
- Google Business Profile: This is a critical platform for local businesses to manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. Since 84% of patients use Google first when making a healthcare decision, keeping this profile accurate and updated is essential.
- Vitals: Features millions of reviews for doctors, hospitals, and other health professionals. Patients can rate doctors on eight different criteria, including wait time, bedside manner, and accurate diagnosis.
- Healthgrades: Calculates the percentage of patients who would recommend a specific doctor to friends and family. Users can sort a list of local professionals by location, gender, quality of reviews, and accepted insurance plans.
- WebMD: Offers a large directory of hospitals and physicians. It combines factual information with public forums, allowing users to find local healthcare providers using ratings and online reviews.
- RateMDs: Allows patients to rate healthcare providers on a five-star scale. The ratings are broken down into four specific categories: staff, punctuality, helpfulness, and knowledge.
- Yelp: A popular business review site that now includes extensive reviews for offices, hospitals, and doctors. In fact, 59% of patients use Yelp when researching their healthcare options.
- Zocdoc: You can search for doctors by specialty, services, location, and credentials. Patients can also book appointments directly through the platform using a “closed-loop” review system.
- RealSelf: A community platform focused on aesthetic treatments like plastic surgery and dermatology. Doctors featured on RealSelf cannot pay to alter or remove consumer reviews, which helps maintain trust.
- Facebook: With billions of users worldwide, Facebook is one of the largest online review platforms. This makes it easy for prospective patients to find your practice.