Why medical are different
Patients choose clinics on trust, and trust is built almost entirely from public reviews. But healthcare is also the trade where an aggressive review programme does the most damage — asking mid-consultation, or asking only patients who seemed pleased, reads as pressure and creates real compliance risk.
The workable approach is passive and universal. A discreet reception sign, a waiting-room card and an aftercare insert make the option visible to every patient without any staff member raising it during care. Nobody is singled out, and nobody is screened.
GuestReview Pro is deliberately incapable of gating: there is no pre-screening step, no sentiment question and no way to route unhappy patients somewhere else. Every scan opens the same public Google review form, which is both a policy requirement and the right default for a clinical setting.
Where to put the code
Placements ordered roughly by how well they perform in this trade.
| Placement | Format | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Reception desk | A5 sign in an acrylic stand | Visible during booking and payment, entirely optional and never raised by staff. |
| Waiting room | A4 portrait poster | Long dwell time and no clinical context. The least intrusive placement available. |
| Aftercare leaflet | A6 insert | Reaches the patient at home once treatment has settled and an opinion has formed. |
| Appointment reminder card | 86 × 54 mm card back | Travels with the patient without ever being handed over as a review request. |
| Practice website | 400 × 400 px review badge | Serves patients who never look at anything printed in the building. |
| Corridor to exit | A5 poster | Seen on the way out rather than during care. |
Clinic pack
A restrained, professional set for reception, waiting areas and aftercare, with muted templates suited to clinical environments.
A5 reception sign
148 × 210 mm · min QR 55 mm
Foamex or acrylic sign
A4 portrait poster
210 × 297 mm · min QR 75 mm
170 gsm silk poster
A6 room compendium insert
105 × 148 mm · min QR 40 mm
350 gsm silk insert
Key-card wallet insert
86 × 54 mm · min QR 25 mm
300 gsm insert card
Website review badge
400 × 400 px · min QR 220 px
400 × 400 px, PNG
A5 portrait poster
148 × 210 mm · min QR 55 mm
170 gsm silk poster
When to ask
Never during treatment
Keep the ask out of consultation and treatment rooms entirely. Reception, waiting areas and aftercare only.
Same visibility for everyone
Passive placement means every patient sees the same option. No staff member decides who gets asked.
Nothing about clinical outcomes
Copy should reference the visit and the service, never results, recovery or specific treatments.
Get the placement guide
Frequently asked questions
Is asking patients for Google reviews allowed?
Asking openly and universally is generally acceptable, but professional bodies differ by country and specialty. Check your regulator's guidance — and never solicit reviews that reference clinical outcomes or identifiable treatment details.
Can we screen out unhappy patients?
No. Review gating breaches Google's policies, and GuestReview Pro cannot do it: every scan opens the same public review form.
Should staff mention the code during appointments?
We recommend against it. Passive placement in reception and waiting areas keeps the ask out of the clinical relationship entirely.
Do the designs have to look promotional?
No. The clean minimal template uses restrained typography and no star imagery, which suits clinical environments far better than a bold review layout.