Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/244404 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
ZEW Discussion Papers No. 21-075
Publisher: 
ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim
Abstract: 
We show that review platforms reduce healthcare interruptions for patients looking for a new physician. We employ a difference-in-differences strategy using physician retirements as a 'disruptive shock' that forces patients to find a new physician. We combine insurance claims data with web-scraped physician reviews and highlight a substantial care-gap resulting from a physician's retirement. We then show that online physician reviews reduce this gap and help patients find a new physician faster. Our results are robust to including a variety of controls and various instruments for the availability of physician reviews, but are not found for patients of nonretiring physicians. By reducing interruptions in care, reviews can improve clinical outcomes and lower costs.
Subjects: 
Healthcare
Online physician ratings
Online physician reviews
Care-gap
JEL: 
I1
I11
I2
O33
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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