How We Rank Clinics & Spas

We do not rank by total review count alone. A clinic with 10,000 reviews and a 3.5 rating should not automatically outrank a clinic with 2,000 reviews and a 4.9 rating. Our algorithm uses a quality-weighted score that rewards excellent care and penalizes poor experiences.

The Formula

Rank Score = (5★ × 1.0 + 4★ × 0.7 + 3★ × 0.3 + 1★ × −1.5) ÷ total reviews × log₁₀(total reviews + 1)

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5-Star Reviews Boost Score

Clinics with a high percentage of 5-star ratings earn the strongest positive weight (×1.0). This rewards clinics that consistently deliver excellent patient experiences.

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4-Star Reviews Provide Moderate Lift

4-star ratings contribute positively (×0.7) — nearly as much as 5-star, reflecting strong but not perfect satisfaction.

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3-Star Reviews Are Neutral

3-star ratings have minimal impact (×0.3). They represent average experiences that neither help nor hurt the score significantly.

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1-Star Reviews Heavily Penalize

1-star ratings carry a strong negative weight (×−1.5). A clinic with many poor reviews cannot hide behind a high total review count.

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Confidence Multiplier

We apply log₁₀(reviews + 1) as a confidence factor. More reviews = higher confidence. This prevents a 5.0-rated clinic with 3 reviews from outranking one with 1,000 reviews at 4.9.

Real Examples from Our Directory

Clinic A — High Volume, Mixed Reviews

Score: 3.08

13,761 reviews — 4.4 avg — 73% 5-star — 6% 1-star

Would rank #1 by raw countNow ranks #8

Fair — volume alone should not guarantee the top spot

Clinic B — High Quality, Strong Volume

Score: 3.83

7,723 reviews — 5.0 avg — 98% 5-star — 0% 1-star

Would rank #2 by raw countNow ranks #1

Excellent reviews with strong volume earn the #1 position

Clinic C — Top Rated, Lower Volume

Score: 3.13

1,483 reviews — 5.0 avg — 99% 5-star — 0% 1-star

Would rank outside top 20 by raw countNow ranks #6

Perfect scores earn a top position even with fewer reviews

Why Not Just Use Review Count?

Raw review count is misleading. A busy clinic with mediocre service will have more reviews than a boutique practice with exceptional care simply because they see more patients. Ranking by raw count punishes quality and rewards volume.

Our approach levels the playing field. A small practice with outstanding patient satisfaction can rank alongside major institutions — as long as there are enough reviews to be statistically meaningful. The confidence multiplier (log of total reviews) ensures we do not over-rank clinics with very few ratings.

Dissatisfaction Risk

A high average rating does not always mean consistent service. Some clinics have a strong overall score yet still generate a significant number of 1-star reviews. Others maintain a slightly lower average but with almost no 1-star ratings — indicating more predictable, stable care.

Dissatisfaction Risk is the percentage of all reviews that are 1-star: 1-star reviews ÷ total reviews × 100. The lower the percentage, the more consistently the clinic satisfies its patients.

Low

< 2%

Moderate

2% – 5%

Elevated

5% – 10%

High

> 10%

This risk score appears as a small badge on each listing card. Clinics with fewer than 5 reviews do not display a risk score to avoid misleading conclusions from small sample sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is the ranking updated?

Scores recalculate on every page load based on the latest review data from Google.

Can a clinic improve its ranking?

Yes. Improving patient satisfaction and encouraging happy patients to leave 5-star reviews directly boosts their score.

What about clinics with no reviews?

They receive a default score and appear after all ranked clinics. We surface them so users can discover new or unlisted practices.

Do paid listings get priority?

No. Our ranking is purely based on patient review data. We do not accept payment for placement in search results.