When people need a new doctor, they don’t just rely on word of mouth. They search for reputable medical practices on Google. That’s why it’s so important for private practices to
ensure that every search result they appear in is both positive and current, even if that means learning how to exclude words from Google search to control how your practice is perceived.
In today’s healthcare landscape, your online presence is closely tied to your credibility. Outdated information or negative search results can directly impact patient trust, bookings, and revenue.
This guide helps private medical practice owners understand how to identify, remove, or suppress unwanted Google search results, protect their online reputation, and maintain control over their digital presence.
Why Your Google Search Results Matter
When a prospective patient is looking for a new clinic, they turn to Google. In fact, 77% of patients search online before making an appointment — and first impressions often come from your search results, not your website.
This is why so many businesses must learn how to exclude words from Google search results. Your search engine results page (SERP) is where people will make snap judgments about your business. If the first page includes negative content, outdated information, or low-rated reviews, it can shape a patient’s impression of your clinic before they even get in touch.
Common “unwanted” results that can hurt your image include:
- Negative reviews, even if they’re old or resolved
- Mentions of past legal or malpractice issues
- Outdated location, hours, or staff information
- Inaccurate or duplicate third-party listings
- Low-rated directory profiles on sites like Healthgrades or Vitals
It’s no surprise, then, that managing your digital presence is important for private healthcare providers, and has many wondering how to clear Google searches.
Common Causes of Unwanted Search Results for Medical Practices
These unwanted Google search results don’t appear out of nowhere. Before you learn how to exclude words from Google search results, here are some of the most common causes.
Duplicate or Unclaimed Online Listings
Your clinic may have multiple listings across platforms like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Apple Maps. If some of these profiles are unclaimed or outdated, it can confuse search engines, leading to inaccurate information on SERPs.
Inaccurate Health Directory Information
Sites like Healthgrades, Vitals, or RateMDs often pull data from third-party sources. If this information is incorrect, it will appear incorrectly in your search results too.
Media Coverage or Legal Listings
Old news articles or court-related documents can rank highly in search results because these websites have a high authority score, regardless of whether they reflect your practice today.
Negative Patient Reviews or Ratings
A small number of poor reviews can have a lasting impact, even if the issue was resolved or the review was unfair.
Competitor SEO Pushing Down Your Results
Your competitors may be actively investing in search engine optimization (SEO) to outrank you. If they’re producing regular content, optimizing their listings, and accurately targeting keywords, your pages could get pushed further down the search results.
Step-by-Step: How to Exclude Words from Google Search
Removing unwanted Google search results isn’t always straightforward, but there are some proven steps you can take to take control of your SERPs. Here’s where to start:
Step 1: Conduct a Reputation Audit
Before you can fix your search results, you need to know what’s out there.
- Google your practice name, provider names, and key services, just like a patient would.
- Check both standard search and image results.
- Search from different devices and in incognito or private browsing mode.
- Review all the top listings, including third-party directories, review sites, and news coverage.
Then, use tools like Google Alerts to monitor mentions going forward and stay on top of anything before it becomes a problem.
Step 2: Request Corrections or Removals
Once you’ve identified problematic results, you’re now ready to address them.
First, update what you can.
- Update your Google Business Profile with correct contact details, hours, and photos. Make sure only one listing exists per location and that it’s verified.
- Fix or claim third-party listings on platforms like Healthgrades, Vitals, Yelp, and Apple Maps. Many allow you to correct basic details once you’ve verified ownership.
While you can’t directly edit everything on the internet, you can request inaccurate, outdated, or misleading information to be removed.
- Use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool to request updates or removals of pages that no longer exist but still appear in search.
- Contact site owners directly if a listing or article contains false or outdated information.
- In extreme cases, you may choose to file legal takedown requests if appropriate, such as for defamation or outdated legal content under privacy laws.
Remember that not everything can be removed, and you can’t technically delete Google search results. But each successful correction helps improve your overall search profile.
Step 3: Build Positive Content to Outrank Negatives
If you can’t delete Google search results, you can push them down by creating stronger, more relevant content that the algorithm will want to show first.
This could include:
- Regularly publishing content on your website, such as blog posts, provider spotlights, service pages, and patient FAQs
- Encouraging satisfied patients to leave reviews on Google, Healthgrades, or other relevant platforms
- Following SEO best practices by using accurate keywords, including location-based terms, writing clear page titles and meta descriptions, and making your site mobile-friendly
- Creating profiles and contributing to respected platforms, like local directories or healthcare publications
The goal isn’t to hide negative mentions or delete a search on Google, but to make sure that prospective patients get the most accurate picture of your practice.
Step 4: Prevent Future Issues
Now that you’ve done the work to clear unwanted Google search results, you’ll want to keep it looking good. Ongoing management is key to an accurate online presence.
To prevent further issues:
- Standardize your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across all platforms, including Google, directories, your website, and social media. Even small inconsistencies can affect search visibility.
- Regularly check your listings and search results to catch errors early. It’s a good idea to set calendar reminders for audits every few months and to keep your Google Alerts active.
- Keep your website up to date, especially staff bios, services offered, and contact details.
- Train your team on how to respond to online reviews professionally and consistently. A calm and constructive reply can speak more for your reputation than a negative review.
- Have a plan for content updates and review generation, so you continue to publish fresh material.
When to Bring in Experts
Some search issues can be handled in-house, like learning how to exclude words from Google searches. But others are more complex, especially when legal or reputational risks are involved.
If your DIY efforts aren’t making a difference, it may be time to get help. Reputation management agencies specialize in handling unwanted search results, improving online perception, and protecting your brand. Look for partners who understand HIPAA compliance and the unique sensitivity of healthcare marketing.
The right team can help you create a tailored, long-term plan to improve the look of your SERPs and strengthen your practice’s digital presence across every platform. With expert support, you’re more likely to see lasting, measurable results.
Why It’s Critical to Act Now
Medical practices need to act now to take control of their SERPs before negative or outdated content defines their online reputation.
The longer negative results stay visible, the more authority they gain in Google’s algorithm, especially if they’re not actively challenged by newer, more relevant information. Meanwhile, missed visibility in local search can lead to fewer patient inquiries, lower appointment volume, and a direct impact on your bottom line. In short, patients are less likely to trust a practice with online red flags, even if they’re not accurate.
Take control of your practice’s online presence today. Schedule a free online reputation audit for your medical practice. Get expert insight into what’s showing up in search, what’s hurting you, and what to do about it.
