Updated Google Guidelines for Practitioners & Departments

[Linda Buquet]

However, in the not too distant past, there was a time where I provided services at as many as 3 locations. If I had wanted to hire Rachel to promote me in Local Search back then, my goal would be to promote ME, not the group practices where I provided services.

Forgot to mention I was asking Google about this today and alerted them to this thread and one of the situations I brought up is similar to your situation above David. I said many times there are medical specialists like podiatrists that don't even have their own office. They practice at 2 or 3 general practitioner offices and are at each certain days of the week.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hey Rachel, followed up on this with Google. Please see PM.

Thanks, Linda

 

[Margaret Ornsby]

Hi Linda

I work with practitioners who work out of other people's offices. Am curious to know the outcome. Thx!

 

[Linda Buquet]

I got confirmation that practicing at multiple locations should be OK as long as the hours where the doctor is at one place or the other is clearly stated.

 

[Andrew Sawyer]

I got confirmation that practicing at multiple locations should be OK as long as the hours where the doctor is at one place or the other is clearly stated.

Do both have to be established times or just one of them? Seems both would have to be. How was it confirmed?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Yes I believe both locations should list times the practitioner is actually there.

 

[rossicone]

Yes I believe both locations should list times the practitioner is actually there.

Hi Linda!

Just wanted to confirm that this is for individual doctor listings. For practice listings, we can list the hours the office is open since staff members are available right? For doctor listings we have to put the hours the doctor is actually in the office?

I have many clients who are at their secondary office based off of when appointments are scheduled. Their schedule there will change depending on it. What do you suggest we put for hours because of this? I used to put the hours the actual office was open, but it seems like we cannot do this anymore.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Rachel, I'm sorry I'm not sure.

I know that in the REAL world that's how many Drs. work, but Google's world and rules are often not very flexible at mimicking the real world.

All I can say is that a person cannot be in 2 places at once, so the Drs. hours at each location should not overlap.

 

[rossicone]

All I can say is that a person cannot be in 2 places at once, so the Drs. hours at each location should not overlap.

It makes sense when you put it like that, even though it doesn't mimic the real world exactly for doctors. Maybe in the future Google will change her guidelines, but I guess all we can do now is abide by them! Thanks for your input on this!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Maybe in the future Google will change her guidelines...

LOL! Now you sound like me.

 

[rossicone]

@Linda

I spoke with another Google support rep about this and he said that I could keep the same hours on two different doctor listings as long as I wrote "By appointments only" in the description. I was wondering if you have heard anything about this? I can't tell if I got lucky with this one rep or if this is a new thing that is rolling out. I'd love to get your opinion on it.

Thanks!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for sharing.

The other possibility is that the rep you talked to is off script or misinformed.

We've talked to Google about this at length and I believe the last word we got was that just putting by appointment only would not fly and they had to be contactable at that location during the hours stated.

Realize one of the biggest related problems Google faces in this regard, is all these attorney's who set up 18 offices in surrounding cities. They are really never there, it's just for marketing purposes to appear they have local offices. Usually just an executive suite or whatever.

So if Google allowed what the rep told you, that would open up all these attys to just do the above and put appointment only in the description.

I'll ask Google for clarification since a rep told you this.
Possibly it's allowed for Drs, but I have a feeling no...

 

[Linda Buquet]

Rachel see PM.

 

[Mike Remer]

Linda,
What's the verdict?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Mike,

Waiting for additional info from Rachel then Google will look into it.

Update when I have anything to share.