New York – October 07, 2026 -- Castle Connolly, which has vetted top U.S. healthcare providers for more than 35 years, has partnered with reputation management firm rater8 to deploy automated patient review tools across its national network of Top Doctors, Top Dentists, and Top Hospitals.
Partnership pairs peer-nominated rankings with automated patient feedback collection
Under the deal, Castle Connolly will offer rater8's Visibility Engine (raVE) platform to hospitals, group practices, doctors, and dentists nationwide. The combined offering merges Castle Connolly's independent, peer-nominated provider recognition with rater8's automated system for capturing post-visit patient sentiment and generating online reviews.
AI-driven provider search is reshaping patient decision-making
Rater8's 2026 Patient Choice Report found that 47% of patients have used AI tools to research or find a healthcare provider, a 16-percentage-point increase from 2025. The partnership is designed to help providers maintain structured, review-rich online profiles that surface in both traditional and AI-driven search results.
Executives frame the deal as closing a reputation gap for recognized providers
"Today, standing out requires more than clinical credentials alone. Practices must maintain an active, positive presence everywhere prospective patients evaluate their options,