How Rankings & Sponsored Placements Work
How Medical Online Directory orders search results, what paid provider plans do and do not change, and how sponsored placements are labeled.
Relevance first
We match your specialty, condition and location query before anything else. A result that does not match is not shown, whatever plan the provider is on.
Then patient signals
Average rating and number of verified reviews break ties among matching providers.
Verification is trust, not position
A verified badge means we confirmed the provider's identity and credentials. It is a trust marker, not a ranking boost.
Paid means labeled
Advertising and sponsored placements sit in clearly marked ad slots outside the organic result order — never mixed silently into results.
Patients never pay
Browsing, comparing and contacting a provider is always free for patients. We do not sell patient contact details.
Common questions
Can a provider pay to rank higher in search results?
No. Search results on Medical Online Directory are ordered by relevance to your search — specialty, location, patient rating and review volume. Paid plans never change that order.
What do paid plans actually change?
Paid plans unlock profile depth (photo, bio, credentials, hours, insurance, languages), a verified badge, the ability to respond to reviews and accept appointment requests, plus analytics for the provider. They do not change ranking or hide competitors.
How do I know when something is an advertisement?
Every paid placement on this site carries a visible "Sponsored" or "Ad" label, and outbound sponsored links use rel="sponsored". If it is not labeled, it is not paid.
Are reviews filtered or edited?
Reviews are moderated only for spam, personal information and abusive content. Providers cannot delete or reorder legitimate reviews — they can only reply publicly.
Where does the provider data come from?
Baseline provider and facility records come from public federal sources (CMS / NPPES). Providers can claim their record to correct or expand it; claims are reviewed before approval.
Think a result or a label is wrong? Email support@medicalonlinedirectory.com and we will review it. See also provider plans and our terms.