Comparisons
Google AI Overviews for healthcare
What are Google AI Overviews?
AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of Google search results for certain queries.[1]
They synthesize information from multiple web sources, providing a comprehensive answer with linked citations.
For healthcare queries, AI Overviews often appear for symptom searches, treatment questions, and "what is" queries.
AI Overviews push traditional search results further down the page, making top positions even more valuable.
How AI Overviews handle health content
Google is cautious with health-related AI Overviews due to potential for harm. Some sensitive queries may not trigger AI Overviews.[2]
When they do appear, health AI Overviews tend to cite authoritative sources: government health sites, major medical centers, and established health information sites.[2]
Local practice websites are less commonly cited in AI Overviews unless they have strong authority signals.
AI Overviews for "near me" queries may include local business information alongside general health content.
Which healthcare queries trigger AI Overviews?
Informational queries are most likely to trigger AI Overviews: "what is spinal stenosis," "symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome," "how does physical therapy help back pain." These are the queries where Google feels confident generating a synthesized answer.
Treatment comparison queries also frequently trigger them: "surgery vs physical therapy for herniated disc" or "is chiropractic safe during pregnancy." Google aggregates perspectives from multiple authoritative sources.
Queries with potential for harm are less likely to trigger AI Overviews. Direct medical advice queries ("should I take ibuprofen with blood thinners") and emergency queries ("symptoms of stroke") often suppress AI Overviews in favor of authoritative direct links.
Local queries ("orthopedic surgeon near me") typically show the local pack alongside or instead of AI Overviews, preserving the path to individual practice websites.
Getting cited in AI Overviews
Rank well: Sites that rank on page one are more likely to be cited in AI Overviews.[1]
Answer questions directly: Content that clearly answers specific questions is more extractable.
Build authority: E-E-A-T signals matter. Clear credentials, reputable links, and comprehensive coverage.[2]
Structure content: Use clear headings, lists, and structured data to help AI parse your content.
Target specific queries: "What is [condition]" and "How to treat [condition]" formats often trigger AI Overviews.
Impact on healthcare marketing
AI Overviews reduce clicks to individual websites by answering queries directly.
However, being cited in an AI Overview builds brand awareness and authority.
Local pack results often appear alongside AI Overviews, maintaining visibility for practice searches.
The practices most affected are those relying on informational content that's now answered directly by AI.
The strategic response is to optimize for both: create content that's authoritative enough to be cited in AI Overviews while maintaining strong local signals that drive direct patient actions (calls, directions, appointment booking).
Key takeaways
- AI Overviews appear for many healthcare searches, pushing organic results below the fold
- Google applies extra caution to health-related AI content – some queries suppress AI Overviews entirely
- Being cited requires page-one rankings, strong E-E-A-T signals, and extractable content
- Local pack results remain the primary patient acquisition channel alongside AI Overviews
- Practices need a dual strategy: authoritative content for AI citation and strong local signals for direct actions
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this topic.
No. Google suppresses AI Overviews for many sensitive health queries, particularly those involving emergency symptoms, drug interactions, and direct medical advice. Informational queries ("what is spinal stenosis") and treatment comparison queries are more likely to trigger AI Overviews. Local queries ("doctor near me") typically show the local pack instead.
Related concepts
Foundational definitions
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
When a patient asks ChatGPT "best orthopedic surgeon in Boston," is your practice among the sources it cites? With nearly 60% of US adults searching for health information online, and AI tools rapidly becoming part of that journey, practices that aren't optimized for answer engines are invisible to a growing segment of patients.
How it works
How AI search works
AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews are changing how people find information. Understanding how these tools work is essential for ensuring your practice gets discovered and cited.
How it works
Zero-click search in healthcare
Zero-click searches occur when users get the information they need directly from the search results page without clicking through to any website. With 58.5% of US Google searches now ending without a click, healthcare practices face significant implications for visibility and patient acquisition.
How it works
How Google ranks medical content
Google applies heightened scrutiny to medical content because it can significantly impact people's health, safety, or finances. Understanding how Google evaluates healthcare websites is essential for ranking well.
Foundational definitions
Medical schema markup
Schema markup is a structured data vocabulary that helps search engines understand your content beyond the words on the page. For healthcare practices, medical schema types communicate your services, provider credentials, treatment details, and clinical expertise in a format that both search engines and AI systems can reliably parse and cite.
For healthcare practices
See how this applies to specific specialties.
Related problems
Common challenges this concept helps address
Common Problem
Why Your Practice Ranks Well But Phones Aren't Ringing
Your website shows up on Google. Your SEO reports look healthy. But the phones aren't ringing like they used to. You're not imagining it – something fundamental has changed in how patients find and choose healthcare providers.
Common Problem
Why Your Website Traffic Is Up But Phone Calls Are Flat
Your analytics show website traffic growing – month over month, you're getting more visitors. But your phone isn't ringing any more than before. New patient inquiries remain stubbornly flat. This disconnect between traffic and results is increasingly common, and it signals a shift in how patients are using search.
Sources
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