Starting Google Ads for your medical practice requires careful attention to HIPAA compliance and effective patient acquisition strategies. This guide walks you through the setup process step-by-step.

Pre-Launch Checklist

Review HIPAA compliance requirements
Ensure website has privacy policy
Set up secure contact forms
Define your target patient demographics
Determine your budget
Identify key services to promote

Setting Up Your Account

Create Google Ads account
Choose "Get more website visits" as goal
Select Search campaign type
Set daily budget ($30-100/day recommended)
Target local area (3-10 mile radius)

Keyword Selection

Start with these high-intent keywords:

"[specialty] doctor near me"
"accepting new patients [city]"
"doctor that accepts [insurance]"
"primary care [neighborhood]"
"urgent care [city]"

Writing Compliant Ad Copy

Example compliant ad:

Headline 1: Primary Care | Accepting New Patients

Headline 2: [City] Family Medicine

Headline 3: Most Insurance Accepted

Description: Board-certified family medicine practice serving [City] for [X] years. Accepting new patients. Most insurance plans accepted. Convenient location with extended hours. Schedule your appointment today.

HIPAA-Compliant Landing Pages

Use general language, not patient-specific
Include privacy policy link
Secure contact forms (HTTPS)
Clear disclaimers
No pre-filled patient information

Monitoring and Optimization

Track phone calls and form submissions
Monitor search terms for irrelevant clicks
Add negative keywords regularly
Test different ad variations
Review performance weekly

Conclusion

Starting Google Ads for your medical practice requires careful planning and HIPAA compliance. Begin with a modest budget, target high-intent keywords, write compliant ad copy, and monitor results closely. With proper setup and ongoing optimization, Google Ads can be an effective patient acquisition channel.