ZocDoc – A Marketing Tool for Doctors

ZocDoc is opening up the healthcare industry and giving consumers a straightforward way to find, compare, and make appointments with qualified physicians in their local areas. Using the company’s web-based platform, consumers can quickly determine which physicians within their insurance plans have the most availability, and they can make appointments right away without picking up the phone.

When most people look up information about doctors online, it’s because they’re in pain and they need help immediately. With ZocDoc, you enter the type of specialist you need, your physical location, and your insurance plan. In seconds, ZocDoc will provide you with a list of physicians who meet your specifications. More importantly, ZocDoc will show you when those physicians have available appointments, and you can book a spot right away through the web-based platform. ZocDoc will send you tailored reminders before your appointment, and it can provide you with new patient forms to fill out at home before you arrive at the practice.

For practitioners, ZocDoc serves as a digital marketing platform that brings new patients in and streamlines the onboarding process. ZocDoc handles everything from scheduling, to intake forms, to appointment reminders, leaving physicians and their staffs with more time to handle the pressing matters that come with managing a bustling medical practice.

Practical Uses:

• Find a dermatologist with available appointments next week
• Search for a family doctor who accepts your insurance
• Read reviews of general surgeons in your neighborhood
• Give patients a way to schedule appointments at your practice online

Insider Tips:

• Patients can fill out paperwork online when their physicians participate in ZocDoc Check-In
• Look at education, background, and verified reviews when deciding which doctors to select
• ZocDoc will send an email if an appointment has been rescheduled
• ZocDoc may ask for a referral when making appointments with certain providers

What we liked:

• People can book appointments instantly with doctors in their own neighborhoods
• ZocDoc helps providers improve efficiencies at their practices
• Consumers can make sure the doctors they select accept their insurance plans
• ZocDoc is completely free for patients

What we didn’t like:

• ZocDoc isn’t yet working with doctors in many smaller communities

Alternatives:

• BetterDoctor – https://betterdoctor.com
• DocASAP – http://www.docasap.com

Company Info:

• Launched: April 2007
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: New York, New York
• Founded by: Cyrus Massoumi, Oliver Kharraz, and Nick Ganju
• Web site: https://www.zocdoc.com

Costs:

• Free for patients