Patients often find it challenging to identify the appropriate medical professionals for their specific health needs, which occasionally leads to appointments with unsuitable providers. New York-based healthcare marketplace, Zocdoc, aims to address this matter with the recent launch of a new tool purposed to ensure patients are correctly matched with the right medical practitioners.
Zocdoc, established in 2007, has been facilitating patients to discover and arrange appointments with in-network providers for both physical and virtual consultations. Covering a broad spectrum of medical specialities, Zocdoc’s offerings range from primary care physicians to psychiatrists, OB-GYNs, and dermatologists.
The newly unveiled tool, known as Guided Search, works by posing a sequence of symptom-related queries to patients. Some of these include, “What type of care are you looking for?” and “What best describes the issue you want to address?”. Answers to these questions enable Zocdoc to suggest suitable providers, after which patients can conveniently book an appointment.
Oliver Kharraz, CEO and founder of Zocdoc, explains that most patients aren’t medical professionals and thus, often unsure of which type of doctor they require. Guided Search, he believes, simplifies the process for them. It not only benefits the patients but also proves advantageous for the providers. This feature assists clinicians in preparing for their appointments as it shares information about why the patient is visiting. Moreover, it aidss in “vetting” patients ensuring that these patients are a good fit for their speciality.
The Guided Search function is already showing positive results. In its Beta testing stage, it boosted search-to-booking conversion rates by up to 14%. Additionally, there has been a considerable increase in patients booking appointments for specific care needs such as pregnancy care, cosmetic dermatology care and help with hair loss.
Zocdoc has also uncovered that there is indeed a requirement for Guided Search. The company conducted a survey involving 1,004 adults and 971 providers in January where it was found that roughly 57% of patients have turned up for a doctor’s appointment only to find that the provider was unsuitable for their condition. Conversely, 24% of providers reported frequently encountering new patients that do not fit their speciality.
Kharraz aspires to equip patients with the necessary tools and power to make confident decisions about their healthcare and to effectively aid in pairing the right patient with the right provider. Guided Search, he reiterated, ensures a strong fit for their respective needs.