ZocDoc takes pain out of making appointments

When a startup called ZocDoc whose entire business is to provide a portal for people to make doctors' appointments online moved into my shared Manhattan office, I have to admit I was skeptical about the viability of the company's business plan.

For months the fresh-faced young founders and employees of the company urged me to try the service, which is to doctors what Open Table is to restaurants. People can sign up free, pick the type of doctor they want from a list of specialties, enter their ZIP codes and insurance information, and instantly search for available appointments with doctors in New York City.

I try to avoid going to the doctor as much as possible outside of yearly check-ups, so I resisted trying the service for months. In fact, I honestly didn't think ZocDoc was long for this world, despite its catchy name and the enthusiasm of its staff, which organized a Rock-Band room for the office holiday party and sponsored karaoke happy hours.

One rude experience with a receptionist while I was trying to book an appointment later, I decided to give ZocDoc a whirl when I needed an orthopedic specialist for a shoulder injury.

After I registered on ZocDoc, I found a doctor in Manhattan that took my health insurance plan and choose an appointment at a time that was convenient for me. Immediately after, I received an e-mail to confirm my appointment, as well as a phone call from the doctor's office also to confirm and ask about the nature of my injury. I also requested on the ZocDoc Web site that I be reminded via text message about the appointment on the day it was scheduled -- that feature, too, worked without a hitch.

The appointment itself was a smooth experience. I was greeted by a surprisingly friendly receptionist, seen by the doctor and even had X-rays taken in an efficient manner. After my appointment, ZocDoc e-mailed me and asked me to provide feedback about my experience.

I now know why ZocDoc has garnered funding from high-profile tech executives like Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos and Salesforce.com's Marc Benioff; beat out 1,499 competitors to win Forbes.com's Boost Your Business contest; was tapped by Microsoft to participate in its BizSpark startup program; and recently outgrew its shared office space because it's hiring even amid the worst recession the U.S. has seen in years.

Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world

• Email
• Print
• Share
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Stumble
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine