Have you ever been out of town traveling, whether on business or for pleasure, and needed a dentist or doctors office? I remember a few years ago when I was in California at a conference and I cracked a tooth. On top of being in pain, I was worried about who to see and would I find someone I could trust who could take me right away. I did an online search and came across sites like Beforedent which could give me some tips on what to do and how to manage the pain I was in. Although, that was a quick fix and I still needed to see a dentist as soon as possible. That is the exact problem for most people: How do you find someone fast who can see you immediately and will also take your insurance? Traditionally, you’d need to do a search online and randomly call until you find someone who could see you. That is, until now. Enter ZocDoc, a new website and app for iPhone and Android users that lets you find a nearby doctor or dentist, book an appointment immediately, and see the doctor typically within 24 hours. How simple is that?
Simply search for a doctor by city, specialty, insurance, or a variety of other parameters including language. Fill out the pre-visit appointment online and all of this is done at no cost to you. Yes, you read that correctly. This service is free for patients via ZocDoc.com or the free ZocDoc app for iPhone and Android. How are they able to make it free for users? Healthcare providers who partner with ZocDoc pay a subscription fee to be included in the service. Genius!
How did ZocDoc come about? From ZocDoc:
ZocDoc was actually born out of our CEO & founder Cyrus’s travel need back in 2007 when he burst his eardrum upon landing from a cross-country flight, and couldn’t find a doctor for four days. And Cyrus solved his own problem last year when he landed from a flight at 2 am and was taking his baggage off of the carousel when he tore the ligament in his knee. Before he even got to the cab, he whipped out the ZocDoc app and had a 9 am appointment booked for the next morning – just 7 hours later!
Can you believe that more than five million people are already using ZocDoc each month to find a doctor or dentist, read verified reviews and health content, and instantly book appointments online? They cans simply search for “Dentist Fort Wayne“, or wherever they are and find a suitable practice. Instead of going to the Emergency Room, ZocDoc gives travelers another option that is priceless:
An estimated 35% of patients who seek help in an ER could go to a doctor’s office instead – at an 80% discount! For non-urgent conditions, we connect travelers to local health professionals to keep them out of the ER and back to enjoying their vacation quickly and without breaking the bank on their care.
While this is a brand new app and simple to use service, not all doctors in all specialties in all areas are available, but new doctors are constantly being added. ZocDoc is currently available in nearly 2,000 cities and covers 40 percent of the U.S. population. Best of all, the creators of ZocDoc hope to take the app international, which is great for the jet setting travelers amongst us.
Before you take off on your next trip, consider downloading the app before you leave home. You never know if you might need it. This service can give you the peace of mind you need before you or a loved one leaves for a trip. It’s also great for anyone moving to a new city or college students. The options are unlimited!
Have you used ZocDoc?