Near-term healthcare appointments, doctors with hospital affiliations, and dermatology consultations were among the top booking trends for 2023, according to a new report from Zocdoc, a healthcare booking platform and marketplace.
The report, released on December 12, is based on data from millions of patients who used Zocdoc to search for and book in-person or virtual appointments. The platform connects patients to nearly 100,000 providers across 250 specialties nationwide.
Here are some of the highlights:
Women snagged the appointments. About two-thirds of bookers (65%) were women, and of the users who made appointments on behalf of others, 56% were women. Zocdoc also noted that “while women in every age group were more proactive bookers than their male counterparts, the gap closed as patients age.”
Speed mattered. New Yorkers and Texans stood out as patients looking for near-term appointments. Patients in Dallas reported “a 25% higher share of within-a-day appointments than the average,” while Houston saw a 21% higher share and New York a 8% higher share. Overall, “nearly one in three appointments took place within 48 hours of booking, and nearly half of all appointments on Zocdoc took place within four days, showing a strong preference for near-term appointments,” according to the report.
Hybrid models worked. Providers who offered both in-person and virtual appointments were 51% more likely to book patients than those with only in-person slots, and they were also 217% more likely than those with only a virtual option, according to the report. The only caveat? This trend excluded mental health care, which about 86% of patients preferred to receive virtually.
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Hospital connections worked, too. According to the report, “providers who had a hospital affiliation noted on their profile received 3x as many bookings on average compared to other providers in their specialty that did not.”
Geographic preferences. Patients in cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas, Austin, Nashville, and Orlando booked the most virtual care appointments (excluding mental health), while patients in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, and Washington, DC, wanted to see their doctors IRL.
Appointments canceled. Patients canceled more scheduled appointments on weekends and between 6pm and 8pm on weekdays.
Allegiances pledged. Patients swear by their 1) allergist 2) chiropractor and 3) ear, nose, and throat doctor, rebooking with those providers most often, according to the report. Overall, about four in five patients rebooked with the same provider, with men slightly edging out women (82% versus 81%). Gen X and older patients were also slightly more (6%) loyal to their provider than millennial and Gen Z users.
Top bookings. The highest demand for appointments was for annual visits like physicals, ob-gyn care, and dental cleanings, along with specific illness issues and dermatology consultations.
Self-pay splurges. For patients who paid out of pocket, these cosmetic treatments only ranked below immigration medical examinations, according to the report.