ZocDoc Comes to Minnesota, Helping Patients Find Doctors and Instantly Book Appointments Online

MINNEAPOLIS, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ZocDoc, a free online service and app used by more than five million patients each month, arrives in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul areas today, delivering faster access to quality medical care. With ZocDoc, patients can search for nearby, in-network doctors, read verified reviews and health content, see doctors' availability in real time, and instantly book appointments online. While the average wait to see a physician is over 18 days, the typical ZocDoc patient sees a doctor in under 24 hours.

"We've all experienced how difficult it can be to find the right doctor and quickly get an appointment," said ZocDoc founder and CEO Cyrus Massoumi. "With today's launch of ZocDoc in Minnesota, getting in to see the doctor no longer has to be a daunting task. We're looking forward to improving access to care in Minnesota, helping local residents relieve this pain point and take control of their health."

ZocDoc will help Minnesota patients receive faster care by revealing the hidden supply of doctor appointments (including many last-minute cancellations) and making them instantly available online. This transparency reduces patients' long wait times and increases efficiency for local medical practices – a vital service as the Affordable Care Act adds millions of patients but no new doctors to the system.

To use this free service, patients simply visit the ZocDoc website (www.zocdoc.com) or the free ZocDoc mobile app for iPhone or Android and enter their location, insurance, and the type of doctor they would like to see. They can also search by additional criteria, such as gender and languages spoken. ZocDoc then shows local physicians' real-time availability, qualifications, photos, and verified patient reviews to help patients choose the medical provider who best fits their needs. Patients simply select an available appointment time and click to instantly book that appointment. With ZocDoc, patients can book anytime, anywhere – whether the doctor's office is open or closed.

In addition to free online booking, patients can use ZocDoc Check-In to fill out medical paperwork online prior to their visit, and retain it for future appointments. This saves patients time in the waiting room, while providing physicians with more complete and accurate patient information. ZocDoc also sends Appointment Reminders and tailored Wellness Reminders to help patients better manage their health.

At present, patients can use ZocDoc to book appointments with participating Minnesota primary care doctors; dentists; obstetrician-gynecologists; dermatologists; and ear, nose, and throat doctors. Additional physicians and specialties will be added over the coming months. ZocDoc is currently available in over 2,000 US cities, covering over 40 percent of the US population, and will be in every contiguous state in the US by the end of 2014.

To learn more about ZocDoc, please visit the ZocDoc press room. Follow the latest ZocDoc news on the ZocDoc blog, via Twitter, or on Facebook.

About ZocDoc
More than five million patients use ZocDoc each month to find a nearby doctor or dentist, read verified reviews and health content, and instantly book appointments online. By revealing the hidden supply of appointments, ZocDoc helps patients receive faster access to care and optimizes doctors' schedules. With ZocDoc Check-In, patients can fill out their paperwork online prior to their appointment, and physicians receive more complete and accurate patient information. ZocDoc is currently available across 2,000 cities and towns, and covers 40 percent of the US population. This service is free for patients via ZocDoc.com or the free ZocDoc app for iPhone and Android.

Media Contact: Jessica Aptman, 855-962-3621

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SOURCE ZocDoc