In 2024, millions of patients turned to Zocdoc to find healthcare providers across every state and specialty, booking appointments instantly online. Every click revealed patient preferences, including for ear, nose & throat (ENT) care.
By analyzing these patient behaviors, we uncovered powerful insights to help practices better support their patients. Here’s what Zocdoc data revealed about ENT patients in 2024.
Who was looking for new ENT providers?
In 2024, 51% of patients were male; 49% were female. Patients looking for new ENT providers also skewed young. Nearly half of patients (48%) were 26 and under and a quarter (25%) were millennials (ages 27-42).
When did they want to see ENT providers?
Patients prioritized speed to care
In 2024, 63% of ENT appointments occurred within 8 days of booking. This is significant, since it can often take weeks (or even months) to see an ENT provider in the U.S.
Booking flexibility was essential
While just under 10% of patients booked ENT appointments from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., this behavior underscores a critical trend we saw in 2024: patients increasingly value flexibility and convenience in scheduling. Offering online self-scheduling ensures practices can capture these bookings and remain competitive by meeting the needs of patients who prefer to book outside of traditional office hours.
They prioritized the beginning of the week, early fall
The busiest booking days were Monday and Tuesday, with noon being the most popular time slot. October was the busiest month for bookings with 24% more bookings compared to the average month in 2024.
How did they choose ENT providers?
Insurance drove decisions
In 2024, 8 out of 10 ENT patients booked with a commercial insurance plan, and 4 out of 5 chose in-network providers. For those booking out-of-network or without insurance, the top visit reasons included ear pain and emergency visits.
Mobile led the way
67% of ENT appointments were booked via mobile device, a number that continues to increase year-over-year, and underscores the importance of meeting patients where and how they’re searching.
Reviews and office photos mattered
Patients consistently favored providers with more positive reviews and professional office photos. Relative to ENT providers with one to nine reviews, those with 10 to 29 reviews saw 3x as many bookings on average. While many platforms allow anyone to write a review, Zocdoc promotes trust by only publishing reviews from verified patients.
Similarly, providers with four or more office photos got 1.2x as many bookings compared to providers who didn’t show off their office space.
Provider gender played a role
In 2024, male ENTs received 23% more bookings on average than their female colleagues.
Why were they looking for new ENT providers?
Sinus problems, ear pain, and hearing issues were top of mind
The most-booked visit reasons included sinus problems, ear pain, ear infections, hearing problems, ear wax cleaning, emergency visits, and deviated septums.
Where did they want to see ENT providers?
Patients wanted to see providers in-person, close to home
Given the “hands-on” nature of ENT visits, it’s not surprising that patients overwhelmingly preferred in-person visits (99%). They also stayed close to home with 74% of in-person visits taking place within 20 miles.
Looking back at 2024
From prioritizing quick access and long-term relationships to favoring providers with trustworthy reviews, ENT patients made their expectations clear. Understanding these trends and how you can meet patients’ unique needs can position your practice for further growth in 2025. Consult with an enterprise sales representative to learn more about how Zocdoc can grow your business.