Every month, millions of people search for healthcare providers on Zocdoc. The good news is that patients who are looking for new providers on Zocdoc want to find providers they can keep seeing in the long run. In fact, 80+% of Zocdoc patients rebook with the same provider when rebooking in the same specialty.
While January, March and May tend to be the busiest times for new bookings, it’s a great reminder to take steps to ensure new patients become long-term, loyal patients. Looking at the average patient value of the course of a year, the most valuable patients are those who return again and again.
We analyzed Zocdoc’s rebooking data from 2022 and 2023, with rebookings defined as initial new patient visits who later booked again with the same provider. Here are the important insights you can leverage regarding why patients are loyal.
Loyal patient visit reasons
Prioritizing the patient experience from the first visit is key to unlocking loyalty. Across the board, patients rebook with the same providers for the same initial visit reasons, underscoring that they want to find providers they can keep seeing. For instance, when booking an initial appointment with a dermatologist for acne, 52% of patients rebooked with acne as the visit reason. For dental patients who needed dental cleanings, 68% rebooked with the same provider for a subsequent dental cleaning.
In addition to showing that patients want to return for the same visit reasons, the data shows they also like to establish routine care with the same providers. For instance, while a new patient might initially see an ob-gyn for contraception and rebook for the same reason, they also rebook for annual pap smears/exams, vaginal discharge/infections, and follow-ups. Similarly, a patient might establish care with a dermatologist initially for acne, and continue to rebook for annual skin exams and other skin concerns such as rashes. With urgent care, 61% of patients book a consultation initially and rebook for the same reason, followed by rebooking for annual physicals, prescriptions/refills, and sore throats.
Patients seeking ongoing care for routine health maintenance and preventive measures demonstrates the potential for long-term patient engagement and loyalty. Patients are discerning and every person coming in for an initial visit has the potential to become a loyal, long-term patient. By keeping this top of mind, providers can nurture strong relationships, enriching patient satisfaction and increasing loyalty.
Hospital affiliation
Hospital affiliation is one of several factors that can help build patient trust, which is why listing it when applicable can help make your online profile pop. Overall, there is a roughly 7% higher rebooking rate for providers who list their hospital affiliation compared to those that don’t. Primary care providers with hospital affiliation listed, for example, see 8% higher rebooking rates than their non-affiliated counterparts. Patients who see primary care providers for chronic conditions (or when new ones arise) might feel comforted knowing that their doctors are affiliated with larger hospital systems if additional procedures or testing is needed.
Keeping the long-term, lifetime value of a patient top of mind is key. New patients are looking for providers on Zocdoc with whom they can establish a loyal relationship. Download our white paper today to learn more about how to turn new patients into loyal ones.