{"id":18015,"date":"2024-01-24T13:34:08","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T18:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/resources\/blog\/article\/\/"},"modified":"2024-05-29T12:22:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T17:22:23","slug":"what-convenience-factors-matter-most-to-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/resources\/blog\/article\/what-convenience-factors-matter-most-to-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"What Convenience Factors Matter Most to Patients?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Millions of people visit Zocdoc each month (via the website or our free app) to schedule care with nearly 100,000 providers across all 50 states and every specialty. Patients tell us minute by minute exactly what they\u2019re looking for with their clicks. This gives us unique insight into <\/span>what patients want<\/span><\/a>, which providers can leverage to attract and retain new patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

By analyzing patients\u2019 2023 booking data, we identified the <\/span>key attributes driving the highest number of bookings<\/span><\/a>. Convenience stands out as a top priority for patients as they seek access to care that suits their preferences for timing, location and method (in-person vs. virtual).<\/span><\/p>\n

Implementing these 4 strategies can help you reach new patients and grow your business.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Unlock 24\/7 booking access<\/h2>\n

Nearly half of all bookings on Zocdoc are made when the doctors\u2019 office is closed, showing that patients want to be able to schedule visits when it\u2019s convenient for them. Offering 24\/7 online booking means your front desk is never closed for scheduling, allowing you to meet patients\u2019 needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

48% of appointments are created \u201cafter hours\u201d (5 p.m. to 9 a.m. local time).<\/span><\/p>\n

52% of appointments are created during \u201cwork hours\u201d (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time).\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Offer the best of both worlds: in-person and virtual<\/h2>\n

While the pandemic greatly expanded virtual care, our data shows that patients are still predominantly looking for in-person care, except when it comes to mental health. Instead of settling for one, offer the best of both worlds. Giving patients the flexibility to see providers in-person and virtually leads to significantly more bookings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Providers (with the exception of mental health) who offer both virtual and in-person visits receive 51% more bookings than those that offer in-person only and 217% more than virtual-only providers.\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Shorten the commute<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re wondering where to open new clinics or spend your marketing budget, it\u2019s important to know how far patients are willing to travel. According to the data, regardless of whether visits are in-person or virtual, folks prefer to see providers close to home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost 4 in 5 physical appointments are within 20 miles, indicating patients\u2019 preference for proximity. 48% of virtual appointments are within 20 miles of the patient, vs. 79% of in-person appointments.\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Pick your platform wisely<\/h2>\n

For the majority of bookings, mobile is the preferred option. In 2023, 66% of bookings were made on mobile devices. However, older patients prefer booking via desktop \u2013 54% of bookers 69+ booked on desktop, vs. 31% of older GenZ.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to maximize the age range of potential patients, it\u2019s crucial to have a platform like Zocdoc that makes your practice accessible for both desktop and mobile bookings.<\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s fast-paced world, booking a doctor\u2019s appointment should be as effortless as ordering takeout or a car service. In other words, it\u2019s all about convenience. This means meeting patients where they are \u2013 offering 24\/7 booking access, flexibility to see doctors in-person or virtually, nearby locations and embracing both desktop and mobile users.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consult with an enterprise sales representative<\/span><\/a> to learn more about how Zocdoc can grow your business and discover more data-driven insights in <\/span>The Provider\u2019s Guide to Patient Preferences<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Millions of people visit Zocdoc each month (via the website or our free app) to schedule care with nearly 100,000 providers across all 50 states and every specialty. Patients tell us minute by minute exactly what they\u2019re looking for with their clicks. This gives us unique insight into what patients want, which providers can leverage […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":18016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[110],"tags":[121],"class_list":["post-18015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-insights","tag-general-healthcare"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Convenience Factors Matter Most to Patients? - Practice Resources<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Data-driven strategies to meet patients\u2019 visit preferences.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/resources\/blog\/article\/what-convenience-factors-matter-most-to-patients\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Convenience Factors Matter Most to Patients? 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