Yelp users can now search for and then book direct medical appointments through a newly announced partnership with Zocdoc.
The feature is now available on the provider page of Yelp’s iOS app and through the platform’s new artificial intelligence chatbot Yelp Assistant. According to the announcement, Zocdoc allows users to check availability in the network in real time and schedule reservations. The companies plan to expand this feature to Android and desktop users later this year.
“We’re excited to partner with Zocdoc to help consumers easily find and schedule in-network healthcare providers,” Craig Saldaña, Yelp’s chief product officer, said in a statement. “By connecting consumers and providers the moment they’re ready to schedule, such as through the Yelp Assistant, we reduce friction and help providers reach patients through a platform they already trust.”
Zocdoc said the partnership reflects the company’s expansion beyond markets to allow patients to book appointments regardless of where they are seeking treatment. The new partnership will also allow providers to book more appointments “without additional workflow,” the announcement said. Appointments will be scheduled through your existing electronic health record (EHR) system or through Zocdoc.
Dr. Oliver Karas, founder and CEO of Zocdoc, said in a statement that scheduling a doctor’s appointment “should be as easy as booking dinner.”
“Too often, health care breaks down in the early stages when patients are ready to act but cannot be easily addressed,” Harras said. “By powering seamless scheduling with Yelp, we’re turning intent into access and helping patients from search to visit. This is the next step in making access work for patients, no matter where they start.”
Apart from Yelp, Zocdoc powers scheduling on provider websites, Google Business Profiles, and insurance directories. Last May, the scheduling platform launched an artificial intelligence agent called Zo for booking appointments over the phone. Alongside this announcement, Karas told Fierce Healthcare that the platform is also looking to build out the ability to coordinate prescription refills.
