Trying to make a doctor’s appointment when you’re sick, in pain or short on time can be an aggravating  process, so in 2007, ZocDoc debuted its web-based appointment system that allows users to schedule a visit when it’s convenient for them. Back in November, ZocDoc — Doctor Appointments Online! hit the App Store, but since the service is still growing, it’s not surprising that ZocDoc isn’t a household name yet.

ZocDoc is an online service for patients to book doctor and dentist appointments instantly. Within a few clicks, an appointment is booked and confirmed, sometimes for the same day.

Using the service, patients don’t need to go through the hassle of waiting on hold, searching for a good doctor or wondering whether a doctor takes a particular insurance.

Participating doctors and dentists benefit as well. ZocDoc helps doctors increase their visibility to attract new patients, and even helps alleviate the productivity lost from last minute cancellations by filling those times with another patient.

ZocDoc currently offers patients the ability to book appointments with doctors in New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston.

Doctors are required to opt-in to the service, so it’s possible that the app won’t find any near your home. ZocDoc does have wider databases of participating doctors – from dentists to GPs to physical therapists – in the cities that offer in-app appointment booking, currently available in New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. But that doesn’t mean the app is truly comprehensive. In Chicago the app came up with limited results for cardiologists and nephrologists, and offered no results for psychiatry.

The best part is that patients can specify what day and time they’d like to make an appointment. Results will show tappable times available for a specific doctor, or the next available time if the practitioner is booked. To make an appointment, users need to create a profile and specify if they will be paying out of pocket or using insurance. Once you create your ZocDoc account, you can track your appointments in-app.

Users with accounts can also leave ratings and reviews in-app. Every result displays a star-rating, and the app provides professional information for each doctor, including a professional statement, education, hospital affiliations, certifications and awards. The only reviews included in the app are from other ZocDoc users, and doctors must confirm that the patient actually attended the appointment to help guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.

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