L B.

This is an excellent idea. It offers busy patients the opportunity to schedule a doctor visit when the doctors' office is closed. It allows patients to see the doctor, office, and read reviews. The doctor gets patients.
The site works by doctors paying a monthly fee in order to be listed.
As a provider I have received many appointments and can say ZocDoc gave me a marketing advantage that I would not have been able to get on my own. But there are many issues that have hurt my office.
1-When a patient signs up they don't always provide insurance information. When they show up you find out you can't see them. The patients become upset because no visit and the doctor loses an appointment slot. I made ZocDoc aware, they said patients are busy and don't always have their insurance on hand. I advised ZocDoc to make it required but they refused.
2. Difficulty reaching patients. Patient will provide what they want: email, cell, home phone, or nothing. It's not always easy to contact a patient and unfortunately this is a big problem. We all need to improve on this one.
3. Trophies. Trophies are awarded when the doctor performs according to ZocDoc standards. I found out today that I lost some of my trophies, because I canceled too many appointments. (Well that's because of #1 and #2) So now that I have lost these trophies my clinic schedule will not appear as available - now I'm being penalized. I asked ZocDoc since when is this the practice and they told me it's something new - change made 2 months ago- I was never informed.
4. I am a 5 star provider on ZocDoc: Feels good but ZocDoc didn't make me a 5 star it's how we do business and care for our patients.
5. There are some many other issues but bottom line ZocDoc should improve their product, listen to doctor and patient feedback.
ZocDoc you are not 5 stars... By the way- I feel so strongly about ZocDoc that it made me search internet for reviews. This is my first online review ever.