What’s next?Appointment scheduling platforms like WebMD-Symplr’s and Zocdoc’s could become more valuable to consumers if they include more options for mental health appointments. Plus, providers will likely be eager to get their primary care practice on WebMD’s website, considering the amount of exposure it could provide: WebMD claims over 75 million consumers access its site monthly to understand their health. For example, scheduling platforms like Zocdoc charge providers a flat fee for each new booking a practice receives. Provider subscriptions are also a way for WebMD to secure revenues.

Today’s healthcare consumers aren’t loyal and will opt for whichever provider offers them the best digital experience, including tech like scheduling: About 28% of patients have either switched or stopped going to a healthcare provider because of a poor digital healthcare experience, per Cedar’s 2020 survey.Providers will likely be more interested in paying for digital tools like scheduling to cater to patient demand and keep their patients on board longer. In fact, demand for online appointment scheduling has remained higher than demand for other digital health tech like telehealth over the past year.

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