NY Tech Video Demo: ZocDoc Launches an API

NY-based ZocDoc presented at last night's NY Tech Meetup. ZocDoc is a tool to help you find doctors and dentists and instantly make appointments with them. The ZocDoc founders showed up wearing scrubs though Cyrus looked more like a criminal in jail with his bright orange outfit. You can think of ZocDoc as OpenTable combined with Yelp but on the medical side.

Each listed provider displays their current open appointments along with their education and experience. After you visit with the provider, ZocDoc sends you a survey and the results are displayed on the provider's page. Currently ZocDoc is available in NYC and offers both dentists and primary care doctor information. Cyrus explained that the real power of the ZocDoc system is in the ability to find a practitioner who serves your insurance provider.

There is no charge to book an appointment using ZocDoc and ZocDoc currently does not charge any fees to the primary care doctors in their system. They noted that PCPs generate less revenue than specialists.

Yesterday they announced the launch of their new API which allows developers to build upon their technology. To kick off the development, they are offering a Macbook Air to the best implementation.

ZocDoc is another one of those unsexy apps -- there's no facebook poke functionality -- but it's a very useful service and could change the way appointments are booked with medical care nationwide. Currently they are looking to expand in 2009 either in Washington or San Francisco - number of votes will determine where they expand next.