Taking the Wait Out of the Waiting Room

Newswise — They have been referred to as Open Table for medical appointments. Apps like ZocDoc and InQuicker make it as easy for patients to schedule visits to the doctor and trips to the emergency room via smartphones and laptops as it is to make online reservations at their favorite restaurants.

Ridgewood, NJ's Valley Health System — which includes The Valley Hospital, Valley Medical Group and Valley Home Care — is using both services to simplify appointment scheduling for patients. Valley Medical Group (VMG) has partnered with ZocDoc to offer online appointment scheduling for select physicians. The Valley Hospital Emergency Department offers InQuicker to allow patients with non-life-threating medical conditions to browse and select a treatment time in advance of arriving at the hospital.

ZocDoc gives patients a simple, convenient way to book a doctor’s appointment at any time, even when the doctor’s office is closed. Appointments can be made with VMG physicians in the following specialties: primary care, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and dermatology. To use this free service, visit www.ValleyMedicalGroup.com and click on the “Book an Appointment” button, or download the ZocDoc app.

“At Valley Medical Group, we are committed to increasing access to our physicians and services and enhancing the patient experience,” said Marc Goldstein, President of VMG. “By offering the option of scheduling medical appointments online with select VMG physicians, we are providing better access to quality care and making the process of scheduling an appointment much more convenient for our patients.”

InQuicker allows patients to browse, select, and lock in a treatment time in Valley’s adult or pediatric Emergency Departments online at www.ValleyHealth.com. Simply click on the ED Check-In Online button at the top of the page and complete a few simple online steps to book a treatment time. The ED is sent a notification with details about the patient and the time selection. A triage nurse then reviews the information and sends a real-time confirmation via phone or e-mail to the patient.

“Knowing their treatment time allows patients to wait comfortably at home before coming to the hospital for care,” said Chris Robertson, Director of Valley’s Emergency Department. “The service has been very well-received by our patients who have used it.”