LAS VEGAS -- With Nevada's physician shortage one of the worst in the country, patients sometimes wait months just to get an appointment with a primary care doctor.
But a company going by the name ZocDoc launched a service in Las Vegas Monday to address the problem.
Instead of calling doctor after doctor, patients can go online or use their cell phone to find a hidden supply of doctor's appointments and last-minute cancellations.
"ZocDoc is the easiest way to find a doctor who accepts your insurance and to book an appointment instantly, either online or over your mobile phone," ZocDoc CEO Cyrus Massoumi said. "Health care, when you need it, is probably the most important thing in your life."
ZocDoc users can find a doctor nearby who accepts their insurance, view the doctor's availability in real time and instantly book an appointment online.
"People are waiting a long, long time to see a doctor," he said. "One of the things we hope we will be able to do in Vegas is literally enable people to get access to a doctor within a click."
Zocdoc plans to continue its growth, eventually allowing patients to use ZocDoc to check-in and fill out medical forms online ahead of time.
With its Las Vegas launch, ZocDoc is now in 32 major markets across the United States.
