Zocdoc is broadening its healthcare access platform to accommodate AI-driven tools, enabling them to link patients directly with medical providers and simplify appointment scheduling. The expansion begins on October 28, when AI agents will gain access through technical standards like the Model Context Protocol (MCP), direct links, and other integration methods.
Usage of AI agents on Zocdoc’s platform has surged dramatically, with traffic volumes doubling approximately every three weeks since July, company data shows. Alex Doyne, Zocdoc’s chief strategy officer, stated that AI agents are “becoming a new starting point for patients seeking healthcare.”
Zocdoc’s existing network already supports over 175 scheduling connections, 10,000 insurance plans, and 200,000 verified healthcare professionals. Doyne added, “Opening that infrastructure to agents means they now have access to a reliable booking experience.”
Doyne noted that healthcare is “particularly challenging” for AI agents since “so much of the information available online is fragmented, outdated, or inaccurate,” which can have “real consequences for patients who may already be struggling to access care.” He emphasized, “That’s why it’s critical that agents have access to reliable provider and insurance information, accurate availability and infrastructure that ensures the booking is integrated with a provider’s calendar and will hold on the day.”
Zocdoc also revealed a partnership with Instinct, an AI-powered personal assistant, to incorporate its healthcare access tools. Ben Schwerin, Instinct’s chief business officer, stated, “Instinct is built to genuinely improve your life and handle important everyday tasks. Since healthcare is more complicated than ordering groceries or booking travel, the stakes are higher. By partnering with Zocdoc, Instinct can handle that complexity—so getting an appointment can be as simple as sending a text.” The initiative expands Zocdoc’s growing Care Access Network, which already includes integrations with Google Gemini, Amazon Health AI, Yelp, and Healthgrades.
In a separate development, Zocdoc completed the acquisition of Sohar Health, a firm specializing in automating insurance-related workflows. Sohar’s APIs handle eligibility verification, network status checks, and cost estimates, reinforcing Zocdoc’s technical foundation. The purchase represents the company’s first acquisition in nearly two decades, signaling its transition from a booking service to a full healthcare access solution.
