This mock appointment book shows the most and least popular times for Americans to schedule a doctor’s visit during the week. Overall, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. are the most popular times for any kind of appointment; Tuesday is the most popular day; and Friday at 10 a.m. is the most popular time slot of all. If you’re in need of a checkup, steer clear!
The data come from ZocDoc, an online service that uses access to scores of appointment books from across the country to help patients schedule visits more efficiently. A user enters her insurance policy, zip code, and the kind of specialist she wants to see, and ZocDoc shoots back a list of available appointments, which she can book from the site.
The patterns revealed by ZocDoc’s scheduling data beg for psychological analysis. Why is Tuesday so popular? Because it’s early in the week, but not on Monday when people need to catch up on work? Do parents take their children to the pediatrician on Monday after worrying about their health over the weekend? And do people see the chiropractor and acupuncturist on Friday because it’s relaxing?