“When patients begin their journeys with a practice by self-scheduling appointments via the provider’s website, they gain comfort with online interactions and become more likely to engage with the practice online,” article linked below. Self-scheduling for patients is no longer something that is viewed as a novelty perk. Consumer expectations are shifting towards processes which are housed digitally.
The article mentions a survey which was conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of NextGen Healthcare. The survey shows that 58% of patients want more online access to their healthcare providers. Unsurprisingly, this increases to 68% of patients aged 18 to 54.
From a patient's perspective, having an online process makes the whole experience more user-friendly. They may simply input times they would like their appointments, and the experience goes smoothly from there.
Link to article referenced: