Learn About the Appointment Booking Experience at Tia

People often wonder why so few people actually use healthcare — until something is wrong, that is.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that inconvenience is at the tip-top of the list. Or in the words of one of our Founding Members:

“Booking a gynecologist appointment in New York City is more difficult than getting a table at a Michelin star restaurant. You have to pick up the phone and call, wait months to get in — and then after all that, you get a surprise bill in the end!”

In concepting the appointment booking experience for the Tia Clinic, we talked to our users about the things they actually want to book — exercise classes, restaurants (and yes, spa-type services) — for inspiration.

Here are some themes we discovered

#1: Women like to browse.

Think of your favorite exercise booking app. How many different classes, teachers and times do you check out before tapping “book” ?

In designing Tia’s booking experience, we created a “lean back” experience that lets you browse an array of services we offer — and self-select the right service for you!

#2: Women want hours that work with their schedules, not the other way around.

When was the last time you booked a yoga class on the Upper West Side at 3pm five Wednesdays from now? Never. But, you rearrange your life to go to the doctor all the time.

Optimized for working women with lives to live, the Tia Clinic has appointments as early as 7:30AM and as late as 9PM — and is open on Saturdays, too! Because you should get that IUD put in when it’s convenient for you (and can jet straight home with a heating pad!).

And we also get that sometimes, you really need to see the doctor that day. So, we have same-day appointment “blocks” held for members for when that UTI or cold-from-hell strikes.

#3: Women want to know what things cost before they show up.

When was the last time you booked a facial, a pedicure, or a haircut without knowing how much it would cost you?

We would never accept such “black box” pricing in any other industry, but in healthcare, the surprise bill post-procedure — or even worse, in the mail three months later— is all-too-common and just “the way it is.”

We’re working to solve this price transparency problem on many fronts, starting with a “menu” of services that clearly tells you the out-of-pocket cost if you’re out-of-network, uninsured, or paying cash.

And while we can’t predict your exact copay just yet (we’re working on it!), we warn you about copays and potential patient responsibility before you book, so there are no surprises when you show up.

See the Tia Clinic’s full service & price list.

#4: Rules are fine, so long as you are clear about them.

Think about the last time you got hit with a cancellation fee without a warning. You were furious — not because there was a fee, but because no one told you about it.

At Tia, we know sh*t happens, your schedule goes up into flames, and you have to cancel or reschedule on a whim. But, we also respect our Care Team who have busy lives to live, too. We let you cancel or reschedule your appointment up to 24 hours beforehand, and warn you about our no-show fees ahead of time.

Because #transparency.

#5: Women like specificity.

When you book a hair appointment, you specify what you want — a bang trim, highlights, a run-of-the-mill haircut. But when you book your annual exam, there’s no way to tell your doctor what you’re really coming in for, or what you you’re concerned about before you show up. From talking to patients and providers, we’ve found this leads to misaligned expectations and frustrations on both sides.

As part of our effort to reimagine the Well-Woman Exam, we let you choose what you want to discuss with your provider when you book. It’s one of many ways we’re working to personalize your experience, help your provider prep ahead of time, and ensure that you get what you want out of healthcare.