Former MapQuest Chief Inks $2.5M For DoctorsDirect.com
Press Release, October 10, 2006
By Clancy Nolan
Tommy McGloin, the former head of Yahoo Inc.‘s MapQuest division, has created a new startup to help consumers find doctors and book appointments over the Web.
The company, DoctorsDirect.com Inc., was formed in February and has about 10 employees. It recently began beta testing its service in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.
Now, venture firm Spark Capital has invested $2.5 million in Series A financing in the company to continue beta testing and for a nationwide launch of the service that is pegged for next year.
DoctorsDirect.com is designed to simplify the appointment booking process for patients and doctors. Medical providers can specify times for open appointments with physicians vetted by DoctorsDirect.com. Consumers can then choose doctors and book appointments online, filling out any optional medical information, and paying the company a per-appointment fee, which ranges from $10 to $30.
Similar to a hotel reservation, consumers hold their appointment with a credit card, said McGloin. Currently in beta testing, the site is only booking appointments for cash paying consumers. The company aims to add features to accommodate medical insurance when it goes live next year, said McGloin.
“We’re helping to create a marketplace and bring together patients and doctors,“ said McGloin. “It has great potential to save the [doctor’s] offices a lot of time on administration and paperwork.“
Founder and Chief Executive McGloin worked previously as senior vice president and general manager of Yahoo Inc.‘s Mapquest division, a position he took after stints at AOL’s Moviefone and AOL’s CityGuide services.
http://www.doctorsdirect.com
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