The rise of 'healthkeeping': How everyone's doctor's appointment became her job

For Kandis Daroski, a mother of three in rural parts of the Midwest, routine healthcare planning means at least a 30-minute drive each way for well visits, dental appointments and sudden toddler illness—often multiplied across family members. Zocdoc describes this as “healthkeeping”: the physical, mental and emotional project management involved in making sure people get the care they need. Yale emergency physician Megan Ranney says the work is often carried in someone’s mind, including tracking appointments, medications and vaccinations. Data from Zocdoc shows three in four appointments made for someone else were booked by women, and a separate survey found 74% of caregivers feel responsible for medical decisions at home. The article also links the load to the “sandwich generation” and partner care, where women book 82% of all medical appointments made for men.