The Best Healthcare Web Design Companies

Healthcare Web Design Best Practices

Healthcare websites are different from other websites because people don’t typically visit the website and convert into a customer. Instead, the website is often a place for current patients and healthcare professionals to access information. While some people may choose a particular healthcare system after researching websites, others will go to the hospital or healthcare office that is nearest to them or that they’ve had previous experiences with. The website comes into play when current patients and healthcare professionals need to access information, log in to accounts, and complete other tasks online. The web design should work to create the best user experience possible so these kinds of tasks can be completed effectively and efficiently.

Elements of healthcare web design include the following:

• HIPAA Compliant Forms – Protecting patient information is a top priority for healthcare systems. When a patient fills out a form online that includes private information, the form must comply with HIPAA. The person on the receiving end of the form will need to have the proper credentials to view the password-protected patient information. When designing a healthcare website, HIPAA compliance is a top concern.
• Patient Portal – Moving away from the days of telephone calls and letters, patients are now able to access their medical information online. To access their private medical information, a patient portal that is password protected should be accessible on the site. Within the portal, a patient should have options such as “view medical records” and “schedule an appointment.” Depending on the website, other options such as “refill a prescription” and “contact your healthcare provider” should be available in the patient portal as well. The patient portal should have a clean and intuitive design in order to provide the best possible user experience. Patients should have an easy time logging in and navigating the patient portal section of the website.
• Call-to-Action buttons – Since a healthcare industry website will have several goals, there should be different call-to-action buttons throughout the site that can help users complete those goals. The website may help patients find a location, obtain medical records, get a prescription refilled, request an appointment, and more. Similarly, there should be calls to action that appeal to non-patients such as a “find a job” link for people who are visiting the website in search of a job in the healthcare industry. Other possible calls to action include “pay a bill” and “login.” Depending on the visitor, different calls to action will appeal to them. The calls to action should be visible and attractive, so they draw attention and help each visitor find what they need.
• Services and Resources – To build credibility and provide optimal user experience, healthcare websites should have information pages about their various services and practice areas. Patients may want to learn more about specific conditions or programs that are offered, so service pages should include that type of information. There should also be a place for other resources such as patient and visitor guides. All of these pages should be organized in the navigation menu, so they are easy to find. The navigation menu will be set up in the web design process.
• Tailored Experience – With so many audiences visiting healthcare websites, the experience should be tailored to each user’s particular needs. For instance, a patient will not have the same experience as a doctor when visiting the website. A patient will be interested in things like scheduling appointments and accessing medical records while a doctor or healthcare professional will be interested in pages about the company and news that affects them. Web design could create a way for users to identify themselves so that the website experience can be personalized. For instance, the homepage could feature links that say “I am a patient, I am a healthcare professional, or I am a visitor” and then the subsequent page could offer links that are relevant to the audience that was selected. This way, the user experience is enhanced since users will have quick access to the information that is most important to them.
• Professionalism – A healthcare industry website should have a professional look that builds trust and credibility. The website design has a lot to do with the overall impression a website gives off. To make a website look more professional, color usage should be limited, and fonts and designs should be simple. Don’t overwhelm website visitors with fancy fonts and 40 different colors. Instead, stick to branded colors and include white space and keep on-page elements as simple as possible.