Month: July 2021

Medical practice websites can fulfill a lot of different functions. They can provide a way for patients to schedule their own appointments. They can provide  information resources for patients and a marketplace for selling and purchasing medical equipment and supplies. They can provide a forum for doctors to present their views and share their expertise.

The way you build your website should be based on your goals and needs. Here we will present examples of professional website style options built for various purposes and serving different needs. 

We will delve into custom medical website design with examples of best-in-class healthcare websites. We’ll show you which features work best to highlight your services. And we’ll explore what goes into websites that outperform the competition. 

Hospital/ Medical Center Websites

Hospital/medical center websites focus on a single hospital, medical center or healthcare system, providing detailed information about services, healthcare providers, hours of operation and locations.

Visitors to these sites get an overview of the practice and may search for providers specializing in their healthcare needs. Viewers may also get an opportunity to submit questions and read reviews written by patients.

Medical Marketplace

In addition to information about the practice’s services and medical providers, these sites may include reviews of medical providers, testimonials from patients, and online appointment booking.

Medical Practitioner Websites

Individual medical practitioners can create websites that market their services by displaying their knowledge and expertise through blogs, testimonials, and text, accompanied by photos and graphics, offering details about treatment options.

Telemedicine Platforms

These days, office visits and consultations often can be accomplished online via telemedicine platforms. This increasingly popular way of providing medical services without requiring  in-person meetings  offers convenience for patients, medical providers and office staff.

Which website design works best?

To find the right type of website for your practice, consider your goals.

Do you want to provide medical information and resources for patients with particular medical needs? Do you want to sell medical supplies through an e-store online? Do you want to give patients the option of booking their appointments online, without having to call your office?

With your priorities in mind, consider your technical options. For example, if you want to include an e-store to sell supplies, your design might be an e-commerce platform that also includes medical information. E-commerce sites perform better with multiple photos and videos. And easy navigation to the marketplace on your website is also essential to its success.

If online booking is a priority, choose a website that emphasizes your doctors’ credentials and experience.

Include The Essentials To Build a Solid Foundation

Build a strong foundation for your website and add to it, based on how and why you want to connect to your web visitors.

Medical Catalogs and Portal 

Basic and clean, these websites don’t require a complex design. There should be multiple search bars with at least one on each page so visitors can easily navigate to the information they seek.

Hospital/ Medical Center Websites

These websites can provide a welcoming introduction to new patients through a simple yet effective approach.

For example, the site’s homepage could feature a looping video that provides a basic overview of the facility and its services.

Another way to introduce new patients to your practice would be to include photos of doctors and other medical providers against a backdrop of the interior of your offices.

A navigation bar should be placed on each page so searches are easy for patients to conduct. And patients should be able to use the header at any time to access information including phone number and  address, social media accounts and insurance information.

The site should also strive to establish credibility and confidence in your practice through highlighting accomplishments and through patient reviews and testimonials.

Medical Marketplace

These websites are intended to connect patients with specific medical providers. This could mean narrowing down patient options regarding specific locations, credentials, insurance accepted and other variables.

Including an advanced search engine can make this process easier for the web visitor.

To help visitors consider options, the site should include ratings and reviews, and profiles of service providers that include extensive information about education, experience, and certifications. 

Every page on the site should include a Call To Action button or link where visitors can make an appointment, reach out via email or phone or get additional information.

Medical Practitioner Websites

These websites focus on the practitioners’ professional goals and on details about the practice. They serve as the professional equivalent of a personal website. The objective of these sites is to gain patients’ trust and establish credibility.

To do that, the site should include photos of the doctor or doctors. Another way to build a strong reputation is to post blogs about medical topics of interest to your patients and potential patients.

These sites can also include the option of signing up for a newsletter subscription, links to relevant articles and news, and Call To Action (CTA) buttons.

Online Doctor Consultation Platforms

If you want to make online consultations part of your website experience, straightforward, easy-to-navigate pages are a key feature that should be included.

You can start with a brief video on the home page or a search engine that directs patients based on their symptoms, medical issue, insurance carrier or type of specialist sought.

Because patients seeking consultations may be any age or in any physical condition, it is important to make the site as easy to use and travel through as possible. Readily available navigation tools and CTA buttons should be on every page.

10 Best Medical Clinic Website Designs

Topnotch medical practice websites often include: mobile-friendly features so the site can be viewed and function well on any device, fast load times, internal search options, patient portals, messaging capabilities, online appointment booking and prescription renewals, photos, and informational videos.

In this section, we will discuss examples of the 10 best medical website designs for healthcare providers, pointing out their strengths and areas for potential improvement.

Rest Assured- Best Website Accessibility

The Rest Assured medical website design is available to all users and was designed and developed to meet the WCAG 2.0 AA level of accessibility compliance, a wise option for companies in any industry. 

This website was created with accessible design features in mind, such as big, high-contrast fonts and simple keyboard navigation. In addition, mobile readers and other text-to-speech tools use alt text on all pictures on the Rest Assured site to correctly read and understand material for visually impaired individuals.

IU Health- Best Website Search

Indiana University Health does an excellent job of offering a powerful keyword search option to its patients. Medical services, news and events, providers, and locations may all be blocked from on-site searches. In the site’s left margin, visitors may see a list of recent searches, which helps them keep track of their search history. In addition, distinct search capabilities for Providers, Medical Services, and Locations are in the header menu.

Mercy Health- Best Website Imagery

Mercy Health’s website design uses dynamic graphics and color. The consistent use of rich, vivid imagery across the site, from the carousel beneath the banner to various photos throughout the site, generates a sense of enthusiasm and optimism. Although the use of a rich, vibrant green hue for the search box was an excellent option for promoting a sense of health and well-being, the typography within the box needs more contrast to improve readability.  

Centura Health- Best Clean Design

The Centura Health healthcare website design has a clear, basic information architecture. There are just five major links and two subsidiary icons in the navigation menu. In the top navigation bar of some healthcare sites, more than 20 things are fighting for attention. It is better to keep it simple and uncluttered, as Centura Health has done.

The usability of Centura Health’s medical web design is considerably enhanced by its use of basic, straightforward navigation and prominent display of a search box in the middle of the main page. The site also adheres to accessible design best practices by employing big, high-contrast fonts that are easier to read for internet patients with vision impairments.

Regional One Health- Best Engaging Video Web Design

Visitors to this website encounter an engaging video that tells a story, features providers in action and shows scenes from inside and outside the facility. The dramatic footage captivates the viewer and supports the belief that Regional One Health has the healthcare solutions they seek.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital- Best Patient Reviews and Testimonials Web Design

Potential patients rely on previous patients’ evaluations when making their decisions about where to seek healthcare. The Arkansas Surgical Hospital uses a carousel to show patient testimonials to great effect, giving viewers confidence in the medical providers at this facility.

Rush Medical- Best Engaging Content

Rush University Medical Center’s website uses well-written articles to engage visitors. The easy-to-navigate website includes news about the medical center, health issues, available seminars and a selection of highlights from social media posts.

Mayo Clinic- Best Medical Info Delivery

This website, promoting what has long been regarded as one of the best medical facilities in the country, features  information  arranged and delivered in effective and efficient ways. There is a comprehensive overview of diseases and conditions. The site also features a  search engine that allows patients to look up conditions alphabetically or through a symptom checker.

Cleveland Clinic- Best Mobile-Friendly Design

The Cleveland Clinic’s website features a mobile-friendly design that also works well on a desktop computer. Content is categorized and arranged for both doctors and patients, making it easier for site users to zero in on the information they want. The site also features a health library complete with videos, articles and health resources.

Infinite Medical Express- Best Minimalist Design

Infinite Medical Express is a simple website with a lot of useful information, including healthy tips available via a link on the home page.. Visitors to the site may easily access the patient portal to schedule appointments and make online payments.

Wrapping Up

At Officite, we have the experience and the expertise to let your website reach its full potential. We’ve designed and developed high-performing websites for hospitals and medical health organizations for years. Visit us at www.officite.com to learn more.

The billions of people who routinely look for healthcare information online grew wildly with the emergence of the pandemic.

To respond to this increased need for accurate, timely information and remain competitive, healthcare providers need to stay abreast of the latest web innovations.   

It’s time to update and enhance your healthcare websites. 

Think of your custom medical website as the anchor of your online presence. The quality, functionality and even the look of your site can affect your practice’s bottom line – positively or negatively.

Modern healthcare websites need the capacity to handle more web traffic and larger patient loads. Technology can address those needs with solutions such as internal web portals and content management systems.

This article will help you better understand the fundamentals of cutting-edge medical website development. 

Several basic, essential technological elements of medical website development should be considered before proceeding to website design details.

HIPAA and HITECH Compliance 

As a medical healthcare provider, you are entrusted with sensitive information that must remain confidential as required by HIPAA regulations. This information, known as protected health information or PHI, includes data about patients’ health concerns, symptoms, insurance, financial qualifications and personal information often included on patient forms, such as addresses and birthdates.

Medical care providers are required to use HIPAA- compliant medical web designs, conforming to procedures for managing, storing, and transmitting protected health information as specified by HIPAA.

HIPAA-compliant medical web designs must address rules that deal with privacy, security and breach notification.

To be HIPAA-compliant, healthcare organizations must fulfill all of the stated data handling standards. These include: appointing a HIPAA compliance officer, creating and publishing a policy, and ensuring data encryption.

HIPAA is supplemented with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), which gives patient information an  additional layer of security.

Patients must have online access to their Protected Health Information and be alerted to any data breaches. If a data breach affects the personal information of 500 or more patients, the medical provider must notify the authorities.

Policy on Data Protection

A rigorous privacy policy is required for a custom medical website design because it protects and processes sensitive data for a large number of patients.

The policy should be made public. Users should be informed about what categories of data will be gathered and what technologies will be used to protect, process, encrypt, and store data.

SSL Certificate Use

To ensure the security of data flowing from healthcare practice websites to servers, HTTPS and SSL certificates should be used. This protocol guarantees secure server connections to its users through the use of encryption. SSL certificates with varying degrees of security are available. Prices range from $8 to $4,000 per year, depending on the level of security and the number of domains required.

Web Responsiveness

Web responsiveness refers to how well a website functions on a variety of electronic devices. Websites should look and work well on computers, tablets and mobile phones.

A responsive website is key to patient retention. Studies have shown that 57% of patients would not recommend a practice to their peers that has a poorly designed website.

Quick Load Times

Patients place a premium on quick load times. So does Google! Websites that load quickly are more likely to rank higher in Google search results.

Patients expect websites to load, on average, in less than two seconds. Longer load times may discourage visitors and, ultimately, potential new patients could look elsewhere. 

For medical web design and development, quick load speeds on any device should be high on the priority list. These medical websites are more likely to rank higher in Google search results and appear at the top, with a stronger online presence.

Straightforward Website Navigation 

Your website should make it as easy as possible for patients to find the information they seek. Too many navigation buttons can be confusing. Visitors should be able to find basic information about your practice and your services in less than two clicks. Arrange menu items and information logically and simply to achieve a professional look and a user-friendly website.

Informative Content

According to Business2Community, 70% of small company healthcare websites lack a clear Call to Action (CTA) on their pages. This is a major missed opportunity.

When designing your medical website, give patients opportunities to take action in response to your marketing efforts.

Load your site with valuable content using a content management system. And make it interactive when possible. Include pricing information, patient testimonials, contact and location information, and an FAQ section.

Essentials of Medical Website Design

Healthcare websites must be developed with strong medical web development strategies.

We’ll discuss medical website design and examine how to develop a successful brand’s visual representation in the sections below.

What are the elements of a successful website design?

There are  things you should consider using to improve your website and make your marketing efforts more effective.

Iconic website designs

Medical website design isn’t about creating playful or flashy web pages. Medical websites  should convey integrity and dependability in a straightforward and user-friendly manner.

The home page is the first thing patients see. Here they should find information about the nearest location, medical providers, bill pay options, patient education resources and insurance information.

Design with the user in mind

The messages on a healthcare website should be written with the patient in mind. Write about how your practice will address patient concerns, rather than concentrating on services and medical procedures available.

The appropriate color scheme

Neutral hues are commonly used in medical website design because these colors make a positive impression. The most popular color palettes are shades of blue, white and red. 

Real-life images and high-resolution graphics

Using distinctive, real-life photos, rather than stock photos, can make your website stand out. Include photos of doctors, the interior of your offices, and smiling patients so visitors can get a glimpse of what your practice looks and feels like. Graphics showing how procedures are done or will affect patients’ lives also add an interesting visual element.

Components of Web Design 

Creating a custom medical website design from the ground up involves front-end and back-end software components and Application Programming Interfaces. A closer look at these components will yield a better understanding of the process.

Web Front-end

All of the visual components that users interact with are included in the web front-end. It’s the technical execution of the user experience/user interface  — or UX/UI   — design produced during the early phases of website development.

Internal portals, for example, may require the use of a  Content Management System (CMS), which enables the effective archiving of many types of material, such as surgical videos, photos, and papers.

Web Backend

Web back-end refers to the information-processing server-side of custom medical websites. All of the behind-the-scenes activities and website functionalities take place in back-ends.

Typically, the Software Architect and Business Analyst evaluate project requirements during the discovery stage and decide on the optimal stack of technologies to support your medical website design.

Medical Website Design Development Key Components

The creation of medical websites is focused on giving users a wide range of features while keeping the experience simple.

Intuitive search 

Patients go to a medical website for a variety of reasons.

A good website makes it easy and simple for patients to find the information they seek.

Medical website developers know that a good website search engine is something web visitors value. For example, patients may want to search for a clinic based on a number of criteria, such as location, services available and specific providers. A good search engine on the site will have advanced features allowing users to define their specific search using multiple filters.

Telemedicine

These days, telemedicine services are commonplace and becoming increasingly popular. Doctors can conduct virtual visits with patients, saving time and expense for both provider and patient, by using online video-conferencing platforms.  Telemedicine technology allows patients to consult with doctors and ask questions from wherever they are located. Photos and test results can be shared.

User-friendly navigation for all devices

Be sure to make your web design accessible and mobile-friendly. Patients should be able to view and use your website on any device they choose, from a computer to a tablet to a mobile phone. Ways to accomplish this include using easy-to-read fonts, an easy-to-complete contact form and information that is logically arranged.

Appointment scheduling

Is it possible for patients to make an appointment when they find your healthcare practice and services online?

Your website is a valuable resource for ushering in new patients and for giving your existing patients a convenient way to book appointments. Online appointment booking can simplify scheduling for patients, doctors and office staff. Research shows that about 50% of patients today schedule their appointments over the phone. Be sure to have a responsive website and a responsive office team ready to assist patients, however they reach out to make appointments.

Online payment options

Patients appreciate the ease and convenience of being able to pay their medical bills online. Consider incorporating several payment method alternatives in your web design, such as credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. 

Detailed team directory

Patients often peruse provider information  in efforts to learn more about the medical teams in place at practices. Consider including photos, biographies, credentials and statements from providers so patients will feel confident about where they seek medical care.

Adding a medical staff directory to custom websites makes it easier for patients to find an appropriate care provider. Directories can  provide information on doctors, such as their qualifications, medical practices, services, and work experience.

Inclusion of social media

Globally, there are 3.48 billion social media users, so it stands to reason that many of your patients and potential patients are among them. Be sure to include social media in your marketing plan.

It is possible to improve patient involvement by integrating social media with a medical web design. Users may share your blog articles, e-books, and other content on social media, potentially bringing in new consumers. If you want to leverage this user experience for medical web development, you’ll need to employ social media APIs and SDKs, such as Facebook SDK and Instagram API, to your websites.

3D tour to your medical office

Another way to market your practice is to give web visitors a bird’s-eye view of your premises. Virtual tours give visitors a sense of being inside your practice, observing and noting the practice’s strong points and allaying fears about any upcoming medical procedures or treatments.

Wrapping up

Medical practices are actively improving their websites every day. Don’t let this opportunity to improve your reputation, increase engagement with your patients and bring new patients to your practice go untapped.  Use the tools we’ve discussed to leverage digital marketing and improve your bottom line.

Medical websites serve as the public face of any healthcare organization. In some cases,  these websites are patients’ primary source of information about medical conditions.

Here at Officite, we offer expert web development executed by a supportive team of professionals who know how to get your website noticed. We can use our marketing know-how to give your website that extra push so it can reach its full potential.

Contact us today!

The interior designs of physician offices aren’t identical. A pediatrician’s  office may feature brightly colored walls and a built-in play area for children, for example.  And a sports medicine specialist’s office may be decorated with framed images of renowned athletes.  Offices are designed to appeal to each specific patient population. Web design should do that, too.

Your practice’s website reflects your practice’s public persona.  A stunning medical website design can be a powerful way to attract patients and boost your practice’s reputation. To maximize your website’s potential, you should aim for a  well-organized and informative web presence.

Some “best practices” apply to all websites, in general. But there are some ways of approaching website design that are specifically well-suited to healthcare websites.

Give That Website a Personal Touch

Your practice has its own distinct “personality.” Your website should likewise include unique features and information that will appeal to your target patient population.

The following tips are easy to build into your website when you have a good content management system (CMS). 

Ensure Your Website is User-Friendly

These days, many web visitors arrive at their web destinations via a mobile phone. A recent study shows 80 percent of online visitors use mobile devices to search the internet. 

Mobile web visitors who have a negative experience at one website will visit a competitor’s website in search of mobile-friendliness.

That’s why your website should be set up so that visitors can easily navigate through it on any device, including mobile phones.

A mobile-responsive healthcare website design will adjust the display to accommodate the device being used, be it a computer, tablet, or smartphone. 

This makes it easy for users to engage with the material on their favorite devices without squeezing or scrolling.  This is an especially important feature for patients, who may feel unwell, to be able to easily contact your office without undue effort.

Here are a few suggestions for making your website mobile friendly:

Make your homepage  visually and emotionally  appealing

Here is your chance to make a great first impression. A clean, uncluttered look with pertinent information, such as your practice specialty, office hours, address and phone number, goes a long way toward sparking interest.

Include a “hamburger menu” for navigation

You’ve seen the “hamburger menu” on many websites. It looks like three horizontal lines, or something similar, and it opens a dropdown menu when a visitor clicks on it. The hamburger menu should be used in addition to your more conspicuous navigation buttons. It gives visitors more than one way to find their way through your website.

Make calling for an appointment a click away

Strategically position buttons on your website that allow visitors to call your practice right from their device. Recent studies show about 48% of business calls stem from mobile phone searches. Take advantage of this convenience to attract more patients.

Include interactive features to raise interest

For a more sophisticated, up-to-date and patient-friendly website that keeps your practice a step ahead of the competition and increases your practice’s credibility, consider incorporating these features in your web design: 

Use HIPAA-compliant fillable forms

Securely capture medical history information, health complaints and insurance data through this time-saving feature, which should be crafted with an eye toward being mobile-responsive.  In addition, this can save your front office valuable time and resources by eliminating manual data entry.

Call Your Patients to Immediate Action Via Buttons

Include interactive buttons that allow patients to instantly book appointments, get referrals and request prescription refills. Patients appreciate the convenience and the consistency of a reliable, interactive website.

Connect to Your Patient Management System or Portal to Give Patients Access to Their Charts and Personal Data

Let your patients modify personal information such as their insurance information and social media accounts through your site. Allow patients access to their medical charts and medical service records so they can monitor their health and healthcare regimens. Providing updated information gives patients incentives to visit and revisit your site. This feature also brings in new patients who appreciate the ability to review their healthcare picture in one convenient space.

Offer Valuable Patient Education and Content

Share your medical expertise with your patients on your website. This approach educates your patients, helps them become their own medical care advocates and saves you and your office staff time by providing a reference for patients. 

There are several ways you can do this: 

Regular blog posts- You can post information about symptoms, diagnoses and potential treatments or write about new medical advances. Or you can inform patients about new office hours or locations. Write your blogs in your own style and use images to draw the eye and create aesthetically pleasing pages.

Q&A page- Here you can post answers to common health concerns and questions. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise.

Patient testimonials – Ask your existing patients to share their opinions about their visits to your practice and their experiences with your website. Testimonials are a valuable resource that may help you improve your practice and healthcare website design while piquing the curiosity of future patients.

Patient education – Add libraries of content tailored to your speciality from national healthcare associations.  Officite offer this for pediatrics (WebMD), dermatology (AAD), gastroenterology (ASGE), foot and ankle (ACFAS), and several other specialities.  

Use Photos And Graphics to Create Strong Online Imagery

People like to look at images. Studies show a website with strong visuals will outperform websites that lack a good image-to-text ratio.

For medical websites, high-quality photos are a great way to show your patients the quality of your products and services. Patients also like to see photos of medical care providers. Include photos of your doctors and medical team members along with short bios.

Here are ways to make your visuals stand out:

Include unique photos and videos. Use photos to showcase your practice, your medical providers, your office, and your equipment rather than using stock photography. Brief videos are easy to produce and pay huge dividends in terms of visitor views. And they help create a connection between your team and website visitors.

Place visual components strategically.  Don’t go overboard with photos and videos. Too many will distract visitors from the written content and could slow down your page downloads. 

Improve the quality of your instructional materials. Images may make your material more interesting and instructive if you’ve selected a blog as part of your medical web design. Visual learners account for 65 percent of the population. If feasible, use unique visuals. But, here’s a caution: Get permission to use diagrams and drawings from other medical professionals.

Build Your Brand Messaging

In a highly competitive marketplace, building a clearly recognizable brand that communicates to patients what you offer is imperative. Your brand should also trumpet what sets your practice apart from others.

Make your website messaging clear and unmistakable. Busy web visitors may only glance at a few pages or headlines before moving on;  make the most pertinent information obvious and easy to find.

Your website is an opportunity to share your values, tell your story and let your patients know that you deliver reliable service rendered with a caring attitude.

Best Website Builders for Medical Website

There are a number of do-it-yourself website services out there. Many are fairly simple and easy to use.

But if you want to create a website that offers you and your patients more functionality and a more professional look and feel, consider Officite.

A leading healthcare website design firm

Officite can start creating your robust web presence with a great, mobile-friendly website and build from there. Officite offers customized web design and search engine optimization tools that will make your practice rank higher in online searches and online reputation management. We also offer telemedicine options, e-store capabilities and online booking for some specialties.

More than 8,000 health practices rely on us for their digital communications needs.  We are valued partners with several national healthcare organizations, including WebMD, AAP, ASGE, and several state medical associations.

Features offered by Officite

Officite starts with modern web designs and hosts and maintains them. We feature customizable designs for a variety of medical specializations. Officite also provides patient education materials, informative articles, and blogs with relevant information regarding topics such as treatments and procedures.

Our clients can control all parts of their website with the integrated Doctor’s Portal, which is a simple-to-use interface. The portal enables doctors to make minor site edits, evaluate site performance, and track and organize  appointments.

Officite also provides a full range of integrated upgrades and a website advisor to assist healthcare professionals in getting the most out of their website.

Wrapping Up

Officite is your one-stop solution for digital communications. We can help you incorporate all of these winning tips and more into your web branding strategy.  Contact Officite today to learn more about how we can create a professional online presence for your medical practice.