With the internet being the first stop for most patients when searching for healthcare solutions, your website provides the perfect platform to showcase what makes your practice the better option. Without features, websites are not interactive and lack the power to engage and compel patients to action.
User Experience
The user experience (UX) of your medical website design is crucial for site visitors. To provide a satisfactory experience for patients, include the following must-have features for medical websites:
ADA Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to ensure that their websites are accessible to people with disabilities. For example, a visually impaired person may use a screen reader, which reads the content on your website aloud. Additionally, making your website accessible for all patients ensures that your practice is inclusive and eliminates any obstacles for website visitors with disabilities.
Interactive Map and Location Feature
For healthcare practices with multiple locations, an interactive map and location landing page is essential in helping patients choose the most convenient option for care. The feature includes information for patients such as contact information, directions, where to park, and other details about your practice that help them plan their visit.
Online Appointment Request Forms
Access to online appointment booking saves patients’ time and allows them to choose an appointment time that works with their schedule. Scheduling appointments with your practice from the comfort of their homes means they can see everything available without having to call your office. It is important to note that a secure online booking system ensures that patients’ personal and medical information remains private and confidential.
Testimonials and Reviews
Positive reviews show potential customers the outstanding experiences other patients have had at your practice. Testimonials enable patients to see that your practice is trustworthy, professional, and dedicated to delivering excellent care, making it more likely that patients will choose your practice for care.
Security Features
Because medical websites contain sensitive information about patients, it is vital to take precautions to ensure data privacy and security. Incorporating security features such as SSL encryption, a secure server, and two-factor authentication can safeguard patient information from cyber-attacks.
A secure and trustworthy website will instill patient confidence in your practice, so use your website to notify of what security measures you have in place to ensure their data is collected, used, and protected responsibly.
What is SSL Security?
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between the website and the user’s browser. Having an SSL certificate on a medical website ensures that sensitive information, such as patients’ personal and medical records, is secure and protected from unauthorized access. SSL certificates also enhance the website’s credibility and trustworthiness since it indicates to users that the website is legitimate.
HIPAA Compliance
Medical websites must comply with HIPAA standards set by government regulation to ensure the safety and privacy of patients’ sensitive information. HIPAA requirements include access control, encryption, audit controls, and disaster recovery procedures. The best way to protect PHI is to ensure that it is never stored on your website and is transferred completely to your EHR.
Secure Login and Two-factor Authentication
Secure login protocols such as two-factor authentication are designed to protect user accounts from brute-force attacks and unauthorized login attempts. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to provide a secondary code, such as a PIN or SMS message, before accessing their account. It also ensures that only authorized users can access patients’ sensitive information.
Regular Backups and Updates
Medical websites must remain up to date to ensure that they function correctly and remain secure. Best practices for proactive security include:
- Regular updates to ensure that the website’s software and servers have the latest security patches
- Backups in case of data loss, server failure, or cyber-attacks.
Insurance Protocols and Financial Policies
Patients need to plan for the financial costs of treatment before committing to a procedure. Providing this information up front allows patients to make decisions sooner, including:
- Accepted insurance plans
- Payment procedures
- Financial assistance (if available)
Should a patient have questions about billing issues, a phone number, email address, or a chatbot readily available on your site is most helpful.
Online Bill Pay
Patients always appreciate having an option to pay their bills online and from the comfort of their own homes. Having an option for online payments can also expedite the payment process. This feature reduces the workload of staff and increases the patient satisfaction rate, removing the need to come into the office or mail in a check.
Patient Portal Access
Having a button at the top of your website that serves as an access point both tells potential patients that you offer this sought-after feature and is a way for practice staff to refer current patients to this patient engagement hub. A patient portal provides 24-hour secure access to patient information, including medical records, lab reports, prescription refills, appointment scheduling, and appointment history.
Health Information Resources
Providing resources such as health articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos can also increase patient engagement and communication. Patients are always searching online for health information, including symptoms, medical conditions, and treatments which means that health information resources are a must-have feature of a medical website. This encourages patient retention as it encourages patients to be involved in their care plans.
Having health information resources available on your website can help address patient needs and educate patients about their health and the services offered by the facility. This encourages patient retention as it encourages patients to be involved in their care plans.
Marketing and Branding
Ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing design across your website and social media channels can build your brand and set your practice apart from others. Consider incorporating a blog, social media integration, and patient reviews to promote your practice and encourage patient interaction.
Good Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is vital for any website, medical websites included. SEO increases the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs), primarily Google. An effective SEO strategy involves using relevant keywords in the website’s content and meta descriptions. Optimizing images, including links to quality content sources, and creating valuable, shareable content, such as blog posts, can also boost SEO.
A well-optimized website will help medical practices reach more potential patients and increase traffic to their site by ranking your practice higher in Google search results.
Testimonials and Case Studies
Patient stories carry more weight than any marketing campaign or advertising. While flashy media content might get attention, there’s no substitute for word-of-mouth recommendations. Adding patient testimonials (with permission and anonymity) and case studies to a medical website creates a significant impact as it provides social proof. A carefully curated patient testimonials page can help build trust, credibility, and a loyal patient base.
On-Brand High Quality Design
A medical practice is a relationship-based business. Trust is vital, and that begins with professional, seamless web design. The design speaks a lot about the brand – its character, positioning, and values. The web pages should be designed to communicate the practice’s persona.
This helps reinforce the brand and foster a meaningful connection with patients. The site must include a clear call to action, – strategically placed –, and be easy to read, with a simple navigation bar and professional visuals, including pictures of the office and team members.
Summary: Top Medical Website Design Features
Including in-demand medical website design features best meets patient expectations by making it accessible, informative, and user-friendly. Some of the features that make your website interactive and engaging include:
- Easy navigation and ease of use
- Responsive design and fast loading (mobile-friendly)
- ADA-accessibility tools
- Interactive maps and location features
- Portal access point
- Appointment request forms/online scheduling
- Online bill pay
- Educational resources
Some features will benefit the practice’s best interests such as regular back-ups, updates, SEO, and HIPAA compliance safeguards.
Exceed Patient Expectations with a High-Performance Website
Building an attractive and user-friendly website for your medical practice can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Our team creates compelling custom website designs that include key elements such as seamless navigation, digital marketing tools to drive engagement, and will include valuable SEO keywords. Contact us to learn more about how iHealthSpot can make your medical website stand out from the crowd.
