13 Must-Have Features Of Medical Practice Website

Medical websites need to provide easy-to-understand information about their practice, services, and products and provide information for both current patients and prospective patients.

If your job includes marketing a hospital, doctor’s office or medical device company then read on! We have compiled a list of 9 things every healthcare-related website should accomplish from patient data security to necessary content.

1. Fast: The need for speed isn’t something new, research has shown that speed is the most widely-cited problem for ‘net surfers. Web users want to get in and get out quickly.

2. Mobile responsive: The responsive design approach says that a website should respond to the user according to the device, screen size, and orientation. As a result, websites created with the responsive design method are designed to display optimally at a range of sizes, no matter what device or screen resolution the user is using.
In a world where people frequently switch between a growing array of devices, responsive design allows webmasters to create “flexible” websites that adjust to fit the device and user.

3. SEO: Over 94% of people who use Google only look at the first page of search results, and most people only click on the first three results. 83% of people worldwide use Google, but this concept applies to every search engine. So what do you do if your small business website appears on the 12th page of results instead of the first page?
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of increasing your site position and page rank organically through quality backlinks and effective keywords. SEO is the most effective way to increase traffic to your website.

4. A Secure Web Presence: When it comes to running an online business, the internet is an awesome place to meet your customers. Unfortunately, it’s also a good place for hackers who want to sell your data for a few quick bucks to find you.

Hackers put your business at risk and can expose sensitive customer information. Cybercriminals can intercept transactions between your customers and the website and steal important data.

What does this mean for you?

You need a secured web connection to prevent any of these misfortunes.

Here’s the good news:
There is a way to protect your traffic by installing an SSL certificate. Whether you already have a website or you’re creating a new one, security must be a top priority. One of the foolproof ways to do this is by having an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate from a recognized authority.

You need to safeguard the transfer of your client’s sensitive information on your website against illegal access.

5. HIPAA compliant: The HIPAA Security rule provides guidelines for the transmission of electronic patient health information and who has access to that information. Since your website will likely take inpatient or prospective patient information, the security of your website is a key element that should not be overlooked.

6.  Accurate Contact and Location Information: This may seem obvious but having complete contact information for your medical practice is very important. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find a phone number or address when you need to make an appointment or find directions. If you have multiple locations be sure to list the address, phone numbers, and hours for each location. The more accessible this information is, the better.

7. Key Products and Services: Be sure to tell your visitors what services you offer. If you offer specialty services in your field, put more emphasis on those services. Not only does it tell your prospective patients what you can or cannot provide but it will help improve your search ranking for those services.

8. Resources for Current & Prospective Patients: If you’re able to have new patient paperwork available online for download, your prospective patients can feel better prepared before their first visit in addition to reducing check-in time. Other resources you can include are links to your patient portal, online bill pay, and privacy practices.

9. Doctor and Staff Directory: If your practice employs several doctors, a directory is a helpful tool to have on your website. Prospective patients will feel more comfortable going into your practice knowing more about their doctor than just their name. You can include information such as where they went to school, specialties, and a short bio alongside a photograph. The directory is searchable and includes contact information, a picture, a short bio, and a summary of medical training for each doctor.

10.  Patient Expectations / FAQs: It is helpful to have a single page explaining what to expect during the first visit or for a particular procedure. The more information your patient has upfront the more at ease they will be during the procedure or walking into your office for the first time. FAQs can be used and categorized based on procedures, billing practices, visiting policies, etc.

11. Clear Calls-to-Action: What do you want visitors to do when they come to your website? Make sure you direct them with clear calls to action such as Schedule an Appointment, Find a Doctor, Contact Us, and Tour our Hospital.

12 Case Studies / Before & After: Testimonials are a great asset to your website along with before and after photos if relevant to your services. Nothing promotes your services better than real results from actual patients. When viewing the services for Acadian ENT’s Facial Plastic Surgery Center there are before and after pictures included for each procedure.

13. Blog: Utilize a blog on your site to share industry news, community events, and announcements with your visitors. This will keep your site looking fresh and encourage your visitors to come back to see what’s new – whether that be a new procedure that you’re offering, a new doctor, updated office hours, or a community event that you will be sponsoring. All of these blog posts keep them connected to the community and their audience.

14. Book an appointment and pay: Your medical practice should have a booking feature where patients can decide to book an appointment and also pay.

15.  Patient Portal: Patient portals are secure online sites that give patients access to their medical information, at any time of day or night and without scheduling a phone call. The basic function of a patient portal is to engage patients in their own care, educating them on not only their personal health but also assisting them to take control of their treatment options. Some of the features available on patient portals may include:

Direct communication with the doctor via message

-Short video appointments
-Medical history and records
-Prescription ordering
-Appointment setting
-Bill payment (premium and for medical services)
-Educational materials, tailored to the patient
-Lab and diagnostic test results
-Visit summaries and notes from the doctor
-A record of immunizations
Once a patient creates a secure login, they have access to many of the things they need to manage their healthcare.

Although some care providers had concerns about equitable access to portals and an increase in their workload, other medical professionals noted patient increases in preventative care and better disease awareness for patients engaged with portals.

Building a healthcare website that incorporates all of these elements can be overwhelming but Netwalkers NG has the experience in healthcare website development to help you succeed. Take a look at our portfolio of healthcare or medical-related sites below and contact us for more information.

http:belldomehospital.com

http:marketdoctors.com.ng