For a growing number of people, the habit of sticking with a provider just because you “like them” is fading away. Today’s patients anticipate excellent service at every point during their healthcare journey. This expectation means having a good hospital website so your practice can provide a satisfying experience online is no longer an optional part of your overall marketing strategy.
And, it’s not just tech-savvy Gen Z patients who you need to keep happy with a robust and easy-to-use hospital website. Other patients want tech conveniences as part of their care, too. Check out this a breakdown from Solution Reach’s recent patient-provider relationship study:
Baby boomers: 20% are likely to switch doctors in the next three years
Generation X: 44% are likely to change providers in the next three years
Millennials: 43% are likely to switch physicians in the next few years, and 54% have already made a switch over the last two or three years
Keep reading to learn what it takes to design and develop an exceptional healthcare site, and get inspired by 48 examples of good hospital websites.
Key considerations when designing a good hospital website
The very best hospital websites’ qualities are no different from those that make up any other great site. The best of the best are easy-to-use, optimized for search and mobile use, feature fresh and engaging content with clear CTAs, sync up with established branding, and—well—look good.
When it comes to hospital websites specifically, the sites that patients like using tend to present content in a way that takes note of what is most convenient for them—whether that means providing the ability to make an appointment online, view medical records, find a new specialist, or learn about treatments—over everything else.
Hospitals are no stranger to the idea of being patient-centric, but putting this into practice online can be a challenge, especially when everyone wants a presence near the top of the homepage or in the main navigation.
Focus on the needs of your hospital website’s primary users
To build a website that isn’t cluttered with content of secondary importance to users, consider developing website personas that analyze your target audiences and what they want. This research about your users can provide invaluable guideposts for organizing content, helping to ensure your team stays focused on what your users really need during each step of the complex hospital website redesign process.
Tatum is the president of TBH Creative and is responsible for building long-term client relationships. She enjoys the strategy behind web design and collaborating with clients to define and execute online marketing goals. She likes to blog about hot topics in web design and digital marketing, as well as share tips for strengthening your online presence.