In recent years, the healthcare industry has faced rapidly changing technological advancements. Your marketing and patient experience are no exception.
From secure telehealth web development to healthcare branding and search engine optimization (SEO), here’s what the best healthcare websites have in common.
4 Amenities the Best Health Websites Have in Common
Patient-focused healthcare websites give patients more control over their scheduling and allow for easier communication with their providers. These four amenities will help your patients feel right at home in your office.
1. Online Appointment Scheduling
Did you know that 42% of patients find being put on hold to be their biggest frustration when scheduling a medical appointment? With the chaos of modern life, having to wait around a phone for an unknown amount of time for someone to answer can be reason enough to hang up.
Online appointment scheduling allows patients to schedule appointments on their own terms without the hold music. Not only does online scheduling reduce the stress for patients and office staff, but it also fills gaps in your schedule. You can have cancelations rebooked fast with minimal effort.
2. Telehealth Portals for Virtual Appointments
Not all appointments need to be had in the office – and patients know that. If they can get a little time back in their day by avoiding a commute, they’ll take that option every time. And today, that option is telehealth.
Telehealth lets patients take some appointments on their mobile phone or computer via a secure, encrypted connection. Patients can meet privately with their provider one-and-one from the comfort of their homes.
And it’s more than just a time saver. Patients suffering from pain conditions and anxiety consider this option a complete game-changer.
3. Secure Portals for Patient/Provider Communication
Here’s another fun fact: 33% of patients have left a healthcare provider due to a lack of access to their providers. We get it. Providers are busy. Games of phone tag are all too common. But eventually, resentment builds and your patient may decide to switch providers.
Secure portals allow patients to directly message their provider, view lab results, request refills, ask questions and receive answers. Of course, web development is a vital component when creating a patient portal to keep patient records private and comply with HIPAA. So, make sure your developer is an expert in healthcare web development specifically.
4. Web Accessibility
As a healthcare provider, you handle patients with unique needs. Your healthcare website needs to be structured so it’s easy for anyone to use, even if they have a disability.
Web accessibility is the process of developing a website so that it can be used by the blind, deaf, or any number of other disabled people. There are international standards for what defines accessibility, and you must include them in your web design and code.
Healthcare Branding Elements
In addition to what’s helpful for the patient, you also want to focus on your branding. The best healthcare branding builds trust and demonstrates expertise. Be sure to have clear messaging across all channels and portals, complete with straightforward navigation and calls-to-action.
With a solid healthcare SEO strategy, searchers can find your website on Google. For example, if you write the highest quality article on the topic (and keyword) “medications for insomnia,” your website will start receiving traffic, most likely, from people with insomnia. Readers who reached the end of your article were engaged and helped by the article. So, add a clear call-to-action like “Schedule an Appointment Now” at the bottom of your article. These readers will be more likely to become patients.
Paid ads and social media can help your practice reach a broader audience, as well. Depending on your practice, you can choose to focus on one or two platforms your target audience uses. For example, middle-aged patients may tend to use Facebook more than TikTok, so you’ll want to focus your energy there.
Need Healthcare Web Development?
At Snap Agency, we understand the needs of healthcare providers and their patients. Your website needs to build trust among new or potential patients while also offering functions that take the stress off your practice and your patients. Partner with a healthcare marketing agency knowledgeable in what healthcare websites need; partner with Snap.