In today’s digital world, more and more people are using the internet to access healthcare services. Whether you are a dental practice, a private medical practice, or even a large healthcare centre, you cannot survive without a website.
While each website is customised to the nature of your business, what you offer, and the market(s) that you serve, most (if not all) healthcare websites should include the following features.
Appointment Scheduling Forms
Your website visitors need to be able to schedule an appointment directly from your website. In fact, this should be one of the most visible functions on your website’s homepage.
The good news is, that even when you are designing your own site, a good website builder makes it easy to include an appointment scheduler and integrate it with your preferred calendar app.
This way, clients can see the dates and time slots when you are available, and with each scheduled appointment, your calendar is updated in real-time. The system should also send an appointment confirmation email or SMS to the client, with a reminder when the appointment is almost due.
A Testimonials Page
Testimonials tend to get a bad rap, but in the healthcare industry, they are a crucial element. The difference between your facility and competing services is the unique experience that you offer. Customer testimonials show potential clients the experience that they should expect if they choose you.
It is also a good way to showcase the services that you offer, as well as the expertise of your staff. Remember though, customers have grown wise to the use of fake testimonials, and they can usually detect dishonesty.
Make sure that your testimonials are from actual past clients, and that they accurately represent the experience that you offer.
A ‘News’ or ‘Blog’ section
Healthcare is one of the industries where innovation happens on a daily basis. New discoveries are being made, new technologies and drugs are being developed to help cure or manage complex illnesses, and AI technology is being integrated into healthcare.
A news or blog section gives you a platform to discuss these innovations and discoveries with your clients. It also showcases your knowledge and expertise, which helps build your brand. You can also include notable goings-on in your community and any other content that will inform and engage your target market.
Security
Almost every country has some sort of law or legislation regarding the protection of medical information. In the UK, it is the Data Protection Act, and in the US it is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These laws impose stiff penalties on healthcare services that fail to protect their client’s personal and medical data.
As such, your website, and the computer network that it connects to, should have the highest security protocols. Make sure that you use a hosting service with top-notch security features and have a cybersecurity expert analyse your system periodically for flaws.
Conclusion
A healthcare website should always, and prominently, include an appointment scheduling form if you want to convert your website visitors into actual clients.
A testimonials page shows potential clients the experience they should expect from you, while a blog/news section gives your clients information on innovation within your field and the community that you serve. Having a robust security system ensures that your practice doesn’t run afoul of healthcare data protection laws.
