People are increasingly relying on their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets for their daily activities, including managing their health. It implies that medical websites must be up to date, effective, and user-friendly. Websites are becoming more valuable than ever before to organizations, and medical offices are a part of it.
The growth of healthcare innovation is accelerated by new problems in the sector. Hospitals and clinics are looking for methods to digitize medical services and internal administrative procedures to improve patient care. However, while functionality receives a lot of attention, the importance of user experience (UX) design in healthcare websites is frequently overlooked.
The digital healthcare experience is playing a bigger part in building patient connections. In 2020, half of the healthcare consumers polled believed that a negative online UX with a healthcare provider undermines the whole relationship with that provider.
You must stress UX design to create a great healthcare website experience that keeps people interested in your practice. Here, we will look at the reasons user experience matters for a healthcare website and begin by understanding what website UX entails.
What Is Website User Experience?
The efficacy of elements on your website is the area of focus of the website user experience. Each component of your website should have a specific purpose and contribute to a unified user experience.
Here, your site’s structural component and how the user is intended to engage with your website are more important than the aesthetic design aspects of UX.
UX designers will start by creating a website wireframe that is lacking aesthetic features like animations, colors, and fonts. Instead, by mapping out the user flow on the site for each page and aspect, the UX design will indicate where certain elements will be and how they will be utilized.
The UI designers will next add the company’s branding and other design components to the wireframe to enhance the website experience.
Why Healthcare Practitioners Need to Focus on Their Website User Experience
The healthcare sector is all about establishing patient trust. Physicians, nurses, and other hospital or medical practice staff all have the same goal: to serve people. This concept of creating trust should be extended to all areas of your brand, including your website.
Unfortunately, there is a widespread belief among many healthcare practitioners that they do not require an online presence. While many people assume that referral networks or conventional marketing platforms are the only ways to grow a business, this is simply not the case.
A hospital or primary care provider’s office should, at the very least, have a well-designed website that conveys immediate trust. This can be achieved with a focus on website user experience (UX). The following is how a better website UX can benefit healthcare practitioners.
1. Ensure a Responsive Design
According to a survey published by Search Engine Journal, one out of every four internet searches is made on a mobile device. Healthcare websites must take advantage of the chance to reach smartphone and tablet users, as most will use those devices to search for doctor’s offices near them.
2. Create a Patient-Focused Website
You are putting the patient’s experience first by prioritizing the UX of your healthcare website design. It is critical to cater to their requirements and structure your website as a resource for them rather than a place to brag. It not only looks nice, but it also provides a tailored experience for your patients in a digital setting.
3. Ensure a Coherent Theme Throughout
We are created as humans to be impacted by arrangement and color, whether we realize it or not. It is recommended practice, particularly on a healthcare website, to color-coordinate the hyperlinks, navigation, text, and buttons. This will help a user who is sifting through material spot a call to action easily and comprehend what they should do next.
4. Build Trust
The cornerstone of building a productive relationship is the patient’s trust. Because 45 percent of patients look for health information online before seeing their doctor, having a user-friendly website is critical.
To ensure that patients are not confused or overwhelmed, the UX design you choose should be simple and useful. This strengthens your relationship with your patients by demonstrating that your team wants to share knowledge with them rather than keep them in the dark.
5. Get Found on Search Engines
Almost 80% of consumers conduct internet research before making a choice or purchasing anything. You can attract the attention of patients searching for health facilities or physician groups on search platforms by using search engine optimization for your site.
6. Ensure Accessibility
The use of effective UX design produces a universally accessible experience. A simple and intuitive healthcare website design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical for all users, regardless of internet speed, screen size, or ability. This means prioritizing the needs of the patient, regardless of where they are or who they are.
7. Be ADA Compliant
On your healthcare website, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards are a major priority. This is because every patient has the right to use your website in the way that best meets their needs. Ensure your website is accessible to any patients with limitations by making all UI elements such as color, tonality, and buttons are easy to see and responsive.
Final Word
To develop a clear and aesthetically pleasing experience that allows your patients to accomplish their goals while on your website, it is critical to put their needs first and integrate UX best practices on your site. The team at Purple Tie Guys can help you do that.
At Purple Tie Guys, we have the expertise to create an ADA-compliant website for your healthcare practice that tells your story briefly and in the most convincing and aesthetically pleasing way. You can get in touch with us today to find out more!