Website development technologies are constantly evolving, so it’s surprising that some companies still have the same websites that were designed in the early 2000’s or even late 90’s. Medical center website design, in particular, seems to be an industry that has many websites stuck in this age of old design formats. Medical center and hospital websites should actually offer something new, aesthetically attractive, and comforting, because they are places that people go to for comfort, healing, and solutions.

These days it can be difficult to get potential customers to a website, but what’s probably more important is keeping the customers there once they arrive. If you own or work for a medical center or hospital, you know how important it is to give your patients a sense of comfort and healing. The same can be said for the medical center website design.

Medical Center Website Design

Any designer working on a medical center website design or a client who needs an updated medical center website design will find this article helpful because we will discuss the structure of websites with good design. But first, let’s take a look at old medical center website design and why it doesn’t work today.

1. Narrow Website Structure
– Limited space for important information on the home page
– Pages look cramped and cluttered
– More pages created due to lack of space
– Losing potential clients who look for quick info on the home page to no avail
– Feeling like you went back to the 90’s

2. Small Fonts
– Inaccessible for older users
– Important information gets lost; nothing stands out
– Unfriendly user experience

3. Amateur Images & Photos
– Unprofessional impression, even if the rest of the site looks great
– Doesn’t accurately reflect the medical center
– Losing potential clients who think the medical center doesn’t care about patients
A good website does not necessarily have to be minimal or look modern, but it should have some basic design elements in its structure that let the user know they are up to date and care about the way their clients experience their page. Above all, medical center website design should contain easy-to-access information, because most of the time that’s what their potential patients are looking for. Let’s take a look at some key elements of successful medical center website design and how they reflect a positive user experience.

1. Calming Greeting

A phrase or greeting in a light, calm color scheme can work wonders letting your patient know that you’re there to help them. This can be worked into the header, as part of your logo, or even within a small flash animation alongside photos of nurses and other medical staff.

2. Search Bar

Many patients need quick access to certain information, so a search bar is vital for any medical center website design.

3. Testimonials

These are important for new patients who need to be comforted by reading others’ experiences, letting them know that they are in great hands.

4. Ability to Request an Appointment

Some users do not have time to read a ton of information, and actually went to the website just to request an appointment. This button should be be and obvious on the home page, pointing the user to the right direction immediately.

5. Phone Number

Older internet users usually prefer to call a number and speak to someone instead of emailing back and forth. A phone number is also important for making an emergency call immediately, so it should be visible in large numbers on the top right of the home page.

6. Quick Links

Quick links make it easier for users to navigate your medical center website. Links such as women’s health, pediatrics, physical health, a healthy lifestyle, or an FAQ page answering common questions from patients and visitors.

7. Large Menu

Usually located on the top of the page, a menu should provide access to as many sections as possible without looking cluttered. Tabs can also list sub menus that fall under each category, making it easy for a user to pinpoint exactly what they need.

8. Community Interaction

A blog or forum where the doctor and nurses interact with patients can be very useful. Often times, patients will research their case and read up on all the possibilities before even consulting a doctor, which is where this interactive portion of the website would come in handy.

This is a general guide to successful medical center website design for designers and clients. It is obvious that dated websites are not only ugly, but they simply don’t provide the information and accessibility that is needed in an up-to-date website. Here is a great example of a medical center website design: Sunland Medical Center

When working on a hospital or medical center website design, keep in mind that space is very important. Consider the behavior and mindset of the people that would visit the website, their age ranges, and the information they would seek.
Medical center website design is just one of our specialties at Arpi Design, where we apply our expertise and love of good design to every one of our projects. Contact us today if you need a medical center website design update!