Healthcare Website Design: Best Practices with Examples

Get the latest insights about healthcare website design, including UX considerations and best practices.

Published in

TMDesign

11 min readMay 29, 2024

What is a healthcare website design?

A healthcare website is online platform where healthcare services and information are accessible to patients and professionals alike. These websites are crucial for maintaining efficient communication and service delivery within the healthcare industry.

These platforms integrate the expertise of healthcare professionals and the operational capabilities of healthcare providers, ensuring that both preventative care and urgent health needs are addressed.

Healthcare websites embody the digital presence of healthcare organizations, making vital health-related information and services accessible online.

In the healthcare sector, where timely information and service delivery can be life-saving, the importance of these websites must be addressed. They allow healthcare providers to meet patient needs efficiently, extend their service reach, and improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery.

Overview of Website Design Principles

Designing a healthcare website requires a focus on several key aspects to ensure it effectively meets its users’ needs.

The fundamental principles of web design, such as user-friendly design and visual and UX design considerations, play a critical role in how well a website performs and how seamlessly users interact.

User-Friendly Design: A healthcare website must be easy to navigate, allowing users to find the information they need without frustration. This involves a clear layout and intuitive navigation paths.
Seamless User Experience: Ensuring a seamless user experience is essential. This means that the website should load quickly, be accessible on various devices, and have minimal downtime, contributing to overall positive website performance.
Visual and UX Design Considerations: The website’s visual appeal should be consistent with its functionality. Effective use of colors, typography, and imagery must be balanced with the site’s usability and accessibility.
Website Performance: Optimal website performance is crucial, especially for healthcare websites where users seek critical information. This includes fast load times and responsive design across devices.
Search Engine Optimization and Results Pages: Optimizing the website for search engines can dramatically improve its visibility and the ease with which users can discover it. Techniques such as keyword optimization and mobile-friendly design contribute significantly to appearing on search engine results pages, enhancing user understanding and accessibility.

Hiring a website design company with expertise can be highly beneficial to ensure that these principles are correctly implemented.

They can provide the necessary skills and experience to create a site that looks good and functions perfectly for a healthcare provider’s needs.

Best Practices For Healthcare Website Design

Designing a website for the healthcare sector demands an approach that balances aesthetics with functionality. This ensures that the platform supports the complex needs of medical professionals and patients. Below are best practices essential for crafting successful healthcare and medical web designs:

Accessibility and Compliance: Ensure the website meets all accessibility standards, including ADA compliance, to serve all users, including those with disabilities.
Security Measures: Implement advanced security protocols to protect sensitive patient data, which is essential for maintaining trust and compliance in the medical industry.
Responsive Design: Adapt the site for various devices, ensuring that users have a consistent experience whether on a phone, tablet, or desktop.
Clear Navigation: Structure the site with precise, logical navigation to help users find information quickly and easily without confusion.
Engaging Content: Include high-quality, informative content that addresses common patient concerns and promotes the healthcare company’s services.
Patient-Centric Features: To enhance patient interaction with the site, incorporate features such as a user-friendly patient portal and efficient appointment booking process.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize content for search engines to increase visibility and attract more visitors to the best-designed healthcare websites.
Regular Updates: The website should be updated with the latest healthcare information and technologies to reflect the dynamic nature of the healthcare field.

These best practices are exemplified in some of the best healthcare website designs, which meet user expectations and exceed them, setting a high standard within the healthcare web design niche.

Visual and UX Design Considerations for healthcare website design

UX Design

User Experience (UX) design in healthcare websites focuses on making the site intuitive and straightforward for users to navigate. Key elements include:

Online Booking System: An efficient online booking system simplifies booking appointments, making it accessible and easy to use from any device.
Patient Portal: A well-designed patient portal allows for secure communication, easy access to personal health records, and appointment management, enhancing patient engagement.
Search Bar: Incorporating a prominent search bar helps users quickly find specific health-related information or services without sifting through complex medical information.

Visual Design

The visual design of a healthcare website should create a calm and reassuring atmosphere while providing easy access to critical information:

Consistent Branding: To build trust and recognition, use consistent colors, fonts, and layouts that align with the healthcare provider’s brand.
Information Hierarchy: Organize content with clear headings and logical flow to help users find information quickly and understand medical practices more effectively.
Imagery and Icons: Use relevant, high-quality images and icons to aid comprehension and guide users through the website smoothly.

Each design decision, from the layout of the appointment booking process to the visual presentation of healthcare website examples, should reduce the effort required for users to get the information they need.

This approach improves user satisfaction and supports the healthcare provider’s mission to deliver superior care through enhanced online experiences.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Healthcare Website

Step 1 — Establish Your Web Presence

Start by defining the scope and objectives of your healthcare website. Identify the essential services your site will offer, such as patient information, appointment booking, and access to healthcare services.

Decide on a domain name that reflects your healthcare brand and secure hosting that offers scalability and security for handling sensitive patient data.

Step 2 — Design an Online Booking System

Develop a simple-to-use online booking system. This system should allow patients to book appointments easily, view available slots, and choose their preferred healthcare provider. The booking process should be streamlined to minimize any barriers that could deter patient usage.

Step 3 — Implement a Search Function

Incorporate a search function to help users quickly locate information. This feature should be capable of filtering through various types of content, including blog posts, patient resources, and FAQs about healthcare services.

Step 4 — Secure Patient Data

Ensuring the security of patient data is crucial. Implement robust encryption methods for data storage and transmission.

Regularly update and audit security measures to comply with healthcare regulations and protect against data breaches.

Step 5 — Test and Launch

Before going live, thoroughly test the website to ensure all functionalities work as intended. Check the responsiveness across different devices and browsers. Once testing is complete, you can launch your healthcare website to the public.

Step 6 — Monitor and Improve

Continuously monitor the website’s performance after launching. Gather user feedback to identify areas for improvement and keep the website updated to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare field.

Optimization Tips for Healthcare Websites

Creating a healthcare website that is both functional and engaging requires attention to several critical aspects of web and visual design. Here are some proven tips to enhance your website’s performance:

Enhance Website Performance:

Optimize images and videos to load faster without compromising quality.
Use caching and content delivery networks (CDNs) to reduce load times.

Search Engine Optimization:

Incorporate keywords related to healthcare services into your content to improve visibility on search engine results pages.
Optimize meta descriptions and tags to boost SEO performance.

Visual Design:

Use clean, attractive design elements that communicate trust and professionalism.
Ensure the website layout is organized and the visual hierarchy makes essential information stand out.

Improve User Experience:

Make navigation intuitive and ensure all links and buttons are easy to use.
Design with accessibility in mind to accommodate all users, including those with disabilities.

Focus on Medical Website Design Specifics:

Integrate features like a patient portal where users can access their medical records and manage their health information securely.

Regularly Update Content:

Keep the website content fresh and relevant to ensure it remains valid for patients and ranks well in search engines.

For those aiming to achieve the best results in building and optimizing a healthcare website, considering the services of a specialized healthcare website design agency is beneficial.

These agencies bring a wealth of experience and can offer custom solutions that meet the specific needs of the healthcare sector, ensuring your website looks great and performs excellently in serving patients and staff.

Best Healthcare Website Designs for Inspiration

Each website below showcases effective healthcare web design, demonstrating how specific elements contribute to their performance effectiveness and user satisfaction.

1. Merck:

What Makes the Website Great: Merck’s website is noted for its comprehensive information on drug development and health solutions. The layout facilitates easy access to essential research and product details, catering to healthcare professionals and consumers.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 46/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 52/100.

2. Elevance Health:

What Makes the Website Great: The website stands out for its integration of insurance services with user health management tools. It’s structured to help users easily navigate through various health plans and services, enhancing customer experience.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 67/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 35/100.

3. Abbott:

What Makes the Website Great: Abbott’s website excels in presenting their technology-forward health devices and nutritional products. It’s designed for clarity and ease, offering visitors detailed product information and the latest health insights.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 40/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 30/100.

4. McKesson:

What Makes the Website Great: McKesson’s site provides extensive resources about their healthcare supply chain services. It’s practical and easy to use, designed for healthcare providers to find solutions quickly.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 73/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 35/100.

5. Cigna

What Makes the Website Great: Cigna’s website is recognized for its focus on health insurance services with an emphasis on wellness and preventive care. The design promotes easy access to plan details, healthcare providers, and wellness programs.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 38/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 3/100.

6. CVS Health:

What Makes the Website Great: This site combines retail with healthcare services effectively. It provides seamless access to pharmacy services, clinic appointments, and health products, all within a customer-friendly layout.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 94/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 55/100.

7. Mayo Clinic

What Makes the Website Great: Comprehensive, easy-to-navigate, patient-centric content.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 51/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 33/100.

8. Cleveland Clinic

What Makes the Website Great: High functionality combined with extensive health resources.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 52/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 39/100.

9. Mercy Health:

What Makes the Website Great: Excellent integration of patient portals and appointment booking.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 85/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 80/100.

10. Rush University Medical Center

What Makes the Website Great: Effective presentation of medical services and specialist information.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 76/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 46/100.

11. Synergy Private Health:

What Makes the Website Great: Tailored patient experiences and health coaching services.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 82/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 79/100.

12. Maven Clinic:

What Makes the Website Great: Specializes in women’s and family health with virtual consultation features.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 70/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 30/100.

13. The Oaks Plastic Surgery:

What Makes the Website Great: Showcases services focusing on aesthetic clarity and user engagement.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 71/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 94/100.

14. Olathe Health:

What Makes the Website Great: Effective communication of healthcare options and community resources.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 90/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 44/100.

15. ECU Health:

What Makes the Website Great: Comprehensive healthcare information with easy access to patient care services.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 80/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 35/100.

16. MedExpress

What Makes the Website Great: Optimized for quick access to urgent care services and information.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 51/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 19/100.

17. Kids Health:

What Makes the Website Great: Educational content accessible for parents and children.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 76/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 24/100.

18. IU Health:

What Makes the Website Great: Wide range of easily navigable services for comprehensive care.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 96/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 60/100.

19. Peter Mac:

What Makes the Website Great: Specialized care information presented in an empathetic and accessible manner.
Lighthouse Index on Desktop: 61/100.
Lighthouse Index on Mobile: 33/100.

These examples show how thoughtful design and functionality can create engaging, efficient, and user-centric healthcare websites that effectively communicate services and enhance patient care.

Why Good Design is Essential for Medical Companies?

Effective website design is critical to the success of any healthcare organization. Well-designed medical websites foster trust and professionalism, key elements that prospective patients consider when choosing their healthcare provider.

For medical professionals, a good website serves as a platform to showcase their qualifications, services, and testimonials, which helps establish their credibility.

Good design goes beyond aesthetics; it includes functionality that enables patients to access medical services easily.

Features like health coaching, mental health resources, and user-friendly patient portals are crucial for engaging users and providing them with the tools they need to manage their health.

Moreover, a well-optimized website ensures better visibility on search engines, increasing the likelihood of attracting new patients.

The presentation of clear, accessible information and the seamless integration of online services make a healthcare website a tool for medical care and a critical part of a healthcare company’s strategy to improve patient care and satisfaction.

In conclusion, investing in high-quality website design cannot be overstated. It is a fundamental step for healthcare organizations aiming to enhance service delivery and patient engagement.

By focusing on user experience, visual clarity, and functional design, healthcare providers can significantly improve their online presence and, by extension, their reputation and reach within the medical community.