User-centric web design
As healthcare organizations strive to provide the best possible experience for their patients, they must consider user-centric design strategies. These efforts start with identifying the needs of their patients and developing empathy for their journey. The first step in this process is conducting research and patient journey mapping. This type of research will allow you to better understand the needs of your patients and formulate a UX and web design strategy based on the results. It can also help align internal leaders with a patient-centric point of view.
The design of a healthcare website should have several user-centric features. These include robust search functionality, mobile responsiveness, elevated visual assets, and strategic long-form content designs. It should also be aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-navigate.
Microinteractions
Having microinteractions is an important part of digital health products. They help products stand out, guide users through systems, and gather data. If they are designed well, these interactions can make a world of difference. However, designing microinteractions requires a bit of experience in the field.
The main aim of microinteractions is to increase the user experience. They should guide the user through an application or interface without overwhelming them. They should also mark critical features and controls and prompt a user to take an action. A simple animation guiding a user through a process is a good example of a microinteraction.
Mobile responsiveness
In order to attract more patients, healthcare organizations must make their websites mobile-friendly. More people use smartphones and tablets to conduct searches. The mobile version of your website will be the one Google uses to index and rank your site. You need to optimize your SEO for this version, or your website will rank lower than you would like. In addition, Google is reworking its page experience ranking system to prioritize user experience, load time, interactivity, and stability of content as it loads. This means that a healthcare website that is mobile-responsive will be a significant advantage in search engine results.
Healthcare organizations can be reluctant to redesign their websites because it requires a significant investment, especially if they are new to establishing a web presence. However, many healthcare organizations have established a web presence only recently. The fact is, mobile users are increasingly using mobile media devices to access information, look for a healthcare provider, and read hospital reviews.
ADA compliance
There are several things you can do to ensure that your healthcare website is compliant with the ADA guidelines. These include making sure that all HTML tags and fill areas are accessible to individuals with disabilities. In addition, you should make sure that your website is fully navigable by keyboard or screen reader. This is particularly important for those with visual impairments, as the site must be readable even if the text is scaled by 200 percent. Additionally, if you use images or video on your website, you must ensure that they contain a caption or description to help visually impaired users.
The ADA also includes guidelines for accessibility of content and layout. A website that is accessible to people with cognitive or visual disabilities should offer options for users to customize text and layout. It also should have customizable elements and be keyboard operable.
