Why Your Healthcare Website Matters More Than Ever
Patients don’t flip through Yellow Pages anymore. They search online, check reviews, and visit your website before ever picking up the phone.
If you’re a healthcare provider in Georgia—whether you’re a family practice, dental clinic, specialist office, or urgent care center—your website is often the first impression patients have of your practice.
Here’s what it needs to include.
Must-Have #1: Easy Online Appointment Booking
Why It Matters
Patients want to book appointments at 10 PM after putting kids to bed. They want to schedule while on lunch break without making a phone call. If your website doesn’t let them, your competitor’s does.
What You Need
- Online scheduling system that integrates with your practice management software
- Real-time availability (or next-available slots)
- New patient forms online to save time at arrival
- Confirmation emails/texts automatically sent
Options
- SimplePractice (mental health)
- Zocdoc integration
- NexHealth
- Acuity Scheduling
- Direct EHR integration
Must-Have #2: Mobile-Friendly Design
The Stats
- 62% of healthcare searches happen on mobile devices
- 40% of patients have booked an appointment from their phone
- 70% will leave a website that doesn’t work well on mobile
What Mobile-Friendly Means
- Fast loading — Under 3 seconds
- Tap-friendly buttons — Large enough for fingers
- Click-to-call phone number — One tap to connect
- Readable text — No pinching or zooming
- Easy navigation — Simple menu that works on phones
If your current site requires zooming to read, you’re losing patients.
Why It Matters
Healthcare is personal. Patients want to know who will be treating them before they arrive.
What to Include
For each provider:
- Professional headshot (friendly, approachable)
- Education and credentials
- Specialties
- Years of experience
- Brief bio that shows personality
- Languages spoken
Pro Tip
Avoid stock photos entirely. Patients notice, and it damages trust.
Must-Have #4: Services Clearly Listed
What Patients Need to Know
Before calling, patients want to confirm you offer what they need.
Create dedicated pages for each service with:
- What the service involves
- Conditions treated
- What to expect during the appointment
- Insurance/payment information
- Link to book or call
For Dental Practices
- General dentistry
- Cosmetic procedures
- Emergency services
- Pediatric care
- Sedation options
For Medical Practices
- Annual wellness exams
- Chronic disease management
- Acute care
- Preventive services
- Specialized treatments
Must-Have #5: Location and Hours (Clearly Visible)
- Full address with Google Maps embed
- Office hours including lunch closures
- Holiday schedules updated regularly
- Parking information
- Public transit access if applicable
- Multiple locations each with their own page
Make It Findable
Don’t bury this in the footer. Put it on every page header and create a dedicated “Contact/Location” page.
What Patients Search For
“Does [your practice] accept Blue Cross Blue Shield?”
“Dentist in Atlanta that takes Medicaid”
What to Include
- List of accepted insurance plans (update regularly!)
- Process for out-of-network patients
- Self-pay pricing or payment plan information
- Financing options if offered
Important
If you don’t list insurance information, patients assume you don’t take theirs.
Must-Have #7: Patient Reviews and Testimonials
Why Reviews Matter
- 72% of patients use online reviews as first step to finding a doctor
- 84% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
- Patients read an average of 7 reviews before trusting a healthcare provider
Where to Get Them
- Google Business Profile (most important)
- Healthgrades
- Zocdoc
- Vitals
- Your own website
Display Them Prominently
Feature reviews on your homepage, not just a testimonials page nobody visits.
Requirements
If you collect patient information through your website (appointment requests, intake forms), you need:
- SSL certificate (https://)
- HIPAA-compliant form handler
- Proper data encryption
- Business Associate Agreement with form providers
- Privacy policy explaining data handling
Standard website contact forms are NOT HIPAA compliant. Use specialized healthcare form solutions.
Must-Have #9: Accessibility Compliance
Legal Requirements
Healthcare websites face higher scrutiny for ADA compliance. You need:
- Alt text on all images
- Keyboard navigation that works
- Proper heading structure
- Color contrast meeting WCAG guidelines
- Readable font sizes
- Screen reader compatibility
Why It Matters Beyond Legal
15-20% of patients have some form of disability. Accessible websites serve everyone better.
Must-Have #10: Local SEO Optimization
Be Found When Patients Search
When someone searches “family doctor in Marietta” or “urgent care Alpharetta,” will they find you?
Essential Elements
- Google Business Profile fully optimized
- Local keywords in page titles and content
- Location pages for each office
- Schema markup for medical organizations
- Citations on healthcare directories
Read our complete local SEO checklist for more details.
Healthcare Website Red Flags
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Outdated information — Old providers listed, wrong hours
- Stock photos of actors — Patients notice
- No online booking — Losing to competitors who have it
- Slow loading — 40% abandon after 3 seconds
- No reviews visible — Seems like you have something to hide
- Complicated navigation — Patients give up
The Patient Journey Online
- Search — “dentist near me” or “pediatrician atlanta”
- Compare — Check top 3-5 results, read reviews
- Visit website — Look for credentials, services, insurance
- Make decision — Can they book online? Is it easy?
- Book or call — Or leave for a competitor’s site
Your website needs to serve every step of this journey.
Ready to Upgrade Your Practice’s Website?
We specialize in website design for healthcare practices across Georgia. From Atlanta to Savannah, we help clinics attract and convert more patients online.
Contact us for a free consultation about your practice’s website.
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