How to create a medical website step by step
A well-designed medical website is crucial to the success of any practice. Many potential patients make their decision for or against a doctor based on what they see online. That’s why a medical website should create the best possible first impression — professional, modern, trustworthy, and welcoming.
Why should you create a medical website?
There are many reasons for having your own medical website:
✓ Takes pressure off the practice: A medical website can ease the workload of the entire practice. Essential information such as office hours, house calls, and emergency appointments can be presented clearly online.
✓ Enables online appointment scheduling: Patients can now book appointments with just a few clicks. This can be done via external providers or through a simple booking system integrated directly into the practice website.
✓ Is a greater convenience for patients: Modern medical websites may even display live updates on current wait times. Additional tools can support digital prescription renewals or allow patients to access their medical records securely.
✓ Introduces the practice and team: Personal connection matters in healthcare. Build trust by showing team photos on your website, and add details about professional qualifications to round out the profile.
✓ Presents all services clearly: Patients don’t just visit for urgent issues — they may also be interested in special treatments or innovative methods. A medical website should highlight the full range of services offered.
✓ Provides easy contact and directions: Ensure all contact details — phone, fax, email, and address — are easy to find. Embedding a map with directions adds extra convenience for potential patients.
✓ Enables you to stand out from competitors: Just like a modern, inviting practice fosters comfort, a professional website creates trust. Displaying certifications, awards, or memberships in medical associations underlines credibility and expertise.
What are the options for creating a practice website?
When creating a medical website, there are fundamentally four main options to choose from:
- Website builder
- Content Management System (CMS)
- Custom programming
- Web design service
Website builder
With this option, you don’t need developers or advanced knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. A simple medical website can be created easily using a website builder tailored for doctors. You can select a design from ready-made templates, customize the pages, and add your own content. For most practices, extensive individual programming isn’t necessary.
Most solutions also include hosting, domain registration, and a professional email address. Many providers also integrate basic search engine optimization features and offer additional tools to promote your website, either built-in or as add-ons.
- Intuitive website builder with AI assistance
- Create captivating images and texts in seconds
- Domain, SSL and email included
Content Management System (CMS)
A Content Management System (CMS) also offers ready-made templates but provides more customization options. Most functions can be added through plugins, requiring no or only basic programming skills. In terms of specific web design for a medical website, there are numerous extensions and templates that significantly simplify the task.
One of the most popular Content Management Systems is WordPress. Creating a WordPress site is easy to tackle even without external support.
- Stress-free, no matter your skill level with easy AI tools
- Fully customizable with themes and plugins
- Hassle-free updating and less admin
Program it yourself
The most cost-effective option is also the most labor-intensive and requires the most IT knowledge: When you create and program your own medical website, you have full control and can design the website entirely according to your own ideas. However, you must also manage hosting, domain, and SSL certificate independently.
Web design service
Program the website yourself or get someone to do it for you? Hiring an agency or a freelancer to design your medical website is the most convenient but also the most expensive solution. You should consider this option only if you have really high demands for your website that justify the additional expenses.
- Professional templates
- Intuitive customizable design
- Free domain, SSL, and email address
A comparison of all the options
Simple web design can usually be achieved with a website builder or content management system. Those with time and programming experience can also manage website design independently. If you don’t have the time but are willing to spend a lot of money, you can alternatively hire a web design service.
| Advantage | Disadvantage | Difficulty level | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website builder | quick and easy to implement, no programming knowledge required | limited customization, minimal technical control | + | + |
| Content Management System | often open source, little HTML or CSS knowledge required | Hosting, domain, and SSL certificate must be booked separately | ++ | ++ |
| Self-programming | No design costs, everything from one source | requires substantial programming experience | +++ | + |
| Web design service | quick implementation, collaboration with experts | relatively expensive, late changes only possible to a limited extent | + | +++ |
Key elements every medical website should include
A medical website can be set up quickly and efficiently if the key points are planned in advance. The first step should be to define the essential content that patients expect. A medical practice homepage should always include the following elements:
Homepage
First impressions count — and that applies just as much online. Every website, no matter the industry or purpose, should provide visitors with the most important details right away on the homepage. For a medical website, this means prominently displaying office hours, phone number, and key services.
Additional details such as contact information, directions, or current announcements should be easy to access via the main navigation. In short, if you plan to create a medical website, begin by carefully designing the homepage layout.
Office hours
Office hours are often the main reason patients visit a medical website. They should be featured on the homepage but can also have their own menu item and be listed again in the contact section. Some medical websites utilize a footer with their office hours so they appear at the end of every subpage on the site.
Changes, cancelations, or different office hours need to be promptly posted on the website.
News
The “News” section can cover far more than updates on office hours or team changes. For example, you can share information about new medical findings or highlight the ongoing education of your practice through training, conferences, and seminars. Short summaries are usually enough here, since the content is primarily intended for patients rather than medical colleagues.
Appointment scheduling
When it comes to web design, interactive features are usually less important. Instead of focusing on user-centered design, the priority should be a human-centered design that fulfills one main purpose: appointment scheduling.
With a medical website builder, an online appointment system can be integrated quickly and easily. Ready-made solutions are available that can be embedded into your site with minimal effort or technical knowledge.
Contact
A modern practice should provide several contact options, such as a phone number, email address, and ideally a contact form that helps organize inquiries by topic. A fax number can still be useful as well — for instance, when health insurers need to exchange information with the practice.
Detailed directions are also essential. A Google Maps integration with the exact practice location can be easily embedded on the homepage, allowing visitors to click and instantly see the route from their starting point.
Services
A medical website should provide much more information than what fits on a business card. Patients want to know in advance which services the practice offers and whether their insurance is accepted. Clearly indicate which treatments are typically covered by insurance (e.g., routine checkups, preventive care) and which require out-of-pocket payment.
Team introduction
Trust is the most important link between the medical team and the patients. Under the “Team” section, you can introduce the entire practice team. As often is the case, a picture speaks louder than a thousand words. The photos should appear bright and friendly, conveying a competent impression. It makes sense to have the pictures taken by a professional photographer.
Legal notice
Medical websites must meet key legal requirements. These typically include a clear privacy policy (especially if patient data is collected), appropriate terms of service, and a medical disclaimer stating that the content is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice.
If your website collects patient information (e.g., through forms or online scheduling), you must also ensure HIPAA compliance. In addition, make sure your site is accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What guidelines apply to a medical website in the U.S?
Medical websites in the US must comply with key legal and regulatory requirements:
- HIPAA compliance if patient data is collected via forms, scheduling, or telehealth
- a clear privacy policy explaining how personal and medical information is handled
- terms of service and disclaimers stating that website content is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice
- licensing and credentials of doctors (not legally required, but recommended for building patient trust)
- ADA accessibility, ensuring the website is usable for people with disabilities (WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is the common standard)
- compliance with FTC advertising rules for truthful claims, testimonials, and endorsements
Including this information ensures legal security, builds patient trust, and demonstrates professionalism.
What is prohibited on a medical website?
U.S. law does not ban promotional content on medical websites like some countries. However, all advertising must be truthful, accurate, and not misleading. The following points are especially important:
- Avoid false or exaggerated claims — all statements about treatments must be factually correct and supported by evidence.
- Do not guarantee success — promising specific outcomes (e.g., “100% cure”) is considered misleading.
- Follow FTC rules — advertising and marketing must be transparent; endorsements and testimonials must be genuine and properly disclosed.
- Comply with FDA regulations if your practice promotes prescription drugs, medical devices, or regulated treatments.
- Respect HIPAA rules — patient information or testimonials cannot be shared without explicit consent.
- Check state medical board guidelines, as some states limit certain types of comparative or promotional advertising.
While links to companies and product mentions are generally allowed in the US, they must not mislead patients or imply endorsements without proper disclosure.
Tools like a feedback system, where patients can rate and describe their experiences with the practice, are permitted. The same applies to a guestbook. However, both must not be used abusively.
How to create a medical website step by step
Regardless of which of the four options you choose, follow this step-by-step guide if you need to create your own website for your practice.
Step 1: Choosing the Domain
When selecting the right domain, two aspects are crucial: the search habits of potential patients and the impact of the domain name on its search engine ranking.
A medical website’s domain should make it immediately clear what type of practice it represents and, ideally, where it is located. For instance, Dentist-Chicago.com fits these criteria but may already be taken, whereas Dentist-Smith-Chicago.com could still be available. You can quickly verify availability by running a domain check:
Step 2: Determining the design of the medical website
The right web design for a medical website depends largely on the specialty. However, a clear and structured layout is essential for every type of practice. The corporate identity should also be reflected on the website — for example, by incorporating the practice’s colors or logo into the design.
If you use a website builder, you’ll usually have access to a wide selection of design templates that are already responsive, ensuring the site displays correctly on all mobile devices.
Step 3: Writing content and publishing the website
Prepare all the desired content for your medical website in advance. Make sure your content is unique and search engine optimized. Once texts, images, and other elements are ready, publish your medical website and then ensure that patients know about it. If the new website also offers new services, it’s a good idea to mention this personally at the reception desk. It’s also useful to place the URL on other profiles or medical directories.
Most patients use their smartphone to search for a practice nearby. Search engines automatically include the location in the search results.