Improving Patient Engagement through Web Accessibility: A Hospital's Guide

Web accessibility is a major consideration for hospitals. Given the large number of people they serve who may be injured or disabled, they need to prioritize accessibility so that all patients can find the information they need for their health and well-being.

Accessibility

In fact, software developers such as accessiBe offer specialized tools and resources aimed at improving the accessibility of health-related websites. However, before discussing these tools, it is essential to understand why hospitals need to prioritize accessibility and what best practices they can follow to achieve it.

Legal Requirements for Web Accessibility in Healthcare

Accessibility is a legal requirement for all hospitals and health systems. Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require that websites and digital assets offered by public-facing entities are fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Any hospital or health system that receives government funding (or funding through Medicare and Medicaid) also has to comply with Section 508, which is a separate but related set of accessibility requirements.

Understanding the Needs of Patients and Visitors with Disabilities

Hospital patients and their loved ones are a particularly important audience because of the high stakes involved in hospital care. They may have a variety of visual, auditory, cognitive, or movement-restricting conditions that may impact usage of the hospital’s website.

Common barriers may include:

Confusing or overly complex navigation.
Wordy or full of jargon that’s hard to understand.
Lack of clear directions or contact information.
No alt-text or labels.

The Role of AI in Improving Web Accessibility

AI software tools are tremendous accessibility resources that can quickly scan, highlight, and improve any accessibility issues faster than any manual test, including color contrast and navigation problems.

AI can also quickly create alt-text, metadata, and captions—or even provide facial recognition and password support, so users with movement or visual disabilities don’t have to type anything.

Benefits of Implementing Web Accessibility for Hospitals

Like other organizations, hospitals benefit greatly from investing in web accessibility, including:

Increased patient satisfaction.
More engagement and usage of hospital services and resources.
Faster website speeds and easier updating.
More cost-effective maintenance, with fewer bugs and less downtime.
Better functionality on mobile and other devices.
Less legal risk by avoiding ADA, Section 508, or other potential lawsuits.

Best Practices for Web Accessibility in Hospitals

In general, you should follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, an internationally recognized standard; Section 508 carries some of its own specific conditions as well.

Some basic guidelines include:

Logical, consistent navigation with mouse alternatives.
Text that is direct and appropriate for all reading levels, with alt-text for any rich media.
Clear prompts that help users easily view doctors and departments, make appointments, and get contact and visiting information.
Patient portals and records access that feature easy logins, with alt-text and labels for all interactive fields, and are viewable on any device.
Designs that have appropriate contrast and color palettes, with no color-based cues.

Hospitals must adopt web accessibility standards. It’s not just a legal requirement—it’s a moral obligation to provide the best possible services to all patients. By prioritizing accessibility, hospitals can help give their patients the care they deserve, whether they’re disabled or not.