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Develop Content
Time to Complete: 2 months
Difficulty: Easy
Outcome: Content for the website
Steps
Develop a list of content to include
Download this list of content ideas (1-page Word document; About Downloading Files) and use it as a starting point.
Prepare the content
- Determine existing content that can be repurposed for website use (ex: brochures, insurance plan information), then write the rest.
- Strive to write clearly and simply at the 6th- to 8th-grade level. If you're using Microsoft Word, look for the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score, under "Readability" on the screen that pops up after spelling and grammar check.
- Remember, you're writing for patients, not health professionals. Avoid medical jargon -- for example, use high blood pressure instead of hypertension.
Select links
- Patients will appreciate links from your website to credible, trusted sites for health information, such as AAFP's familydoctor.org.
- Including such links increases your website's search engine optimization, making your site appear higher up in Web search results.
What You'll Need
- Decision-making authority
- Time to develop the content list
- Time for content preparation and link selection
Resources
Download this list of content ideas (1-page Word document; About Downloading Files) to help you decide on your website's content.
For more content ideas, read TransforMED's article "Give Your Practice Website a Check Up: 16 'Best Practices' for Primary Practice Websites." In addition to basic content ideas, the article suggests interactive online services that you can add later, after your website is up and running.
For more information on patient reading levels and health literacy:
For more content ideas, read TransforMED's article "Give Your Practice Website a Check Up: 16 'Best Practices' for Primary Practice Websites." In addition to basic content ideas, the article suggests interactive online services that you can add later, after your website is up and running.
For more information on patient reading levels and health literacy:
- Read the American Family Physician article "Health Literacy: The Gap Between Physicians and Patients."
- Read the AAFP News Now article "HHS Launches National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy."
For a list of patient education resources you may want to link to, read TransforMED's article "Online Patient Education Resources for Practice Websites."
Where to Go for Help
If you and your staff don't have the time or the desire to do this work, your website development company may be able to suggest a writer to prepare the content.
You also could consider hiring a consultant to help:
You also could consider hiring a consultant to help:
- The AAFP Buyer's Guide
- Medical Group Management Association's Health Care Consulting Group (the Operational Efficiency staff focuses on communications, among other issues)
Join a free collaborative online network committed to practice transformation. Learn more about Delta-Exchange.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
Create a Practice Website
