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‘Flash-y’ design featured on new UTMC Web site |
| By
Kim Harvey |
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Aug 18, 2008
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Web designers have added a bit of “Flash” to The University of Toledo Medical Center’s revamped Web site.
The new site, which was launched Aug. 15, features a patient-friendly approach and a dynamic look, complete with a “Flash”-engineered photo banner on the home page.
According to Esther Fabian, director of health-care marketing, plans to give the site a fresh look began about a year ago. Research indicated that navigating the site could be difficult for those who needed clear, concise information — patients and visitors.
“Our goal was to provide a patient-centered site,” Fabian said, noting that usage data revealed information most valuable to those who frequented the site. “The design is much more updated and flexible. We wanted to make it easy for patients to find what they’re looking for.”
A prominent change is the manner in which medical services are presented. Jessica Gast, Web development coordinator, said each service now includes a brief description to help users navigate. In addition, related services are offered in links.
“For example, you might want to explore ‘cancer care,’” Gast said. “There’s a short description about our cancer services, along with links to our hematology/oncology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology services, even though those divisions are in different clinical departments.
“Some health-care centers use medical jargon and their sites are not easily understood,” Gast continued. “We wanted patients to be able to navigate as simply as possible. We also made sure there is an easy way to contact UT Medical Center on every single page.”
A section dedicated to physician information was added to provide efficient access to the UT medical staff as well as referring physicians.
“Our physicians are very important customers,” Fabian said. “We wanted to help them get directly to the information they need.”
Photos of UT employees at work are utilized throughout the pages. Most of the images, Gast said, existed in recent archives and were tailored for use on the site.
To design and implement the site, Fabian and Gast worked with the Center for Creative Instruction: Sherry Andrews, director; Ani Avanian, graphic designer; Brock Clagg, multimedia specialist; Ryan Getz, intern; Brian Szabo and Jamie Carothers, software engineers; and Kathleen Walsh, director of Web development.
UTMC’s Web site can be accessed at the same URL, http://utmc.utoledo.edu, or through a link on UT’s Main Campus site at http://utoledo.edu.
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