Nationally acclaimed Mercy Medical Center Launches Redesigned Website with interactive features, videos, animation, and new responsive design
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) November 22, 2013 -- Following nearly two years of development and testing, Mercy Medical Center, named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation by Thomson-Reuters, has officially launched its newly redesigned website, http://www.mdmercy.com. The site features a contemporary new look that provides a user-friendly experience with improved navigation and search functionality with a completely responsive design.
According to Mercy President and CEO Thomas R. Mullen, this means patients will be able to access information about Mercy’s quality services—including women’s cancers, orthopedics and digestive diseases—top-rated doctors and excellent nursing services, Mercy ranking among the nation’s top hospitals as recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center®’s coveted “Magnet®” designation.
“Our new website includes leading edge technology that positions Mercy to take advantage of the growing trend by consumers to use the web for online searches, increased mobile access and the capability to connect with their health providers,” Mr. Mullen said.
“We expanded content, targeting those issues of import to patients, such as medical conditions like breast, uterine, cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer; liver and hepatobiliary diseases, stomach and intestinal disorders, spinal deformities, joint replacement and reconstruction. The site details these clinical conditions, their treatment options, and assorted diagnostic and specialty services, including support groups, clinical trials, and so forth,” said Peg Benzinger, Vice President of Business Development who led Mercy’s website development team.
“There are also sites within the site, domains that were created for Mercy’s award-winning centers of excellence, such as Women’s Health, Orthopedics, Cancer, and Digestive Health. There are sections for the new Endometriosis Center, Well Woman and Adolescent Care, and Mercy’s Neuroendocrine Program as well,” she added.
Other site features include the ability to search by health condition, more than 70 medical animation videos, integrated new stories and more than 50 of Mercy’s “Woman’s Doctor” health education programs courtesy of WBAL-TV11 News; 100 patient stories, 2,000 new images, virtual tours of different centers of excellence within the hospital as well as the downtown Baltimore campus as a whole, and more.
The website’s responsive design allows content to automatically reformat to configure to the exact size of the device—computer, smartphone, tablet—which makes the site easier to access and use. Mercy’s site was tested on multiple versions of major web browsers like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari, and multiple devices, like desktop and laptop computers of various screen sizes, iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and Android phones like Droid and Galaxy S3.
“Patients can click on ‘Find A Doctor’ on every page of the site and search for doctors based on name, specialty, language spoken and location,” Benzinger said. The new site has 285 physician profiles and 160 expand doctors’ bios. Patients can access medical publications – 84 articles are directly linked to pubmed.gov—and can also get information about active clinical trials and how to participate.
The new website has also become more interactive. Social media connections are available (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube), as well as icons for directions, contact information, and “MyChart.” A recent feature to Mercy’s online offerings, “MyChart” allows Mercy patients to access their medical test results, communicate with their doctor, manage their medical appointments, request prescription refills, and more.
Patients can pay their hospital bill through the website, download medical forms and patient guidelines, get local traffic updates, information about local hotel accommodations, the Metro, MTA Circulator, and more, Benzinger said.
Media can access the “News and Events” domain where they can find more than 250 Mercy news stories, 300 links to news features and articles online about Mercy programs, services, physicians, nurses and staff; access to Mercy’s “Woman’s Doctor” videos, an easy-to-use database for finding Mercy medical experts for interview, and Mercy media relations staff contact information, among other offerings.
“Today’s world is particularly technology-focused. Our new website serves to meet our patients’ needs and expectations for an online tool that is modern, interactive, visually engaging and simple to use,” Benzinger said.
Mercy website visitors are also treated to information about the Sisters of Mercy and the hospital’s history, demonstrating a commitment to serving Baltimore that began in 1874; information about Mercy’s nursing programs, employment and donation opportunities, etc.
Mercy worked with The Berndt Group, the award-winning web design, development and interactive brand communications firm in Baltimore and Mercy’s partner in the hospital’s online efforts since the 1990s.
“Given our long-standing relationship with Mercy, our staff has a very good understanding of the Mercy culture, the hospital’s mission, and its focus on maximizing the patient experience. We are extremely pleased to work with Mercy on this ongoing project, to enhance and improve its’ online presence, creating a website that’s informative, interactive, visually striking and easy to use on many platforms,” said John Berndt, President and CEO of The Berndt Group.
Mercy Medical Center is a 139-year-old, university affiliated medical facility named one of the top 100 hospitals in the U.S. by Thomson-Reuters. With a national reputation for women’s health care, Mercy’s highly skilled doctors treat a variety of conditions. Mercy is located at 345 St. Paul Street in downtown Baltimore, MD. To learn more, visit Mercy at http://www.mdmercy.com or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy.
Dan Collins, Mercy Medical Center, http://www.mdmercy.com/, +1 (410) 332-9714, [email protected]
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