By Artem Korsakov ·
To order a clinic website, first gather information about its operations and state the objective that the website must solve. For the initial conversation, there is no need to independently write a technical specification. The contractor can help structure and define the scope of development, but should not guess booking rules, actual services or employee authority.
Formulate the objective through a situation
The phrase "we need a modern website" leaves too many options. Clarify what has changed:
- a new direction has appeared;
- a branch has opened;
- the existing website is difficult to update;
- visitors do not understand how to contact.
If the problem is based solely on a feeling, state it as such to check the hypothesis first.
In a hypothetical example, a clinic is launching a new address, but the previous website shows only one phone number and a general list of doctors. Here, the task concerns distributing information by branch and handling inquiries. Updating photos may be included in the project, but it does not replace the main change.
Describe the expected result in plain language. For example: an employee changes the price in one place, and a visitor sees the correct address on the service page. Such a description can be verified after development, even if the client does not know internal technical terms.
Gather source data in one place
Prepare:
- a list of directions and services;
- information about doctors;
- branch addresses;
- current pricing.
For each category, specify the responsible party for verification. If prices are published from a working document, designate it as the source and clarify the update frequency.
It is useful to attach several filled examples. One verified doctor's card is better than a dozen promises to send information later. What should be in such a card is discussed in the article about doctor and service pages. The sample makes it easier to assess the volume of other materials and notice missing links: what services a specialist provides and where they practice.
Separately collect documents and information that the clinic intends to publish on the website. The content and wording are verified by responsible employees and profile specialists. The contractor should not declare the website compliant with all requirements solely based on the presence of a standard section.
Describe the inquiry and booking process
Name the systems used and explain what happens after the button is pressed. Who receives the contact, how is time selected and when is it confirmed? If an administrator contacts manually, this must be recorded before form design.
If a ready-made booking service is available, prepare the tariff name and contact of the person responsible for access. Passwords and sensitive information should not be placed in a general brief. The method of secure transfer of necessary access is agreed separately when the scope of work and project participants are clear.
If integration with a Medical Information System (clinic management system) is required, ask the provider for information about available connection methods. Lack of access to exchange is a significant uncertainty in assessment. Promising automatic booking before verifying this possibility is unwise.
Define material management
Decide who writes texts, takes photos, transfers prices and loads cards. Preparation, editing, approval and placement are different tasks. If everything is reduced to one word "content", the expectations of the client and contractor may diverge.
In a hypothetical clinic, the department head checks service content, HR personnel clarifies doctor information, and a marketer collects the general package. The developer needs a person who provides an approved version and resolves contradictions. Otherwise, edits from different employees may cancel each other out.
Prepare budget and acceptance boundaries
State the desired term and the reason for this date. If only part of the website is needed by a branch opening, phased launch can be discussed. At the same time, the first version must contain a completed scenario and actual information, without placeholders "coming soon".
Specify the available budget range, if defined, and separate mandatory from desirable. Ask the contractor to explain what is included in the estimate, which services are paid separately and how readiness is verified. Agree separately on support and management transfer.
To discuss the trike_dev solution for clinics, start exactly with this set.
Частые вопросы ### Are all materials needed before starting work?
Not always. For design, high-quality examples and known volume are sufficient. But the schedule must contain dates for transferring the rest of the content and consequences of delays. Launching with unpopulated pages should not become a surprise.
What to do if the old website and access are retained by the previous studio?
First, identify the owners of the domain, hosting and services.
Is it possible to contact without a completed brief?
Yes: the website address, objective and several source materials are sufficient.