A quick search online would lead you to a results page full of free and paid website builders. Still, not everything you find will be suitable for building or creating healthcare websites. You must search for HIPAA-compliant ones, meaning the platform must have the features, qualities, and certifications required to meet the HIPAA law’s stringent requirements.
This narrows the list, but you won’t fall short of options that meet the criteria.
Top 5 HIPAA-Compliant Website Builders:
1. Unicorn Platform
Unicorn Platform offers healthcare practices a simple and easy website creation solution, even without technical expertise. You don’t need a professional web designer since you can drag and drop pre-made elements into your landing pages. You can select from dozens of specifically designed stylish templates for doctors, dentists, therapists, and other medical practices.
They provide SSL encryption, DDoS protection, and regular security audits to keep your site safe and HIPAA-compliant. You also get 24/7 support for queries or further assistance. Plus, the Unicorn Platform integrates seamlessly with EHR solutions like Epic and AthenaHealth. It lets you sync important patient information between your site and these systems.
As for pricing, there’s a limited forever-free plan, so you can check out the platform’s features before fully committing to the solution.
2. Dr. Leonardo
For over 20 years, Dr. Leonardo has helped health professionals build a thriving online presence so patients can conveniently find them. They offer two solutions: one for solo providers and the other for health practices. Both solutions feature pre-built and customizable templates designed for different healthcare specializations. You can also add unlimited patient education pages and use their secure online scheduling tool.
For practices, you can add multiple providers to your account so your team can manage the website together. You can also link your site to an EHR portal for a more seamless experience.
Dr. Leonardo hosts websites on HIPAA-compliant servers and offers SSL security. They charge a one-time activation and monthly fees to use their platform.
3. Brighter Vision
Brighter Vision was explicitly built to help every therapy practice create a website with everything they need. You won’t be building from scratch because a team of web designers will create your customized webpage. If there are changes in the future, you can easily make edits within the intuitive and user-friendly environment.
Plus, your website will already be SEO-optimized, so it will have no trouble showing up in Google searches. Plus, it has the latest security features required for a platform to be HIPAA compliant.
4. Squarespace via Acuity Scheduling
Squarespace is a popular website builder for those who want visually stunning photo-heavy websites. It’s mostly used for eCommerce, but even service-oriented businesses like healthcare practices can enjoy its beautiful pre-built themes.
Unfortunately, only its Acuity Scheduling feature is HIPAA-compliant. You can only use Squarespace to build web pages that won’t ask for patient information, such as displaying your services and providing informational articles.
Also, you must use Acuity or link to an external compliant service to integrate patient intake forms or appointment scheduling. You must also subscribe to an Acuity Powerhouse account and sign a BAA to ensure HIPAA compliance.
5. WordPress + HIPAA-Compliant Hosting
WordPress remains the most prominent website builder in the market, and many healthcare websites use it even if the platform isn’t inherently HIPAA compliant. If you’re building a website for marketing purposes, you can count on the platform’s ease and robustness without worrying about compliance.
If you want to use it to process PHI, there are workarounds to ensure compliance, such as installing HIPAA-compliant plugins and using HIPAA-compliant WordPress hosting. Users love working with WordPress because of its limitless possibilities and extensive support network. You can create the ideal website thanks to its abundant resources of themes, plugins, and other customizable features.
Key Features to Look For in a HIPAA-Compliant Website Builder
To ensure HIPAA-compliant website development, look for the following features in website builders:
- Signed BAA – HIPAA rules require a signed Business Associate Agreement between you and the party handling PHI, which can be the website builder or a third-party plugin.
- SSL/TSL Certificates – These certificates ensure a secure web connection, assuring users that a trusted website handles their sensitive information.
- Multi-factor Authentication – Users must verify their identities before accessing your website using a combination of passwords and unique codes.
- Data Recovery & Backup – Encrypted backups must be kept in HIPAA-compliant data servers so that you can quickly recover them in case of data loss.
- Third-Party Audits – The website builder must be amenable to third-party audits that show their accountability to standards.
The Importance of HIPAA Compliance in Building Healthcare Websites
Website builders help you launch a website within hours, even without extensive coding knowledge. They are drag-and-drop applications where you can intuitively arrange the elements of your site into a cohesive and visually pleasing layout. You can also choose from an extensive array of modern templates to make your site unique.
If none of your website tasks or processes involve handling sensitive health information or PHI, then you don’t have to bother with website builder HIPAA compliance. But once you ask for patient information like patient names, medical, insurance, or social security information, you must ensure your site’s compliance through the help of HIPAA-compliant website builders. This ensures any sensitive data remains protected from malicious actors. Keeping patient records safe not only boosts your reputation as a trusted healthcare provider. It also helps you avoid any costly non-compliance penalties.
Risks of Non-Compliance in Healthcare Website Development
Healthcare data is a frequent victim of data breaches, and hackers will stop at nothing to attack medical websites. If you don’t build websites using HIPAA-compliant website builder solutions, you risk exposing PHI to unauthorized entities. Not only will you face reputational damage, but you’ll also pay millions in fines and settlements.
Why take the risk you can invest in HIPAA-compliant website builders?
