Websites and SEO: case examples

WEB

Websites and SEO for medical institutions

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CASE

How we handle common requests

A case example for each request, shown with a diagram.

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These case examples, each shown with a diagram, cover common requests about websites for clinics, hospitals, and home-visit nursing stations (agencies whose nurses care for patients at home). Each case notes which of our services (new website production, patient outreach marketing, or website management) we use to handle it.

CASE 01Website management

Communicate changes to hours and doctors clearly

The outpatient schedule is now built automatically from the clinic’s own Google Calendar.

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Patients want to check closed days and sudden changes to doctors or hours before they visit. Medical institutions, in turn, want to get that information out quickly and accurately.

One clinic whose site we reworked had previously embedded its Google Calendar in the page. With an embed, colors are fixed per calendar, so changing the color of individual events had no effect on the site. We replaced it with a system that builds the outpatient schedule automatically from the clinic’s own Google Calendar. Now, when staff update the calendar as usual, closed days and days with changes also appear color-coded on the site’s monthly schedule. Compare the before and after in the diagram below.

Say that on the evening of the 29th, staff change the next day’s event to “Closed.” When patients open the schedule on the morning of the 30th, it shows the clinic as closed that day.

If your facility uses Google Calendar, we’ll look at how your current site is built and let you know whether the same system can be added.

SampleInteractiveWhen the clinic edits its own calendar, how does the schedule on the site change?
1In the clinic’s calendar, choose an event name for the 30th
2Switch the screen width

The clinic’s Google Calendar

Fri, Oct 30No eventClosedClosed PMDoctor change(Your event name)

October

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
18Closed192021222324
25Closed2627282930ClosedClosed PMDoctor change(Your event name)31

ClosedChangeClosed (Sundays)

October

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
18192021222324
252627282930ClosedClosed PMDoctor change(Your event name)31

The right edge of the table is cut off

With “No event”: Both schedules show the 30th as a regular consultation day.

With “Closed”: The synced schedule reads “Closed” in the event name and color-codes the 30th as closed. The embedded schedule does not color-code by event name.

With “Closed PM”: The synced schedule finds “Closed” in the event name, shows the event name, and marks the 30th in the closed color. The embedded schedule does not color-code by event name.

With “Doctor change”: The synced schedule finds “change” in the event name and color-codes the 30th as a day with changes. The embedded schedule does not color-code by event name.

With a typed event name: The name contains “Closed,” so the synced schedule color-codes the 30th as closed.

With a typed event name: The name contains “change,” so the synced schedule color-codes the 30th as a day with changes.

With a typed event name: In this sample, event names that contain neither “Closed” nor “change” are shown without color-coding.

At smartphone width: The synced schedule reflows to fit the width. The embedded schedule is cut off on the right, hiding the 30th.

On a narrow screen: You’re seeing this at your current screen width. The embedded schedule is cut off on the right, hiding the 30th.

*A sample that illustrates how the system works. The events are fictional. On a real site, changes made in the clinic’s calendar can take a little while to appear.

Talk to us about synced schedules

CASE 02New website production

Follow Japan’s Medical Advertising Guidelines with care

Before launch, we give the wording a second in-house check, then adjust it to follow the Medical Advertising Guidelines.

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Hospital and clinic websites are subject to the advertising rules of Japan’s Medical Care Act. Since the amended act took effect in June 2018, its ban on false or exaggerated claims and similar content has also applied to websites.

Home-visit nursing station websites are covered as well: the operating standards for these stations prohibit false or exaggerated advertising.

We don’t leave the wording to the production team alone. Before launch, we double-check in-house for anything that could breach the advertising rules, then adjust the content to follow the Medical Advertising Guidelines. We also ask the facility to review the content.

*“Medical Advertising Guidelines” is the short name for guidelines issued by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). A revision that took effect in April 2026 renamed them, adding “etc.” to the Japanese title (“Medical Advertising, etc. Guidelines”).

SampleInteractiveWhere does this copy run into trouble as medical advertising?
Choose a category to see the matching wording and why

Website of a fictional medical institution (sample, before revision)Website of a fictional medical institution (sample, after revision)

Before revision:

We take pride in (comparative superiority claim). With (exaggerated advertising), we promise (false advertising).

What our patients say

(patient testimonial)

(photos with no explanation) (before-and-after photos)

We have just opened a (non-permitted content). (emphasis on price).

After revision:

We offer treatment with XX. If surgery is needed, we explain the procedure and its main risks and complications in advance.

Your visit, step by step

We walk you through each step, from booking to the consultation and checkout.

BeforeAfterTreatment: XX / Cost: XX yen / Duration and number of sessions: XX / Main risks and side effects: XX / Contact: XX

We provide diabetes treatment. See our price list for checkup fees.

This text has six problems in wording or presentation under the Medical Care Act and its Enforcement Ordinance, plus one expression the guidelines say to avoid.

Select a wavy-underlined phrase or a category to see why it is a problem and how to fix it.

False advertising

Guideline heading: Advertising with false content

The guidelines cite “absolutely safe surgery” as an example of false advertising, because it is medically impossible. Untrue advertising is prohibited and subject to penalties.

How to fix it

We explain the surgical procedure and its main risks and complications in advance.

Legal basis: Medical Care Act, Article 6-5, Paragraph 1

Comparative superiority claims

Guideline heading: Advertising that claims superiority over other hospitals or clinics

Wording that claims to be better than other medical institutions, such as “No. 1,” “best in Japan,” or “the very best,” cannot be used in advertising, even if it is true.

How to fix it

Delete it. If you list the number of surgeries, state the period covered and give annual counts for each type of surgery.

Legal basis: Medical Care Act, Article 6-5, Paragraph 2, Item 1 (Q&A Q2-3); on presenting counts, Q&A Q3-17

Exaggerated advertising

Guideline heading: Exaggerated advertising

MHLW’s Q&A cites “state-of-the-art” as an example of exaggerated advertising.

How to fix it

We offer treatment with XX. (Describe the treatment method specifically.)

Legal basis: Medical Care Act, Article 6-5, Paragraph 2, Item 2 (Q&A Q2-2)

Patient testimonials

Guideline heading: Testimonials based on patients’ subjective views of the content or effects of treatment

Patient testimonials about the content or effects of treatment cannot appear on a medical institution’s website.

How to fix it

Don’t publish them. Replace them with what to expect at a visit or an explanation of the care you offer.

Legal basis: Medical Care Act, Article 6-5, Paragraph 2, Item 4; Ordinance for Enforcement of the Medical Care Act, Article 1-9, Item 1

Before-and-after photos

Guideline heading: Photos taken before or after treatment that may mislead patients about its content or effects

To advertise with before-and-after photos, you must first meet the conditions for lifting the advertising restrictions (such as clearly stating a contact point). In addition, the photos must be accompanied, in the same place, by an explanation of the treatment, its cost, duration and number of sessions, and main risks and side effects.

How to fix it

Next to the photos, describe the treatment, cost, duration and number of sessions, and main risks and side effects, and clearly state a contact point.

Legal basis: Medical Care Act, Article 6-5, Paragraph 2, Item 4; Ordinance for Enforcement of the Medical Care Act, Article 1-9, Item 2

Non-permitted content

Guideline heading: Advertising of items other than permitted advertising items

“Specialty clinic” could be mistaken for the name of an official medical specialty, so as a rule it cannot be advertised. On a website, it may appear if the conditions for lifting the advertising restrictions (such as clearly stating a contact point) are met.

How to fix it

We provide diabetes treatment.

Legal basis: Medical Care Act, Article 6-5, Paragraph 3

Emphasis on price (for reference)

Guideline heading: Undignified advertising, specifically advertising that emphasizes price

It is not a category prohibited by law, but the guidelines say advertising that emphasizes price to attract patients “should be strictly avoided.”

How to fix it

Avoid wording that emphasizes price. Make checkup fees available in the price list instead.

Legal basis: Guidelines, Part 3-1, 1(8)(a)

This is the revised text. Problem wording has been deleted or replaced with information that people considering a visit want to know.

  • →Deleted
  • →treatment with XX
  • →we explain the procedure and its main risks and complications in advance
  • →Your visit, step by step
  • →photos with an explanation and a contact point
  • →diabetes treatment
  • →See our price list

*A sample using fictional text. This is not an automated checker. Whether wording is acceptable depends on content and context, so we check each case individually before anything is published. The categories and reasons are summarized from MHLW’s Medical Advertising Guidelines and its Q&A.

Talk to us about your site’s wording

CASE 03New website production

Help patients find the information they’re looking for

See where on the screen patients can find the four things they want to know.

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This is the website of “Sakura Internal Medicine Clinic,” a fictional clinic, as a patient would see it on a smartphone. It shows where on the screen people considering a visit can find the four things they want to know.

SampleInteractiveWhere on the site can patients find what they want to check?
What patients want to know

What care can I get? Each specialty page, reached from “Medical services,” describes the conditions treated and tests offered.

Can they help with my symptoms? The “If you have symptoms like these” page lists examples of symptoms patients can ask about.

Which doctor will see me? The “Our doctors” page covers each doctor’s background and areas of care.

How do I go about visiting? The “First-time patients” page explains whether you need an appointment and what to bring. The “Consultation hours” table shows the hours by day.

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*A sample shown on a fictional medical institution’s website. The numbers on the screen match the numbered choices.

CASE 04New website production

Give readers what they need, based on your type of facility

We start by defining the audience, then plan the site’s structure.

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Who reads your site and decides whether to visit or request care depends on the type of facility. The audience determines what information the site should include and how to arrange it. So we start by defining the audience, then plan the site’s structure.

SampleInteractiveWhich pages come first for each type of facility?

Type of facility

Who reads and decidesPatients searching online

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Patients choose a specialty based on their symptoms. That’s why each specialty gets its own page that clearly explains what it treats. We ask which areas of care you want to focus on, then build out the content for each specialty.

What they want to know

  • Which specialty treats my symptoms?
  • Which of several providers is right for me?
  • How do I go about visiting?

Pages we put first

  1. Guide to each specialty
  2. How to visit and consultation hours

First screen on a phone (approx.)

  1. Doctor profiles
  2. Directions

Who reads and decidesPatients, families, and referrers (such as care managers)

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Patients don’t decide alone. Families also look for a provider, and so do referrers such as care managers (who plan patients’ long-term care services). At an institution that offers both outpatient care and home visits (scheduled physician visits to patients’ homes), guiding everyone down the same path makes both entry points hard to find. So we give each one its own entry point.

What they want to know

  • Is my home in your visiting area?
  • How is it different from outpatient care?
  • Who do we contact?

Pages we put first

  1. Visiting area
  2. Contact for inquiries and requests

First screen on a phone (approx.)

  1. Outpatient care vs. home visits
  2. Guide to each specialty

Who reads and decidesClients, families, and referrers (such as attending physicians and care managers)

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A home-visit nursing station’s website is read not only by clients and their families, but also by referrers such as clients’ attending physicians and care managers. We arrange the pages so referrers can quickly check the following.

What they want to know

  • Areas and hours covered
  • Range of procedures offered
  • How to get in touch

Pages we put first

  1. Service area and visiting hours
  2. Procedures offered

First screen on a phone (approx.)

  1. How to request visits and contact us
  2. Staff profiles
NotesClose

*Choose a tab to see who reads the site for each type of facility and which pages we put first.

CASE 05New website productionPatient outreach marketing

Make your website easy to find in search

Before launch, we put the SEO basics in place so search engines can read your pages correctly.

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Before launch, we put the SEO basics in place so search engines can read your pages correctly. We write titles and meta descriptions that convey your facility’s name, area, and specialties, and we make it easy to call you from a smartphone. After launch, we track how your search rankings and page views change over time and use what we learn to improve the site’s content. If your current website doesn’t appear even when people search for your facility’s name, we’ll look into your search visibility and suggest likely causes and fixes.

SampleInteractiveHow do pre-launch settings change search results and the smartphone view?
Settings we make before launch
The title includes your facility name, area, and specialties, and the description matches the page content.
URLs and breadcrumbs (the trail that shows where a page sits in the site) are tidied up, so each page is easier to identify.
Pages that don’t need to appear in search results are kept out of them.
The connection is encrypted, and warnings such as “Not secure” disappear.
The phone number becomes a link. Tap it on a smartphone to go straight to the call screen.

internal medicine XX City

Before:sakura-naika.example/?page_id=2After:sakura-naika.example › Medical services

Before:HomeAfter:Sakura Internal Medicine Clinic (fictional) | Internal medicine and gastroenterology in XX City

Before:News: Year-end holiday closure. We will be closed from December 29 to January 3. We apologize for any inconvenience…After:Internal medicine and gastroenterology, a 5‑minute walk from XX Station. Open Saturday mornings, too.

Before:Test page | Sakura Internal Medicine Clinic (fictional)After:Hours and directions | Sakura Internal Medicine Clinic (fictional)

Before:Not securehttp://sakura-naika.exampleAfter:https://sakura-naika.example

Sakura Internal Medicine Clinic (fictional)

Before:Phone 03-0000-0000After:Call03-0000-0000

All five settings are applied. Turn a switch off to see how that item looked before.

Items switched off are shown as they looked before.

No settings are applied. Turn a switch on to see how that item looks afterward.

*We choose the work each site needs based on its current state.

*Sample search results on a computer. Search engines may choose to show different text in place of your title or description. On smartphones, search results show only the domain in the URL line. Warning wording varies by browser.

This pageSettings used on this page

These are the settings from the figure above that can be read from this page itself.

Title and meta description
The title is 64 characters and the description is 157 characters.
Headings
There are 3 main headings (h2) and 8 subheadings (h3).
Encrypted connection (HTTPS)
This page is served over HTTPS.
Tap-to-call
Our phone number (+81-45-900-0766) is a link you can tap to call.

*As of publication.

CASE 06Patient outreach marketing

Keep your listing on Google Maps and in search results accurate

Our initial assessment also checks for inconsistent details.

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In patient outreach marketing, our initial assessment also compares your website with your Google Business Profile to check that your name, address, phone number, consultation hours, and other details match.

SampleInteractiveDo your website and Google Business Profile show the same details?
Listing consistency check (sample, fictional)
Item Website Google Business Profile Result
Name Sakura Internal Medicine ClinicSakura Internal Medicine Clinic Sakura Internal Medicine Practice MismatchWe’ll explain the fix
Address 1-2-3 YY-cho, XX City 1-2-3 YY-cho, XX City Match
Phone number 03-0000-0000 03-0000-0000 Match
Saturday hours 9:00–13:009:00–12:00 9:00–12:00 MismatchWe’ll explain the fixMatch

Two items differ: the name and the Saturday hours. We correct the website ourselves. For your Google Business Profile, we point out the differences and explain how to fix them.

The website now shows the correct details, as confirmed with the facility. The Saturday hours now match. For the name, we explain how to correct it in your Google Business Profile.

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*Google says it gathers Business Profile information from a range of sources, including official websites. When the details match, people get the same information wherever they look.

CASE 07New website production

Load without the wait, even on smartphones

Page speed is part of what makes a site easy to use, too.

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For people looking up your hours or directions, page speed on a smartphone is part of what makes a site easy to use. Below, you can see how smoothly this page loaded on your device, measured just now.

MeasuredHow smoothly did this page load on your device?

We measure how smoothly a page loads and responds with three metrics: loading speed (LCP), responsiveness (INP), and layout shift (CLS).

Loading speed (LCP)
—s
The target is 2.5 seconds or less.
Responsiveness (INP)
—ms
The target is 200 milliseconds or less.Interact with a figure on this page to see a value.
Layout shift (CLS)
—
The target is 0.1 or less.

These measurements require JavaScript.

NotesClose

The targets are the thresholds Google rates as “Good” (source: web.dev, “Web Vitals”).

*These values come from a single load of this page on your device and vary by connection and device. They cover the whole page, including the photo at the top. The measurements are not sent anywhere.

CASE 08Website management

Make your website editable again

We’re here to help, even if you’re not sure who to ask.

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Sometimes the problem comes before any review of the content: the site can no longer be updated at all. If there’s something you want to fix but you’re not sure who to ask, we’re here to help. If you’re thinking of switching web agencies, we can handle the move, starting with the transfer of your server and domain.

Turning an image-based price list into a text table makes it easier for patients to read and lets your staff update the prices themselves.

InteractiveCan you update your current site when you need to?
Real situations we’ve heard about (choose all that apply)

What we take on

Handover of the server, domain, and login credentialsExamples 1 and 2Applies

  1. Contacting your old agency
  2. Checking logins
  3. Resetting passwords

Rebuilding the price listExample 3Applies

We rebuild image-based price lists as text tables.

Nothing selected: Every example involves work we can take on. Select the ones that apply to see that work.

One or more selected: Showing the work for the examples you selected.

*Your selections are not sent anywhere.

Which points from these cases apply to your site?

Once you get in touch, we’ll check which points from these cases apply to your current site and tell you the order in which we’d work on them.

We aim to reply within three business days

Hours: Weekdays 9:00–18:00 JST

WORKS

Work we’ve done

Below is some of the work we’ve done for medical institutions whose websites we built or reworked.

A schematic of the layout, not an actual screen.

  1. Copywriting for specialty pages

    Using one specialty page written in-house as a model, we wrote the copy for the remaining specialties and published it after the clinic director had reviewed it.

    Model (written in-house)CopywritingDirector’s reviewPublishing

  2. Getting portal listings fixed

    We checked each medical portal site where the facility was listed, found listing pages with no link to its website and URLs off by a single character, and asked the portals to correct them.

    URL registered on the portalhttps://c1inic.example/

    Correct URLhttps://clinic.example/

    A single wrong character sends the link somewhere else (the URLs are samples).

  3. Keeping the English questionnaire

    The English intake questionnaire page was still getting visits from search, so we kept it when we rebuilt the site.

  4. Director’s greeting page

    We added a new page where visitors can read the director’s greeting in full.

  5. Carrying over questionnaires

    We carried over each specialty’s intake questionnaire from the old site and made each one open from a button.

  6. Fixing display problems

    We compiled a list of images that didn’t load, broken links, and layout problems on smartphones, then fixed them one by one.

*Examples based on work at client facilities. What we change depends on the state of your current site.

Our websites and SEO page explains what the service covers and how we work.

See the websites and SEO page

CONTACT

Start by showing us your current site

We’ll review your site and how it shows up in search, then recommend what to fix first.

Contact form Talk to us about your site

We aim to reply within three business days

Call us +81-45-900-0766

Hours: Weekdays 9:00–18:00 JST

Quotes are free.

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We’ll review your site and how it shows up in search, then recommend what to fix first. We’re glad to talk even before you’ve decided whether to rebuild or modify your site, or if you’re about to build a new one. If you already have a site, please include its address (URL) in the “Your message” field when you contact us through the form.

When we review a site, we check things like these:

  • Can patients find what they need to choose where to get care?
  • Can care managers and others who refer patients and clients quickly see your service area and who to contact?
  • Can you update schedules and price lists right away when needed?

*Quotes are free. When you call, our reception team takes down your inquiry, and the right person calls you back.