Transforming UCSF Health Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation into a Patient-Centered Digital Experience
Industry
Healthcare / Academic Medical Services
Services Provided
Project Overview
UCSF Health is a nationally recognized academic medical center affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco. It provides advanced, evidence-based care across multiple specialties, with a strong focus on Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation services that help patients restore mobility, function, and quality of life.
The organization required a redesigned digital experience for its Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation service page to better serve patients recovering from injury, surgery, or chronic conditions. The existing structure contained complex medical information that was difficult for users to navigate and understand.
To solve this, a patient-first digital hub was designed to simplify access to care information, improve service discovery, and guide users toward taking action such as booking appointments or exploring specialized rehabilitation programs.
The Concept
We set out to transform UCSF Health’s Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation service page into a clear, patient-first digital hub. The goal was to make complex rehabilitation information easy to understand, help patients quickly find the right care, and reflect the world-class expertise of the UCSF team while encouraging action—whether booking an appointment or exploring specialized programs.
Project Goals
- Simplify navigation for patients recovering from injury, surgery, or chronic conditions
- Highlight innovative treatments and personalized care pathways
- Build trust through transparent, accessible information
Design Approach
A clean, empathetic layout with strong visual hierarchy, mobile-first responsiveness, and intuitive calls-to-action that guide users from awareness to appointment without overwhelm.
About the Client
UCSF Health is a nationally recognized academic medical center affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco. It delivers advanced, evidence-based care across multiple specialties, with a strong focus on rehabilitation services that restore mobility, function, and quality of life for patients of all ages.
The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation team offers integrated physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and highly specialized programs in neurologic, orthopedic, sports, women’s pelvic health, and oncology rehabilitation. Their patient-centered model combines cutting-edge technology with compassionate care across San Francisco and Bay Area locations.
Core Features & Functionalities
The redesigned page serves as a complete information and conversion hub for prospective and current patients.
Provider Search
Our members can quickly search for eye care providers by state, city, ZIP code, or distance to find eye care professionals closer to their location.
Service Overviews & Specializations
Detailed yet scannable descriptions of core therapies and advanced programs (neurologic, orthopedic, pelvic health, sports, oncology) with clear condition-treatment mappings.
Locations & Access
Interactive location finder with addresses, specialties, phone numbers, and direct appointment links for Mission Bay, Berkeley, Greenbrae, and more.
Team Showcase
Filterable provider directory highlighting specialized expertise to help patients connect with the right therapist.
Action-Oriented Elements
Prominent “Request Appointment” buttons, virtual care options, related program links, and pediatric rehabilitation highlights—all optimized for quick decision-making.
Technologies We Used
We built the page on a modern, scalable stack that ensures performance, accessibility, and easy future updates.
- Frontend : React.js for dynamic, interactive components (provider filters, carousels, and expandable service sections)
- Styling & Responsiveness : Tailwind CSS combined with custom design system for fast, consistent, mobile-optimized layouts
- CMS Integration : Headless CMS architecture allowing UCSF content editors to update services, locations, and providers without developer involvement
- Accessibility & Performance : WCAG 2.1 AA compliant code, semantic HTML, lazy loading, and optimized images for excellent Core Web Vitals scores
Testing Method
We followed a rigorous, user-focused testing process to guarantee a flawless experience.
- Accessibility Audit Full automated and manual testing using axe, WAVE, and screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver) to meet Section 508 and WCAG standards.
- Accessibility Audit: Full automated and manual testing using axe, WAVE, and screen readers (NVDA, VoiceOver) to meet Section 508 and WCAG standards.
- Technical & Cross-Browser Testing: Tested across major browsers, devices, and network conditions; load-time and performance benchmarks were validated with Lighthouse.
- Stakeholder Review: Multiple rounds of feedback with UCSF clinical and marketing teams to ensure medical accuracy and brand alignment.
Outcome
The new page successfully delivers a professional yet approachable digital experience that mirrors UCSF Health’s reputation for excellence. Patients now find the information they need faster, the design supports higher engagement with appointment requests, and the flexible architecture allows the internal team to keep content fresh with minimal effort. Most importantly, the project strengthens UCSF’s ability to connect people with the specialized rehabilitation care that helps them regain independence and improve their quality of life.