For more than 30 years, Welvista has improved healthcare accessibility in South Carolina. Beam & Hinge has been their website partner since 2017.

Welvista is a healthcare non-profit that collaborates with partners, donors, and volunteers to bridge gaps in healthcare access and reduce the long-term costs that result from untreated conditions.  

A Prescription for Greater Access 

Welvista is best known for its Medication Assistance Pharmacy (MAP) program, which provides free prescription medication to eligible uninsured South Carolinians.  

To receive medication through MAP, patients need prescriptions from authorized doctors. The Welvista team observed that potential patients were struggling to find those providers in their communities. 

Jessica Steele, Welvista’s Director of Marketing, brought the problem to Beam & Hinge. 

“A standard internet search may help a patient locate doctors and clinics in their area, but it won’t filter results just to Welvista program participants. We needed a way to make it easy for our patients to find them,” says Jessica. “We’ve worked with Beam & Hinge for years and knew they would help us find a creative and efficient solution.” 

Together, Welvista and Beam & Hinge designed the Find a Doctor Near You website feature to help patients find the closest doctor participating in the MAP program. 

Using Find a Doctor Near You, patients can view a filtered list of MAP-participating doctors and clinics by clicking a location on the map or by entering their zip code or county. They can further narrow the list using a maximum-distance option or by adding keywords. Each resultant listing includes contact information and links to the provider’s website.  

Understanding Your Unique Site Visitors 

Clarity and simplicity were essential for Welvista. Their clients span a wide range of ages, education levels, spoken languages, and varying comfort levels with technology. A visual, responsive map encourages users to follow their instincts – no instructions necessary. 

“Welvista was deeply invested in creating a tool that would genuinely support the community,” says Jennifer Lunn, account manager at Beam & Hinge. “Our collaboration and shared commitment to access made it possible to deliver a tool that truly makes an impact.” 

Intuitive design was important for the administrative side of the website, too.  

Find a Doctor Near You pulls from a database that the Welvista team maintains. That database uses patterns and workflows that are consistent with the rest of the site, making it feel familiar from day one. Consistency minimizes training and makes it easy for staff to keep information accurate and useful for patients. 

The Value of Ongoing Collaboration 

Welvista has partnered with Beam & Hinge since 2017. Over the years, Welvista’s opportunities and priorities have evolved, just like the broader context of web design, user experience, and accessibility; in 2024 we launched their third website.  

Find a Doctor Near You is a great example of the kinds of projects that can blossom from the periodic strategy discussions that are part of our annual service agreement with our clients. Improvements like these are the result of the Beam & Hinge team’s deep understanding of each client’s goals and processes, established in a longstanding professional relationship.  

“Find” Feature Potential 

Web design should support real-world outcomes. The new “Find” feature supports Welvista’s mission to serve patients, but the same or a similar structure could be used to support multiple industries’ goals – connecting potential clients to authorized service providers, dealers, drop-off centers, and more. 

If you’re interested in discussing the possibilities for your website, reach out to your account manager or drop us a line at [email protected].