The Louisiana Department of Health partnered with Covalent Logic on a 23-month website overhaul to better serve residents with clear, accessible information. For decades, LDH’s web content had been siloed by office, making navigation confusing and duplicative—especially when services overlapped.
Our goal was to restructure the site around what users actually need, not how LDH is internally organized. Extensive research included interviews, surveys, competitor audits and analytics that revealed the majority of visitors were Medicaid recipients and general consumers—many with limited health literacy.
We drastically simplified language, removed jargon and rebuilt the navigation to prioritize top tasks, like locating Medicaid services and vital records. The site now features people-first imagery, more white space and an accessible design.
Two standout tools include a centralized locations directory—bringing together 8,000+ offices with maps and filters—and a microsite manager that allows staff to build branded pages without code. We also developed a full web governance policy to support ongoing site quality and compliance.
Early feedback points to a vastly improved user experience and a more empowered internal team.
Project Goals
The primary goal was to restructure and redesign LDH’s website to better reflect how Louisiana residents seek information, not how LDH is internally organized. Additional goals included improving navigation and accessibility, aligning messaging across departments and empowering LDH staff with tools to maintain and expand the site independently.
Strategy
We conducted comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, analytics reviews and nationwide benchmarking. We then reorganized content around user needs, simplified language for clarity and introduced intuitive features, like a centralized location directory and user-controlled microsite tools. All design decisions were grounded in accessibility, equity and user empowerment.
Audience
Louisiana residents and Medicaid recipients.
