Best EMR Software Of 2024

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked DrChrono

So, I got the chance to get a free trial access to DrChrono, and here are the key highlights:

The platform stands out for its intuitive design, extensive features and customization capabilities.
The software is accessible on any device with internet connectivity.
Data import from other EHR systems is supported but with certain limitations.
It offers four pricing plans and a free trial is available for potential users.

It's a cloud-based system, which means you can access it from anywhere — your laptop, tablet, even your phone! And it covers everything from electronic health records and patient scheduling to billing and telehealth.

One of the things that really impressed us was how customizable it was. You can create your own templates for notes, forms and even entire workflows. This means you can really tailor it to fit your specific needs and preferences, which can save a ton of time.

And speaking of saving time, they've put a lot of thought into their billing features. They have tools to help you code things correctly, submit claims electronically and even track your payments. Anything that helps you get paid faster and with less hassle is a win, right?

However, learning to navigate the billing and insurance modules could take time. It’s a bit confusing to understand how the billing workflow works and how to set one up. Also, you can’t import billing data from your old EHR system.

If you're looking for a comprehensive, user-friendly system that can be customized to your practice, we'd definitely recommend taking a closer look.

They offer four different pricing plans, so you can find one that fits your budget, and they have a free trial so you can test it out and see if it's a good fit for you. It's always good to try before you buy, right?

We’ve discussed more about the features in the See It in Action section. Do check it out to know how the system works in different scenarios.

DrChrono Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Ease of Use: Navigate patient charts, create shortcuts and access billing info without a steep learning curve.
Customization: Tailor the system to your specific needs and preferences like customizing templates, workflows and reports.
Easy Medical Coding: Find and assign ICD, CPT and HCPCS codes to patients' bills to save time and reduce coding errors.

Contractual Obligations: Canceling subscriptions can be challenging, potentially leading to early termination fees. Automatic renewals may also catch you off guard.
Subpar Customer Support: Long wait times, unhelpful responses and unresolved issues from customer representatives might disrupt your processes.
Occasional Glitches: System crashes, slow navigation and difficulties with scheduling and other functionalities can cause frustration.

Key Features

EHR: Provide better care with features like free draw for visual explanations, custom vitals tracking and access to immunization registries
- Custom Templates: Tailor forms with specific fields, drop-down menus, checkboxes and even add your practice's logo. This ensures your documentation is consistent, efficient and specialized for your needs (e.g., cardiology forms with specific heart diagrams).
- Electronic Prescriptions: Send prescriptions electronically to pharmacies directly from the patient chart. Access the drug's formulary tier, prior authorization requirements and alternative medications if the prescribed drug isn’t covered. Access patient PDMP data directly within the EHR to identify potential abuse, misuse or doctor shopping.
- Free Draw: Upload images (x-rays, scans, photos) or use pre-loaded anatomical diagrams within the patient chart and draw directly on them.
- Custom Vitals: Create vitals specific to your needs including things like blood glucose and oxygen saturation levels. Capture data in various formats: text, numbers or predefined options using dropdown lists. Access the flowsheet to visualize trends in custom vitals over time.
- Prior Authorizations: Initiate the ePA request directly from the prescribing workflow. Automatically populate the prior authorization request form with relevant patient information (demographics, insurance details, medication prescribed) pulled from the patient's chart.
- Lab Orders: Integrate with national, regional and specialty labs like Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp. Create predefined lab panels for common tests or specific conditions. For example, you could create a "lipid panel" or a "prenatal panel" with a single click. View lab results within the patient's chart, organized by date, test type and ordering provider.
- Medical Speech-to-Text: Use voice to input clinical notes, patient histories and other information. See your spoken words appear as text in real time within the EHR to review and edit the transcription as you go.
- Immunization Registries: Automatically send your patients' vaccination details to the state IIS, ensuring that records are up-to-date and complete. Retrieve immunization records from the IIS, even if your patient received vaccinations elsewhere to avoid unnecessary duplicate vaccinations and identify potential gaps in their immunization schedule.
Practice Management: Save time and reduce errors with appointment management tools, including appointment profiles, insurance eligibility checks, online scheduling and automated reminders.
- Appointment Profiles: Instead of manually entering the same details (length, reason, etc.) for every appointment of the same type, you create a profile once and it auto-fills the details (duration, reason for visit, exam room and billing codes).
- Eligibility Checks: Verify your patients’ insurance eligibility in real time — check what services are covered under the plan (e.g., office visits, labs, specialists) and any limitations or exclusions.
- Online Scheduling: Set specific days and times when each provider is available for appointments. Offer different appointment types online (e.g., new patient, follow-up, consultation) with varying durations. Add buffer time between appointments to prevent scheduling conflicts and allow for patient check-in/check-out.
- Patient Reminders: Send automated appointment reminders via email, text or SMS. Configure reminders to be sent at various intervals before the appointment like — a few days before, the day before or a few hours before.
Medical Billing: Improve your revenue cycle management with tools like billing profiles, medical coding and automated claims submission.
- Billing Profiles: Combine frequently used CPT, HCPCS, custom codes and ICD-10 codes into a single profile. Attach common modifiers to the codes within the profile (e.g., modifier 25 for a significant, separately identifiable E/M service).
- Medical Coding: Easily search and select the appropriate codes within the EHR using keywords, code numbers or descriptions. Perform basic code checking to identify potential errors such as invalid codes or missing modifiers.
- Good Faith Estimates: Generate good faith estimates to help patients understand costs upfront and avoid surprise bills.
- Claims Submission: Submit electronic claims to insurance companies within the system. Track claim statuses in real time. Scrub claims for errors like missing information or formatting mistakes before submitting them to payers to avoid denials and claim rejections.
- Denial Resolution: Generate denial analysis reports to identify denial patterns. Edit and submit corrected claims directly within the system. If you disagree with a denial, generate appeal letters and track their statuses.
- Patient Statements: Generate statements for individual patients or groups of patients based on various criteria (e.g., date range, insurance status, outstanding balance).
BI Tools: Get a visual summary of key metrics and performance indicators. Generate customizable reports to:
- Track revenue, expenses and profitability
- Analyze claim submission, acceptance, denial and reimbursement rates.
- Track patient demographics, appointment history and billing information.
- Analyze appointment scheduling and no-show rates.
Mobile Capabilities: Schedule appointments, send patient statements, bill insurance, document patient encounters, access lab results and more from iOS devices like iPad, iPhone and Mac.
Telehealth: Patients can join the telehealth visit from their computer, tablet or smartphone using the link provided in their email reminder. Providers can share their screens with patients to review medical records, lab results, X-rays or educational materials.

Request Free Trial

CareCloud Central

Start Price

^$300

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked CareCloud Central

CareCloud Central has garnered a mixed bag of user reviews over the past year. Many users appreciate its clean and modern interface, finding it intuitive and easy to navigate compared to more cluttered competitors like athenahealth. The platform's scheduling tools are also frequently praised for their flexibility and ease of use, allowing for efficient appointment management and reducing scheduling errors. However, several users have expressed frustration with the system's reporting capabilities, finding them to be somewhat limited and lacking in customization options compared to more robust solutions like AdvancedMD. Additionally, while CareCloud Central offers a mobile app, some users find its functionality to be restricted compared to the full desktop version, hindering on-the-go productivity.

One of CareCloud Central's key strengths lies in its integrated approach, combining practice management, electronic health records (EHR), and patient engagement tools into a single platform. This streamlines workflows and reduces the need for multiple software solutions, which can be a significant advantage for smaller practices seeking an all-in-one solution. However, this integration can also be a double-edged sword, as some users find that certain features, such as billing and claims management, are not as comprehensive or customizable as standalone solutions like Kareo. Ultimately, CareCloud Central appears to be best suited for small to medium-sized practices that prioritize ease of use, a modern interface, and integrated functionality over extensive reporting capabilities and highly customizable features.

CareCloud Central Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Streamlined Patient Scheduling: CareCloud Central receives consistent praise for its intuitive appointment scheduling system. Users appreciate the ability to easily view physician schedules, manage appointments, and send automated reminders, which reduces no-shows and keeps things running smoothly.
Efficient Billing and Claims Management: The platform simplifies the billing process by automating tasks such as claims scrubbing and submission. This leads to faster reimbursements and fewer denied claims, ultimately improving a practice's financial health.
Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics: CareCloud Central offers robust reporting tools that provide valuable insights into practice performance. Users can track key metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimize operations and profitability.
Enhanced Patient Engagement: The platform facilitates better communication with patients through features like a patient portal and secure messaging. This empowers patients to actively participate in their care and fosters stronger relationships with providers.

Steep Learning Curve: Many users report that CareCloud Central is not intuitive and requires extensive training to navigate effectively. The interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming, leading to frustration and decreased efficiency for new users.
Billing Challenges: Several practices have experienced issues with claim denials and delays in payment processing. Users cite difficulties with claim scrubbing and a lack of transparency in the billing process, making it hard to identify and resolve issues promptly.
Customer Support Concerns: Getting timely and effective assistance from CareCloud's customer support team has been a recurring pain point for users. Long wait times and a perceived lack of expertise among support staff can exacerbate existing problems and hinder issue resolution.
Limited Customization: Practices with unique workflows or specialized needs may find CareCloud Central's customization options to be insufficient. The software's rigidity can force practices to adapt their processes to the software, rather than the other way around.

Key Features

Comprehensive Scheduling: Manage scheduling with a multi-view calendar and drag-and-drop online appointment scheduling. Patients can easily book and confirm appointments. Automated patient reminders reduce no-shows.
Insurance Verification: Access a patient’s insurance details, such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance, to prevent denials and get paid quicker.
Patient Management: View and update patient demographics, insurance details and account histories in real time. Physicians get a clear picture of all patients in one place.
Financial Workflow:
- Automate financial tasks such as billing, claim submission and remittance.
- Simplify coding and charge entries.
- Scrub claims any errors that may result in denials or delayed payments.
- Track payments with a central remittance repository.
Command Center: Keep track of practice performance with a practice scorecard. See trending metrics and causes over time with instant snapshots of operational and financial data.
Health Analytics: Provides insightful analytics on financial, administrative and clinical performance to support informed decisions. View staff productivity levels to ensure everyone is meeting Meaningful Use standards.
Real-Time Reporting: Customizable charts and graphs display data in easy-to-understand templates, and financial and clinical reports can be accessed conveniently.

Request Free Trial

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost	Subscription fee is based on a per user, per month rate, including an upfront cost for customization and support services Automatic software upgrades are included with the subscription fee
Maintenance Cost	Cost is included in the subscription fee
Installation/Implementation Cost	Set-up fees are included with the subscription cost
Customization Cost	Provides customizable plans with lowered prices for multiple users
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	Cost will vary depending on the amount of data needed to be migrated as well as that data’s complexity
Recurring/Renewal Costs	Included with the subscription fee, month-to-month

Free Price Quote

athenaOne

Start Price

^$550

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked athenaOne

Athena offers robust functionalities that streamline many daily tasks for care providers. Many users felt that the system offered all of the functionalities they were looking for and felt that the interface was easy to navigate and did not experience system downtime. Users also felt that customer support was able to address most of their concerns at a satisfactory level. However, some users felt that the claims functionality was unsatisfactory and recognized that the system couldn’t make their desired customizations. Users also noticed inaccuracies in their data, but many were unable to determine if this was a result of the system storing information incorrectly or the result of users experiencing difficulty navigating the platform. The high price of this system may be cost prohibitive as this system is best suited for smaller practices that won’t need to provide multiple care providers with access to the system.

athenaOne Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Customer Support: Users who struggled with implementation received adequate support, and all users have access to effective support at all times, as noted by almost 90% of reviews.
Functionality: Athena provides medical practices with all of the functionality that they need, as noted by slightly more than 75% of reviews.
User Interface: The user interface is intuitive and easy to use, as noted by 75% of reviews.
System Downtime: Of the users who discussed the solution’s accessibility, 60% noted that they had not experienced any significant system downtime and felt that they were always able to access functionalities when they wanted to.

Claims: While the claims scrubbing feature was praised by users, nearly 70% of reviewers felt that this feature noted that the language used for claims is difficult to interpret, clearing claims can be challenging and users felt that they did not receive satisfactory support when they reached out for help in regards to this feature.
Cost: Though only mentioned by approximately 10% of reviewers, the high price of the system was a detriment of the platform, as reported by 80% of users who discuss price in their review.
Accuracy: Some reviewers noted that they had difficulty entering or searching for their data within the platform as well as found inconsistencies within their records, as reported by 60% of users who mentioned Athena’s accuracy.
Suggestions: Users can make suggestions about changes they’d like to see within the system on a community forum, however, nearly 70% of reviewers who mention this capability felt that the suggestions of larger companies were unfairly prioritized over the suggestions of everyone else.

Key Features

Connected Health Network: Physicians can offer better care by leveraging data and insights from over 160,000 providers and 100 million patients. Lets users exchange information with over a quarter of a million points of care, such as specialists, urgent care facilities, labs, pharmacies and more.
Patient Engagement: Optimize the number of patients seen each day with appointment scheduling. Limit the number of no-shows while improving patient satisfaction with automated reminders and online patient check-in.
Patient Portal: Let patients view medical histories, sign documents, pay bills, manage appointments and more using mobile devices. Physicians can communicate with patients through messaging, notes or even video calls.
Authorization Management: Outsource researching requirements and contacting payers for medical authorizations. View authorization statuses directly from in-app clinical workflows.
Care Coordination: Access and share data, track orders, send results and more. Keep sensitive information secure and share data in real time.
Reporting: Access detailed, real-time reports based on other clinics’ activity to help establish benchmarks, recognize patterns and issue more accurate treatment and diagnosis.
Population Health: Physicians can stay connected to vital patient population data with population health tools. Utilize automated outreach services and network-based knowledge from in-house analysis experts.
Interoperability: Connect to more than 26,000 health plans, 12,000 lab and imaging endpoints, 95% of US pharmacies and more than 1,200 external sites. Integrate with CommonWell and Carequality, to gain access to Epic and Cerner sites, along with numerous local, state and national Health Information Exchanges.
Marketplace: Extend capabilities with access to apps in a dedicated marketplace with developer support.

Request Free Trial

Oracle Ambulatory EHR

Start Price

^$5,000

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Oracle Ambulatory EHR

Cerner Ambulatory EHR really shines when it comes to digitizing outpatient care and making clinical workflows smoother. The software is packed with features that cater specifically to ambulatory settings like charting, digital patient intake and lab integration.

It’s particularly strong in clinical documentation, scoring top marks compared to competitors like AdvancedMD and eClinicalWorks. This means it’s well-equipped for handling tasks like scanning paper records into digital files, electronically signing documents, and tracking immunizations and diet plans. So, if you’re looking for a solution to streamline administrative tasks and reduce paperwork, the system has you covered.

The solution is also pretty flexible in terms of customization. You can adapt templates and workflows to fit your practice’s specific needs, though if you want to go all-in with customization, you might need some help from Cerner’s support team. It’s something to keep in mind, especially for clinics that don’t have a lot of IT resources.

Where the product really sets itself apart is in mobile accessibility. You can send messages, access patient data offline and even dictate notes with speech-to-text, all from your mobile device. The score for mobile features is notably higher than competitors like athenahealth, making it a solid choice for practices that need remote access.

When it comes to interoperability — basically, how well the software plays with other systems — it’s pretty advanced. It complies with major standards like HL7 and FHIR, which are essential for sharing data with other EHRs.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The learning curve could be steep, which isn’t uncommon for EHR systems, but it’s something to be aware of if your team isn’t tech-savvy.

Plus, you might also experience occasional performance issues like slow loading times or system glitches, which could disrupt daily operations.

In a nutshell, Cerner Ambulatory EHR is a great fit for practices looking to digitize and automate their workflows, especially those that prioritize mobile accessibility and data security. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve and some investment upfront to get the most out of it.

Oracle Ambulatory EHR Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Enhanced Accessibility: EHRs make patient records accessible in real time, facilitating coordination across healthcare providers and enabling faster decision-making.
Improved Patient Safety: Features like automated alerts for drug interactions and allergies help reduce medical errors, enhancing overall patient safety.
Efficient Clinical Workflows: By automating administrative tasks such as billing, scheduling and coding, EHRs can help streamline workflows and free up time for patient care.

Complex Learning Curve: Some EHR systems are not intuitive, requiring significant training and time to adapt, which can initially disrupt clinical workflows.
High Implementation and Maintenance Costs: The cost of setting up, maintaining and upgrading EHR systems can be prohibitive, especially for smaller practices.
Performance Issues: Users frequently report slow system performance, crashes and downtimes, which can affect efficiency and patient care.

Key Features

Digital Patient Intake: Enable patients to complete intake forms online before their visit, reducing wait times and administrative burden. Self-service kiosks allow clients to easily check in, verify information and update any changes upon arrival.
Video Visits: Conduct secure, face-to-face virtual appointments with clear audio and video, fostering strong patient-provider communication. Capture video visits (with patient consent) for thorough documentation, review and continuity of care.
Computer-Assisted Coding: Rely on intelligent algorithms to analyze clinical notes and automatically determine accurate E&M codes to ensure proper reimbursement.
Patient Scheduling: Look at what the patient needs, their insurance, their preferences and the doctor's availability to find the best appointment time and location. Coordinate appointments across different clinics and departments, whether you're booking by phone or online. Automatically reach out to patients who need to schedule appointments based on their doctor's orders.
Finances: Check insurance and financial information beforehand, so patients don't have to repeat themselves. Give patients an idea of how much their visit will cost with estimates.
Patient Financial Activity: Gain a unified view of patients' clinical and financial data to understand expected reimbursements, remaining balances and overall financial performance. Track payments from both patients and health insurance payers, ensuring that all revenue is properly accounted for and no discrepancies arise.
Billing: Automatically identify and assign outstanding accounts receivable, reducing the time it takes to get paid for services rendered. Embedded payer rules ensure accurate billing and compliance with payer requirements, helping you maximize reimbursements and reduce claim denials.
Referral Management: Share referrals with any doctor or healthcare provider, even if they use a different system. See exactly where each referral is in the process, so nothing gets lost.
Population Health Management: Analyze patient data to find areas where they might be missing out on important care. Create care plans tailored to each patient’s needs. Figure out how much care costs and how to make it more affordable.
Reporting and Analytics: Send information to other data visualization tools like Tableau and SAP BusinessObjects for in-depth analysis. Generate personalized reports and dashboards to track practice performance.

Request Free Trial

eClinicalWorks

Start Price

^$300

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked eClinicalWorks

The core functionality of eClinicalWorks is suitable for most medical practices and comes at a fair price. However, many users felt that they were oversold on the product by the sales team. Many users complained of difficulty using the features they needed, and felt that the system interface made it difficult to navigate. Users reported issues with system bugs and were unable to receive sufficient support from the support team to rectify the issues they experienced, despite access to 24/7 support. Some users noted that customer support is outsourced and complained that a language barrier made it difficult to communicate. Ultimately, eClinicalWorks is best suited for small practices with basic EHR needs, though it may take users a few days to learn the system.

eClinicalWorks Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Functionality: The system offers the core features that medical practices need, according to nearly 80% of reviews that discuss the system’s base functionality.
Price: Though only mentioned in less than a quarter of all reviews, 60% of users who discussed cost in their reviews felt that the system was priced fairly.

User Interface: While some users mentioned the intuitive design, the interface displays many features at once that make it confusing and difficult to navigate, according to nearly 55% of users who mentioned the interface in their review.
Complexity: The system requires multiple clicks for navigation, adds unnecessary layers of complexity and some users reported implementing their own workarounds to improve the system, as noted in 75% of reviews that discuss the system’s usability.
Integration: While some users enjoyed the ability to customize the platform with add-ons and integrations, more than 87% of reviews that discuss integrations complained that the integrations are difficult to implement and aren’t always successful.
System Errors: The vendor takes too long to implement software updates, resulting in bugs, inaccuracies and system downtime, as reported by nearly 95% of users who mentioned system updates in their review.
Customer Support: Support is available 24/7; however, users often struggled to communicate with the support team, citing problems with the support experts not knowing the answer to their questions or simply not responding to their inquiry, according to nearly 95% of users who mentioned customer support in their review.

Key Features

Virtual Assistant: “Eva,” eClinicalWorks EHR’s virtual assistant, allows providers to view a patient’s progress notes, flowsheet or account balance. The virtual assistant can also review patient history, compare notes side-by-side and book appointments in addition to offering educational videos and other helpful resources.
Telemedicine: eClinicalWorks telemedicine solution allows patients to schedule online appointments with their clinicians from home or in the office. Providers and patients can consult with medical experts around the world using the healow Virtual Room.
Scheduling: The scheduling tool allows users to add new patients, look up existing patients, search appointments and manage scheduling requests. Users can also manage the scheduling of resources and specialty equipment for clinicians like doctors, nurses and other providers.
Device Integration: eClinicalWorks integrates with devices like ECG, EEG, etc. within the web browser. The data collected is structured to capture current and past results, complete trend analysis and create flowsheets.
Hospital Interoperability: This involves data being shared between multiple clinics or a hospital’s different departments. This particular EHR allows communication with any radiology vendor or RIS system which supports HL7 messaging. Comparing and analyzing this data leads to greater population health.
Revenue Cycle Management: When it comes to billing, hundreds of features for RCM are available through eClinicalWorks, including credentials, insurance verification and analytics.

Request Free Trial

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost	On-premise: License fee includes a one-time fee per user plus additional implementation fees Fees for supplemental monthly support and maintenance cost is calculated per user Cloud-based: Recurring subscription fee based on a per user, per month basis, including a hosting and implementation fee
Maintenance Cost	On-premise: Additional fee applies for maintenance Cloud-based: Maintenance cost is included in the service fees upon purchase
Installation/Implementation Cost	On-premise: Additional implementation fees charged for over 9 users Travel and airfare costs are billed separately Cloud-based: No star-up or initial implementation costs Additional implementation fees are charged for over 9 users
Customization Cost	Varies depending on user's functional requirements
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	Free data conversion from existing EHR to eClinicalWorks No upfront or switching cost when changing EHRs
Recurring/Renewal Costs	On-premise: Cost includes monthly support and maintenance along with hosting fees Cloud-based: Cost equals the monthly subscription fee which includes maintenance, hosting and implementation fees

Free Price Quote

Best for Clinical Documentation

Best for Dashboards and Reporting

Best for Medical Billing

More Awards

Best for Notes and Templates

Tebra EHR

Start Price

^$250

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Tebra EHR

With a user interface that’s easy to learn, navigate and get used to, Tebra EHR provides efficiency for clinical facilities. Its cost-effectiveness also sets it apart, according to user feedback. However, it doesn’t support all third-party integrations. Additionally, out-of-date tools and features tend to slow down users. Feedback is balanced regarding billing features and customer support, with some users considering them positives while others view them negatively. Overall, the product can be a good choice for independent medical practitioners.

Tebra EHR Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

User-Friendly: Over 92% of reviews on this aspect mentioned that the product offers an easy-to-use interface.
Cost: The product is cost-effective in terms of the features it offers, as reported by 77% of users referring to price.

Functionality: Glitches, bugs and a clunky interface impact functionality, according to 88% of reviews mentioning this aspect.
Outdated: About 86% of users reported that the product requires more updates for features and integrations.
Glitches and Lags: Frequent glitches and lags reduce the speed of working, according to 72% of users referencing these aspects.

Key Features

Comprehensive Dashboard: Physicians can check task lists, view the calendar and more at an easily navigable location.
E-Prescribing: Automatically delivers information to pharmacies once a refill has been requested. Allows physicians to save time, check for potential drug-to-drug or drug-to-allergy interactions, and reduce phone calls related to prescriptions.
Patient Portal: Patients can share medical records and view billing information, lab results, medical history, medications and more. Physicians can securely communicate with patients through instant messaging or video chatting.
Electronic Superbills: Create and submit superbills, which are fully filled and accurate, in just a few clicks.
Secure Messaging: Clinicians can exchange information with patients or communicate with other health professionals quickly and securely using the portal. They can also conveniently message their organization’s billing team while maintaining data security.
Flexible Calendar: Manage important patient communications and customize schedules with a comprehensive calendar for both patient appointments and staff scheduling.
Agenda Overview: Provides physicians with complete visibility of their day at a glance, highlighting any items or tasks that require their attention.

Request Free Trial

AdvancedMD

Start Price

^$500

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked AdvancedMD

AdvancedMD is an intuitive cloud-based tool. While some users were happy with the system’s integration and customization capabilities, far more users were extremely dissatisfied with other aspects of the system. There were mixed reviews on its reporting capabilities. A significant number of reviewers felt that the sales representatives misled customers noting that they lost money after implementing AdvancedMD and commenting that many features lacked the functionality that they required. Though the add-ons allow users to customize the system, many users complained that the add-ons come at a steep price, making them prohibitive to many users. Users also complained that they were surprised by hidden fees after implementation and felt that customer service was rude and unwilling to help when they called for support. A small number of reviews also noted that upgrades to the system frequently caused downtime and reported discrepancies in their billing that affected customers. While many of the reviews were negative, AdvancedMD remains a popular EHR solution. Due to its high price and difficulty to learn, it is best suited to large practices with the budget for necessary add-ons and internal technical support that is available to help ensure everyone who needs to can use the system.

AdvancedMD Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Customization: Of the reviews that mentioned the system’s customization, more than 70% were happy with the customizations available as add-ons to the system.
Integration: Though only mentioned in 10% of reviews, 85% of those reviews felt the system successfully integrated with their other medical software.
User-Friendly: About 55% of users who mentioned its user-friendliness found it easy to use and navigate.

Implementation: The vendor does not offer sufficient implementation support, and the system has a steep learning curve, as noted by more than 80% of user reviews that discuss getting the system up and running.
Functionality: Though the system offers a robust list of features, 66% of reviews that discuss features felt that the features’ functionality was lacking in some aspects.
Price: Of the users who mention price in their review, more than 90% were upset with hidden fees and felt that the system’s high price was not worth the money.
Customer Support: Of the reviews that discuss customer service and support, 65% felt that customer support was difficult to contact, rarely had sufficient answers to their questions and often failed to resolve the issues users reported.
Performance: About 94% of reviewers that mentioned performance said that the system is slow and buggy, with recurring crashes and connectivity issues.

Key Features

Scheduling: Medical scheduling tools allow users to quickly view appointments and patient information by hovering their mouse over the calendar. Additionally, patient visits can be tracked, and recurring appointments can be set while automated patient reminders are sent out, reducing no-shows.
Billing: In addition to collecting patient payments, it is able to verify insurance eligibility automatically while providing users with all the necessary medical billing information in one centralized location.
Clearinghouse: Sweep claims of any coding errors to ensure an accurate claim submission. Any copays, deductibles and additional coverage can be automatically verified prior to a patient’s visit, while on-the-spot insurance checks are also efficient.
Patient Portal: Patients can view lab results, pay bills, message their physicians and request office appointments online using its patient portal. Providers can use the portal to exchange messages with a patient, manage prescription renewal requests and send out alerts and notifications.
E-Prescribing: Electronically prescribe medications — including controlled substances — quickly and easily. Connects facilities to a variety of pharmacies around the US, while users can request refills and access a patient’s medication history anywhere. It uses a combination of personal passphrases and secure tokens to complete DEA-required, two-factor authentication. The AdvancedEPCS system maintains a full DEA audit history.
Telemedicine: Telemedicine features facilitate face-to-face conference conversations and secure transmissions of still images or high-resolution video conference screenshots, and stores them to patient files with HIPAA compliance. Schedule telemedicine appointments and view them in one dashboard calendar.
Smart Dashboard: Automatically prioritize and manage frequent tasks using this role-based dashboard. In addition to health analytics, get alerted on any urgent issues, like abnormal lab results or pending prescriptions and drill down or up into tasks.
Configurable Templates: It can be tailored to a variety of specialties, with note and sub-note templates designed by physicians to optimize workflow while fitting in with a facility’s pre-existing style.
Physician-Oriented Dashboard: It enables physicians to view and schedule appointments, staff and patient messages, referral letters, test results and to-do lists in one location. The physician and their staff can respond to patient appointments or prescription renewal requests, reply to questions or send clinical reports. Its interoffice messaging center also allows physicians to send messages to the staff.
Patient Communication Tools: Select which patients would receive either text or email by choosing from existing criteria or creating a new set. Segment patient lists and send specific messages to enhance patient engagement. It also supports sending sales promotions to patients.
Patient Kiosk Mobile App: Complete intake and consent forms on an iPad. The information is automatically captured and passed to relevant staff to facilitate a faster check-in process for patients.
Health Watcher: HealthWatcher offers auto-alerts and custom healthcare plans to enable patients to follow treatment plans. Its interoperable platform allows it to monitor and trend patient population health. It also allows building custom healthcare plans to manage specific conditions based on factors like age, sex, lab results and diagnosis.

Request Free Trial

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost	Subscription fee is paid monthly based on the number of users Offers standard plans and pre-configured pricing plans
Maintenance Cost	Cost is included with the subscription, covering ongoing upgrades and 24/7 customer support
Installation/Implementation Cost	Installation cost is included with the subscription fee
Customization Cost	Not included in the subscription cost Cost varies depending on the type of custom service chosen
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	Depends on the amount of data needed to be migrated as well as the complexity and accuracy of that data
Recurring/Renewal Costs	Recurring monthly fee is charged based on the subscription model selected

Free Price Quote

EpicCare

Start Price

^$10,000

Annually, Quote-based

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked EpicCare

Many users love the robust functionality offered by EpicCare and find that the shortcut options allow them to navigate the system with ease. It also provides greater transparency into patient data, allowing care providers at separate facilities to access patient records with ease. However, the system’s expansive capabilities are overwhelming for many users, and a significant number of users struggled to use shortcuts correctly. The majority of reviewers commented that the system is difficult to navigate, experiences frequent downtime, offers minimal support and comes at a prohibitively high cost. Despite the negative tone of many reviews, nearly 100% of reviewers noted that they would recommend this system to a colleague, recognizing EpicCare as a leader in the EHR software space.

EpicCare Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Functionality: The platform offers robust functionality, allowing users to automate and streamline almost any task imaginable, as noted by slightly more than 80% of reviews.
Shortcuts: Users can create their own shortcuts to help them access common functions with ease. This capability was mentioned as a benefit by 55% of reviewers who mention shortcuts.
Communication: Of the reviews that mention the system’s popularity, 85% enjoyed that the solution enabled care providers at different practices to access and make changes to patient data. This level of inter-practice communication was touted as a major benefit that helps improve patient care.

User Interface: Of those that mention the interface, 65% of reviews note that the system is difficult to use. Many of the features are difficult to find and require multiple clicks to access, while the shortcut option is difficult to set up according to many users.
Customer Support: Of the reviews that mention customer support, more than 60% were dissatisfied with their experience, stating that customer service lacked the knowledge to provide proper support, was difficult to get ahold of and when customers did speak to support, they found that the support technicians were rude.
Customization: Slightly more than 60% of reviews that discuss customization stated that customization options were limited. The available customizations were reviewed to be time-consuming and difficult to implement.
System Downtime: While only around 10% of reviewers mention system downtime, 100% of those reviews point to internet connectivity issues and system downtime as a major detriment of the system that directly impacts productivity.

Key Features

MyChart Patient Portal: EpicCare’s patient module, MyChart, enables patients to access their personal and family health information on their mobile devices. They can also exchange messages with physicians, set appointments, complete questionnaires, and attend e-visits. Patients in hospitals can also use MyChart Bedside to look at their schedule, request a physician’s help, exchange messages, complete questionnaires and access individualized treatment plans. MyChart also facilitates online scheduling for prospective patients to become new patients.
Analytics: Epic allows people close to the patient to investigate their hunches across populations and build dashboards. It also allows users to combine different sources of clinical, operational, and financial data into a single data warehouse. It enables users to distribute and curate their analytics content on a web portal.
Telehealth: With EpicCare EMR’s telehealth feature, physicians are able to monitor patients and provide treatment remotely. With dozens of tools, telehealth handles ICU monitoring, chronic disease management, telecardiology, peer-to-peer consultations and video visits with patients, even those in prison. It can also be used for rural primary care, teledermatology, telecardiology, telepsych, telestroke, teleradiology, tele-emergency, genetic consults, abuse evaluations, interpretations, ICU monitoring, remote ICU, chronic disease management, case management and discharge planning. It can also be used for central deterioration monitoring remote intensivist coverage, second opinion services, patient transport, video visits, telerounding, school nurse consults, employer consultations, prison video visits, postsurgical follow-ups, virtual hospitals, financial counseling, and virtual urgent care.
Managed Care: You can manage nearly all your health insurance operations through EpicCare. Claims can be processed and submitted automatically, while it’s utilization management tool helps to make informed, financially responsible decisions in regards to a patient’s care.
Revenue Cycle Management: EpicCare’s RCM feature lets your health organization maximize revenue while protecting payments. Patients can create payment plans and even consolidate all of their balances into a single payment, streamlining billing and payment processes.
Interoperability: Interoperability allows a patient’s medical information to be shared with any health organization that meets standards, regardless of the EMR/EHR they use. Epic exchanges more patients charts for care than any other vendor — for reference, over 100 thousand patient records were exchanged in April of 2019 alone.
Community Health Portal: It facilitates users to keep community providers and caregivers informed with an integrated portal that updates them about their patients, submit referrals, order labs and imaging, close care gaps, schedule visits and more.
Specialties and Ancillaries: Epic provides modules for cardiology, dental, dermatology, endoscopy, ENT, fertility, genomics, home health, lab, long-term care, nephrology, obstetrics, oncology, ophthalmology, ortho, radiology, rehab, rheumatology, transplant, wound care and urgent care.
Artificial Intelligence: Epic provides machine learning algorithms embedded at the point of care. It also supports the deployment of independent artificial intelligence models using its cloud-based platform.
Epic Share: Epic allows users to extend their system to independent practices, hospitals, and post-acute facilities with the ability to keep billing and scheduling separate.
Compliance: Epic allows users to position their organization with tools for Meaningful Use (MU), Promoting Interoperability (PI), Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and other regulatory programs such as HIPAA.

Request Free Trial

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost	User-based monthly subscription - per user, per month, plus upfront cost or license fee for software ownership Extra fees and costs for additional features and modules
Maintenance Cost	Maintenance cost not included in license fee Users must sign an annual maintenance contract 24/7 system monitoring at no additional charge
Installation/Implementation Cost	One-time installation fee Epic’s implementation team helps to meet goals in the proper time frame and budget
Customization Cost	Cost of customization will vary depending on the functional requirements and modules added
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	This cost is determined by the amount of ambulatory data consolidated, such as demographics, immunizations, allergies and medications The complexity of data, clinical rules, workflows and more will also dictate the cost of converting data
Recurring/Renewal Costs	Cost is included in the recurring monthly subscription fees, based on the number of users, add-on costs and data migration services selected

Free Price Quote

CureMD

Start Price

^$195

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked CureMD

CureMD, a comprehensive software platform designed to streamline healthcare operations, has been making waves in the industry with its robust features and user-friendly interface. Feedback from healthcare professionals highlights several key strengths that set CureMD apart from its competitors.

Users consistently praise CureMD for its exceptional ease of use, intuitive design, and comprehensive suite of features that cater to various healthcare specialties. The platform's ability to seamlessly integrate with other healthcare systems, such as labs, pharmacies, and hospitals, is another major advantage, promoting efficient care coordination and data exchange. CureMD's vaccine management system has also received positive feedback for its ability to automate tasks like patient outreach, inventory management, and reporting, saving valuable time for healthcare providers. While CureMD offers a wide range of features, some users have noted that the platform's extensive functionality can have a steeper learning curve for new users compared to more basic EHR systems.

CureMD appears to be an ideal solution for healthcare organizations of all sizes seeking a comprehensive and customizable platform to optimize their workflows and enhance patient care. Its scalability and adaptability make it suitable for solo practitioners, large hospitals, and multi-specialty clinics alike. The platform's cloud-based nature ensures accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection, providing flexibility and convenience for healthcare professionals on the go.

CureMD Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Customizable: CureMD offers a high degree of customization, allowing practices to tailor the system to their specific workflow and needs. This includes customizing forms, templates, and reports to match existing processes.
Cloud-Based: As a cloud-based solution, CureMD eliminates the need for expensive hardware and IT infrastructure, making it a cost-effective option for practices of all sizes. Additionally, cloud-based EHRs offer greater accessibility and scalability.
Integrated Practice Management: CureMD seamlessly integrates with practice management features, such as scheduling, billing, and reporting, streamlining administrative tasks and improving efficiency.
Specialty-Specific: CureMD offers specialty-specific versions of its EHR, catering to the unique needs of different medical specialties. This ensures that providers have access to the tools and features relevant to their practice.

Steep Learning Curve: The software's interface can be overwhelming for new users due to its complexity and lack of intuitive design, leading to a prolonged onboarding process and potential frustration.
Customization Challenges: Tailoring CureMD to specific workflows can be difficult, as the customization options are limited and may require advanced technical knowledge or assistance from the support team.
Reporting Limitations: Generating custom reports or extracting specific data from the system can be cumbersome, often requiring manual workarounds or reliance on pre-built templates that may not fully meet individual needs.
Customer Support Concerns: Some users have reported challenges with responsiveness and resolution times when seeking assistance from CureMD's customer support, leading to potential delays and disruptions in workflow.

Key Features

Enterprise Scheduling: Manage appointments and workflows automatically across locations. Scheduling and matching up physicians with speciality equipment is done using color coding. Includes waiting list management, automatic eligibility verification, family/group schedule, recurring appointments, chain scheduling and SMS/email notifications.
Avalon EHR: Add lab orders, diagnosis, vitals and other patient information securely using the Avalon EHR app for iOS. Review, acknowledge, sign and assign lab results using the CPOE system in the iPad EHR.
Patient Portal: Patients can view lab results, set up appointments, request prescription refills, make payments online and receive messages from their physicians on their own device.
Workflow and Process Editor: Assemble component templates, data forms and a knowledge base to facilitate adaptation to the users' preferences using the configurable workflow and process editor.
Auto Note: Compose sentences and paragraphs according to preferences and generate notes automatically through customizable templates.
Outcome Analysis: Aggregate clinical outcomes and reports in compliance with national benchmarks and P4P standards.
Integrated EKG Management System: Digitize EKG objects and attributes for storage directly in the EHR using this feature, available in Cardiology EHR. Incorporate consolidated patient records with the necessary data in reports.
Interoperability: Exchange information with stakeholders and connect to health information exchanges, pharmacies, payers and others for interoperability.
Electronic Prescription: Connect prescribers with pharmacies for a drug knowledge base, medication reconciliation, process refill requests or controlled substance e-prescribing. It also provides access to prescription benefits and adverse reactions information, and connects to thousands of pharmacies across the United States.
Electronic Labs: Send orders and receive lab results electronically using lab interfacing. Includes trending and task assignment, comparisons of current and past results, and alerts for abnormal results.
Document Imaging: Capture, scan and attach paper charts, clinical images, photographs, X-rays, audio files and medical drawings directly within CureMD, or use an integrated PACS system.
Revenue Cycle Management: Convert medical services into cash reimbursements through claim preparation, same-day electronic claim submission, follow-up, electronic payment posting and other features.
Discrete Reportable Transcription: Populate dictations in pre-designated templates using overnight transcription service for documentation cost reduction and discrete clinical findings.
Personalized Dashboards: Easy-to-use dashboards include user-defined KPIs, financial forecasts, tasks and trends.

Request Free Trial

Intergy

Start Price

^$500

Get the Full in-depth EMR Software Report

Analyst Rating

Company Size

Small Medium Large

Deployment

Cloud On-Premise

Platform

Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Intergy

Intergy helps you address both clinical and financial needs in one platform, making it easier for you to manage everything from patient care to billing without juggling multiple systems.

What stands out are its top-notch claims management capabilities. Features like batch claim generation and automated scrubbing help practices avoid common billing hurdles by catching errors early, expediting the reimbursement process.

It also enables you to track claims through every stage, giving you better control over your revenue cycles — which takes a load off whoever manages accounts receivable.

What’s even more impressive is how customizable Intergy is. It doesn’t force you into a cookie-cutter workflow. Instead, it lets you tailor forms, templates and even processes to fit your specific needs. This flexibility is especially important for practices juggling multiple specialties or unique patient care scenarios.

That said, any cloud-based platform isn’t without challenges. Reliable internet connectivity is a must, which can be a concern for practices in areas with spotty service. Additionally, transitioning from older systems can pose some hurdles with data migration.

Overall, the system is designed to simplify the complex workflows of modern healthcare. It’s not just about checking boxes for compliance or streamlining billing. Intergy is built to help providers focus on what really matters: delivering quality patient care.

Intergy Reviews Visit Website

Request Demo

Pros & Cons

Automated Claim Scrubbing: The system helps you scrub claims for errors before sending them to payers, helping you avoid claim rejections.
Reduced Administrative Burden: Features like automated charge capture, claim scrubbing, and denial management reduce manual intervention and speed up workflows.
Remote Accessibility: Staff can log into the system from home, another office or even while traveling, ensuring billing tasks don’t stop, even if people aren’t in the office.

Dependence on Internet Connectivity: Cloud-based systems rely on stable internet connectivity, so disruptions like outages can halt operations.
Data Migration Challenges: Historical data may be incompatible with the new system, requiring manual adjustments or data cleaning.
Inconsistent Customer Support: Vendors without 24/7 support may leave critical problems unresolved during peak hours.

Key Features

Billing: Generate and send invoices to patients with just a few clicks. Track patient payments, co-pays, insurance reimbursements and outstanding balances from a single screen.
Claims Management: Create, submit and track insurance claims. Automatically reviews claims for errors or missing information before submission.
Denial Resolution: Address denied claims caused by incorrect coding or missing information. Identify the error, input the correct code or complete the required details, and resubmit the claim promptly to ensure resolution.
A/R Follow-Up: Gain real-time visibility into unpaid claims and patient dues and send automated payment reminders to patients to ensure timely collections.
Medical Coding: Get real-time suggestions for appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes during patient documentation to ensure accurate coding.
Clearinghouse: Send claims to clearinghouses to scrub them and eliminate any errors that might cause rejection, expediting reimbursement.
Payment Posting: Automatically apply payments received (from insurance or patients) to the correct accounts, reducing manual entry errors.
Document Management: Upload patient lab results, prescriptions or imaging files directly into the system. Link these documents to the patient’s profile for easy access during future visits.
Appointment Scheduling: Enable patients to log in to the portal, view available time slots and schedule their appointments at their convenience. Send the patient a confirmation email or text and a reminder closer to the appointment date.
Customizable Templates: Choose from over 500 prebuilt, specialty-specific forms tailored to your clinical needs. Edit existing templates or create new ones to match your practice’s workflows. Sync templates with transcription or dictation tools for faster data entry.
Electronic Prescribing: Allow providers to electronically prescribe controlled and non-controlled substances directly from the system. Access a patient's controlled substance prescription history before issuing a new prescription. Get real-time alerts for potential drug interactions and allergies during the prescribing process.
Practice Analytics: Generate detailed reports on revenue streams, expenses and profitability. Track essential metrics such as patient volume, appointment no-show rates and billing efficiency. Gain insights into outstanding balances, aging reports and collection rates.
Patient Portal: Allow patients to access their health information including lab results, medication lists and visit summaries. Enable them to pay their bills online and send messages to their providers from a secure portal.

Request Free Trial

Pricing

License/Subscription Cost	On-premise: One-time license fee plus an additional service fee for implementation and added features Cloud-based: User-based monthly subscription - per user, per month
Maintenance Cost	24/7 software maintenance and online support services On-premise: Users must sign an annual maintenance and support services contract — cost is not included with license fee Cloud-based: Maintenance cost is included with monthly subscription
Installation/Implementation Cost	Both on-premise and cloud-based require an additional implementation fee which must be paid upfront
Customization Cost	Cost will vary depending on the functional requirements or features being added
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	Cost may vary based on the amount of EHR data to be migrated as well as which type of data it is
Recurring/Renewal Costs	On-premise: Annual renewal of license as well as maintenance/support services and add-on costs Cloud-based: Cost is equal to the monthly subscription fee, which is based on the number of users and customization add-ons

Free Price Quote

Pricing & Cost Guide

See the Price/User for the top electronic medical records software … plus the most important considerations and questions to ask when shopping.

Buyer's Guide

EMR Software Is All About Streamlining Clinical Operations and Improving Care Quality

By Kashish Arora, Technical Writer at SelectHub

EMR Software Buyer's Guide BG Header

With the advent of electronic medical records in the late 20th century, health care providers and clinics replaced traditional paper-based records with digitized documentation and billing methods to support high levels of patient care.

Since EMR software became available, system development and deployment advances have increased productivity, efficiency and revenue for health care providers.

Most U.S.-based medical providers currently use EMR applications to provide better treatment to patients and make health care facilities more profitable .

In this guide, we’ll cover what you need to know to find the right system.

Executive Summary

EMR software helps health care organizations automate various day-to-day admin tasks, freeing up more time to focus on patient treatment.
Practices receive government incentives for meaningful use of these systems.
Key features include patient scheduling, e-prescribing, lab integration and medical billing.
Contact vendors with crucial questions to determine their product pricing strategies.

What This Guide Covers:

What Is EMR Software?
Deployment Methods
Primary Benefits
Implementation Goals
Basic Features & Functionality
Advanced Features To Consider
Current & Upcoming Trends
Software Comparison Strategy
Cost & Pricing Considerations
Questions To Ask Yourself
Questions To Ask Vendors
Next Steps
Product Comparisons
Additional Resources

See how the top 10 EMR Software leaders fare against the most common key requirements

Get your free Report

What Is EMR Software?

EMR software is a digital tool that enables clinicians and practices to collect, track, manage, update and retrieve comprehensive electronic records of patients’ health care data, which includes:

Patient demographics
Clinical histories
Allergies
Diagnoses
Treatment details
Prescriptions
Medications
Immunization statuses
Test results

EMR tools, designed primarily for internal use, cater to your unique medical practices' requirements. These solutions go beyond being mere digital medical records and have the capability to analyze health records to identify potential issues and conflicts.

An efficient system should also be able to handle:

Care coordination and information exchange among health care teams and departments.
Data collection using CPT/HCPCS codes.
Billing and claims management.
Documentation management.
Scheduling and workflow optimization.
Lab reports and tests ordering.

EMR vs EHR

Although industry experts and providers use them interchangeably now, there were originally some differences between EHRs and EMRs. Essentially, what separated these systems was interoperability. EMRs tracked patient data over time for diagnosis, treatment and care; they didn’t share data with third parties, though.

EHRs contained more comprehensive patient medical records that could move across practices, specialties and providers.

Nowadays, you’re much more likely to find interoperability in both systems.

EHR systems can do what EMRs can and typically provide a broader range of features to increase patient data accessibility. According to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, practices must use interoperable EHR/EMR systems and increase patient data access to be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

Many vendors are combining EHR and EMR solutions to achieve interoperability. It’s best not to get confused in terminology when considering a solution. Instead, focus on your practice’s needs and choose a solution based on its functionality and ONC-ATCB certification.

Deployment Methods

EMR and EHR solutions have two primary modes of deployment. Namely, cloud-based and on-premise EMR/EHR. This section will outline both options:

Cloud-Based

Cloud-based systems are ideal for almost all kinds of practices. The vendor's servers store large amounts of data, making it accessible from anywhere and from any device. Cloud-based software is easy to deploy. It minimizes the need to install infrastructure like in-house servers and sophisticated equipment, reducing maintenance costs.

Electronic medical records software often deals with sensitive patient information, and some practices might be skeptical about data privacy. Luckily, most leading vendors offer increased security through premium data centers. Today, more practices choose cloud deployment for improved accessibility and remote management.

On-Premise

On-premise platforms are best suited for larger practices with high budgets, as they incur greater upfront and maintenance costs, given the compulsory requirement of installing servers and other infrastructure.

This deployment option ensures better data safety since practices control these servers themselves to confine sensitive patient information within the facility’s limits.

However, this also limits remote accessibility, creating barriers to remote data management and multi-locational practices. Go for on-premise software if you need more customization capabilities to fit your practice's unique requirements.

Primary Benefits

EMR software helps health care facilities earn more money while providing better patient treatment and optimizing their workflows. Below are some of the most significant benefits of implementing EMR solutions:

EMR Software Benefits

Minimize Mistakes & Strengthen Care

Manual data entries are error-prone — handwriting and legibility being the common causes of blunders. What may seem like an insubstantial error can have some dicey consequences.

For example, a doctor's misinterpretation of a patient's medical chart can result in inaccurate treatment and further complications.

According to a recent study, EMRs have a strong role in improving care delivery quality through informed treatment, better workflows and stronger communication. Let’s look at how they can improve care:

Interaction detection
Integrations with drug databases
Historical analyses of patient records
Patient-provider communication
Chronic disease management
AI assistance with diagnosis
Identification of individuals due for routine checkups

Fewer mistakes mean quicker and more effective treatment. This helps health care facilities schedule more appointments, generate additional revenue and leave patients happier with proper treatment the first time around — win-win.

Increase Productivity & Efficiency

Productivity and efficiency are two of the most significant areas of concern for any business. Automating tasks frees up clinicians’ time to focus on more pressing matters like providing quality patient care.

EMR solutions include the following modules to boost workflow efficiencies:

Patient scheduling systems
E-prescribing software
Charting and documentation functionalities
Medical billing tools
Customizable dashboard templates
Patient portals
Lab integration capabilities

Electronic medical records software can help improve general care and speed up your facility’s daily traffic. Practices can schedule more appointments while assuring proper treatment provision and secure record-keeping.

Encourage Patient Involvement

Patients can use patient portals, telemedicine software and other EMR tools to communicate with their physicians via messaging or face-to-face conference calls in real time.

Patients can schedule appointments, review lab results and make payments online. Involving the patient creates a stronger relationship and gives them a better sense of control over their health care treatment.

Access Data Insights

Advanced clinical reporting tools can enable patient health risk monitoring to support preventative health care. It can also help identify trends in a population and predict warning signs. Achieve compliance with Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and other Medicare programs with robust reporting tools.

Boost Care Coordination

Electronic charts facilitate better data sharing among departments for care coordination, tests and billing. Intuitive integrations and interfaces enable faster access to lab results. It makes different pieces of the health care puzzle accessible to everyone in your practice.

As we mentioned earlier, EMRs provide simplified care coordination in a single practice. However, many providers are transitioning towards interoperable systems to share patient records across providers for enhanced care coordination.

Enhance Security & Privacy

Before electronic medical records software, hospitals and other health care organizations documented patient data manually. As a result, many facilities dedicated entire rooms solely to document storage. Damage, misplacement, theft and tampering are some common security risks to sensitive patient information.

EMRs enable permission-based access authorization to maintain data confidentiality. You can additionally configure the software to create patient data backups in case of unforeseen events.

Improve Financial Management

You might be in the health care industry to provide care, but it’s still a business at the end of the day. Here’s how implementing an EMR system can result in cost reduction and increased revenue for your practice:

Save on reduced drug spending and staffing
Get government incentives for implementing an EMR
Increase traffic leads to enhance revenue
Use reporting tools to partake in payment programs such as MIPS
Enhance billing and payment management capabilities
Improve reimbursement and decrease rejection rates with claim scrubbing

Choosing an EMR with billing and claims management can substantially increase your revenue unless you opt for separate medical billing software.

Expert recommendations and analysis on the top EMR Software

Implementation Goals

When it comes to EMR software, it’s essential to think about how you can improve your health facility’s operations. Automating various tasks leads to many advantages, but how do these benefits relate to goals?

All of these goals below can lead to improvements and increased revenue for your health organization. While every practice is different and has unique needs, it’s good to keep these goals in mind during the EMR selection process.

Goal 1 Improve Diagnosis & Treatment	Reduce the number of human errors commonly made in archaic paperwork methods. Streamline patient file reviewing to make accurate and data-driven decisions. Recognize patient-specific patterns, automatically predict diagnosis and recommend treatment by comparing and analyzing patient data.
Goal 2 Receive Government Incentives	You can receive government incentives that play a pivotal role in increasing EMR purchase and its use throughout the country. Additional monetary incentives are available for meeting specific qualifications, including meaningful use standards. On the contrary, failure to meet these requirements or meaningful use standards can result in harsh penalties.
Goal 3 Automate Interaction Verification	Provide better care to your patients by automatically identifying allergies and potential medication interactions to avoid adverse reactions.
Goal 4 Eliminate Legibility Errors	Let’s face it; doctors aren’t known for having legible handwriting. EMRs make chart notes easy to decipher by digitizing the whole process to prevent costly mistakes.
Goal 5 Enhance Prescribing	Enable faster, legible prescribing with automated interaction identification and easier communication through the pharmacy interface.

Goal 1

Improve Diagnosis & Treatment

Reduce the number of human errors commonly made in archaic paperwork methods. Streamline patient file reviewing to make accurate and data-driven decisions.

Recognize patient-specific patterns, automatically predict diagnosis and recommend treatment by comparing and analyzing patient data.

Goal 2

Receive Government Incentives

You can receive government incentives that play a pivotal role in increasing EMR purchase and its use throughout the country.

Additional monetary incentives are available for meeting specific qualifications, including meaningful use standards. On the contrary, failure to meet these requirements or meaningful use standards can result in harsh penalties.

Goal 3

Automate Interaction Verification

Provide better care to your patients by automatically identifying allergies and potential medication interactions to avoid adverse reactions.

Goal 4

Eliminate Legibility Errors

Let’s face it; doctors aren’t known for having legible handwriting. EMRs make chart notes easy to decipher by digitizing the whole process to prevent costly mistakes.

Goal 5

Enhance Prescribing

Enable faster, legible prescribing with automated interaction identification and easier communication through the pharmacy interface.

To achieve these goals, you can’t just implement the first solution you find — you’ll have to do extensive research and requirements gathering and then choose a platform with core functions and specific secondary tools that match your needs.

The rest of this article will go over important EMR features and essential questions to ask yourself and EMR providers during the selection process.

Expert recommendations and analysis on the top EMR Software

Basic Features & Functionality

Although you’ll require specific tools that not all EMR solutions will offer, there are several key features that your health care facility will want to ensure come with your EMR solution.

When narrowing down your list of potential EMR software providers, make sure to keep these core features in mind:

Charting & Documentation	Electronically store information to eliminate redundant data entry jobs. Automate documentation tasks to save staff and clinicians’ time while ensuring information accuracy. Look for solutions with mobile apps to extend data accessibility on the go. Streamline workflows and forms using machine-learning-enhanced software that can learn from recorded data.
Patient Scheduling	Use smart schedules to assign specialty equipment to a specific exam room and physician. Enhance team coordination by color-coding and automating employee schedules. Enable patients to log on to EMR tools using personal devices and schedule appointments, even after hours. Let patients compare their schedules with their clinicians’ to find the most suitable appointment slot.
Patient Portals	Use patient-accessible modules to encourage patient participation and patient-physician communication. Enable patients to self-schedule appointments, review lab results, and video call and text their practitioners from anywhere across the globe. Additionally, patients can request medication refills, make payments, and access recent visits, discharges, medications, results, allergies, immunization details and more.
E-prescribing	Electronically change, update and request prescription refills. Many states have made e-prescribing mandatory. Let pharmacists check for any drug-to-drug or drug-to-allergy issues that may occur based on a patient’s current medication(s) and diagnosis. Additionally, patients can receive notifications and alerts on prescription updates and refills and manage their prescriptions while making payments using their mobile devices. Look for solutions that offer two-way communication with pharmacies, a large number of affiliated pharmacies, integration with Medicare Part D and handout printing modules.
Clinical Decision Support	Provide value-based care by delivering relevant information from a repository of data using clinical decision support. Analyze historical records to find harmful interactions, potential risks and other fundamental data points to support decisions regarding patient treatment. Enable alerts, reminders, warnings and recommendations to offer patients excellent quality care.
Order Entry	Enable care providers to enter, store and transmit medication and test orders directly through the solution. Additionally, permit providers to enter treatment instructions and medication data.
Lab Integration	Integrate with both on-site and off-site laboratories securely. Most EMR solutions connect directly to affiliated labs. If your system doesn't, consider exploring alternative EMR software companies through market analysis. Send out lab requests and track test sample delivery, results, analysis and degree of certainty. Results automatically integrate into patient charts, notifying patients and providers of alarming results. Streamline patient care procedures based on how lab-dependent your practice is. Look for bidirectional communication and access to data.
Medical Billing	Automatically generate billing statements and customized billing templates. Review payment information and send out alerts to notify patients of their new bills and easy payment options through mobile devices. Enable patients to set up a payment schedule and plan or receive reminders on next payments and outstanding bills.
Claims Management	Use this tool to sweep claims and eliminate any NCCI, HIPAA or LCD errors that might prevent the claim from being accepted. Automate insurance verification procedures to receive alerts about forbidden coverages. This tool facilitates faster payments with higher first-time acceptance rates by eliminating money loss to unqualified or unsolved claims.
Customizable Templates	Let patients customize treatment plans and keep track of their progress or status. Design and edit custom billing templates to save and use in the future. You can additionally tailor templates as per your specialty clinics’ unique needs.

Expert recommendations and analysis on the top EMR Software

Advanced Features & Functionality

Along with the key features in an EMR software, several other features need consideration. The following functionalities aren’t integral to a solution or a software provider may not offer them.

Task/Workflow Management	Get a comprehensive view of daily tasks to streamline task creation and execution with reminders for appointments, medication approvals, note signatures and result reviewals. Enable task monitoring with updates and warnings. Sync physician and patient calendars to get real-time updates on schedule changes. Monitor patient workflows to optimize and restructure them, increasing efficiency and reducing patient wait times.
Comprehensive Reporting & Compliance Monitoring	Enable streamlined generation procedures at regular intervals of your choice. You can generate reports on any data recorded by the system, including patient, financial and clinical performance data. Make data-driven decisions to ensure that you meet industry and compliance standards, such as MIPS.
Telemedicine	Provide contactless, quality care by setting up remote appointments through the app.
E/M Coding Assistance	Proper coding of comprehensive information collected through patient charting helps you comply with evaluation and management (E/M) standards. It’s crucial for receiving payer reimbursements requiring an exhaustive list of records, including legible patient records, exam and test findings, diagnosis and treatment details, applicable patient history, care proposal and risk factors, and more. Enable accurate and faster coding through coding assistance.
Voice Recognition	Some EMR software companies offer AI- and machine-learning-enabled speech recognition features that enable faster dictation and transcription.

Expert recommendations and analysis on the top EMR Software

Current & Upcoming Trends

With the ever-changing health care landscape, let’s look at the latest innovations and trends shaping the future of EMR systems and driving market growth.

For an in depth look at where the industry is headed, check out our expert-curated EMR software trends article.

EMR Software Trends

Artificial Medical Intelligence

Artificial intelligence makes its way into patient records software to enhance functionality and tackle their shortcomings. These systems can help health care organizations swiftly categorize diseases without human interference, thereby enhancing patient treatment outcomes and reducing manual entry costs.

Artificial intelligence technology’s collaboration with the health care industry makes digital systems more effective, supporting doctors in quickly evaluating unstructured patient records using automation functionalities.

The global health care AI market is expected to reach a whopping $188 billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 37%.

With such vast expected growth, we can anticipate major changes and increased adoption of health care AI in coming years.

Telehealth

EMR with telehealth solutions perform incredibly well to deliver excellent patient care in a remote setting. The following are some key advantages that you and your staff can achieve by working together:

Simplify virtual care tasks
Enhance collaboration
Digitize data entries
Improve patient-physician interactions

Telehealth systems automatically update patient record files upon data modification to provide doctors with real-time access to the latest error-free patient information.

Robotic Process Automation

EMR's automated data capture market is developing globally as a result of the system's improved workflows and higher accuracy. By circumventing manual entry needs through robot-based automation, robotic process automation (RPA) helps achieve the required accuracy.

RPAs employ system algorithms to securely and productively automate tasks that a company's admin staff would traditionally perform manually. These enable health care organizations to expedite digitization.

Voice Recognition

Cerner and Epic, giants with considerable market shares in the U.S., are piloting voice assistance features to streamline interactions and task completion. Integrating Nuance’s software trained on thousands of speech requests, these EMRs can take accurate transcripts, perform data entry and handle other clinical tasks.

Nuance has implemented natural language processing (NLP) to tap into unstructured data to uncover meaningful information, take accurate notes and decipher complex tasks.

Voice-activated EMR early feedback has been positive. It has the potential to be widely adopted as a built-in feature in the next couple of years.

Cloud Computing

An increasing number of hospitals and clinics are switching from conventional paper-based records and on-premise EMRs to cloud-based options. Rising industry consolidation and extensive usage of cloud technologies for record management are the driving forces behind this trend.

Cloud-based EMRs provide scalable and secure storage. It enables health care workers to access patient data via a computer or mobile device from anywhere across the globe.

Expert recommendations and analysis on the top EMR Software

Software Comparison Strategy

Software evaluation is highly crucial before making an investment decision. Since this step will help you understand your company’s needs better, it will further drive you in making a data-driven choice.

Remember, the new product’s implementation should simplify your routine admin tasks and increase your clinical workflows efficiency.

Read the information below to uncover the key considerations you must take into account before buying EMR software:

Determine Your Requirements

The beginning of the process should always include examining your health facility’s unique needs.

Examine your company needs using the below-mentioned strategies:

Make a list of must-have features your new solution should include.
Analyze how this new product can enhance your organization's productivity.
Find out how many employees require access to the new system.

Compare Your Options

While many clinics will benefit from similar EMR platforms, specific features and integration capabilities vary from provider to provider. This makes finding out how these solutions and their vendors differ crucial.

There are a number of EMR providers with solid reviews available out there. However, you must compare your options carefully before choosing one.

Choose Certified Software: MACRA & MIPS

MACRA’s moved the health care industry towards a patient-oriented, value-based care model. You can choose from MIPS or alternative payment models depending on your clinic variables.

In 2023, the performance threshold for the payment year was set to 60 points. There’s an additional incentive present for performers scoring 85 or above. MIPS score consists of quality (30%), improvement activities (15%), promoting interoperability (25%) and cost (30%). A decent EMR helps you enhance care quality and also provides robust functionality to improve other scores.

How do you choose a system that ensures compliance with these regulations? We strongly recommend an ONC 2015 edition certified EMR. These systems offer robust features, interoperability, security and privacy to meet the necessary requirements.

Does the software purchase journey look daunting to you? Use our Lean Selection methodology to get going in the right direction.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Unfortunately, implementing nearly any software, in general, tends to be expensive more often than not; the same is true for EMR software. The process has the potential to be very stressful, time-consuming and confusing.

Electronic medical records pricing can range by hundreds of dollars, but the most expensive isn’t always the best EMR for you.

Important cost and price considerations to bear in mind are as follows:

Additional Costs

Vendors typically quote a price based on the number of simultaneous users, features you require, maintenance and training. Prices also vary based on whether you want standalone or integrated software. Patient data migration costs usually go overlooked, coming as a shock to many providers.

Other hidden costs include:

Installation
Implementation
Storage
Customization
Integration

Deployment

More common with on-premise software, a permanent license enables you to obtain and use the application. This model comes with higher upfront costs and lower recurring costs.

Cloud-based software popularized the subscription-based recurring fee model. Requiring low initial costs, this model has higher recurring costs per month.

Depending on your health care organization's size, you may benefit more from a software solution with fewer features. Don’t pay for features you don’t intend to use. Instead, take time to compare multiple EMR vendors to make an informed and cost-effective decision.

Price Guide for EMR Software

See prices for the top EMR Software... Plus get important questions to ask.

Get Prices Now

Questions To Ask Yourself

Prior to engaging in discussions with EMR vendors, conduct an internal assessment to evaluate your requirements.

This proactive approach will help you effectively assess your requirements and make informed decisions.

What do my staff/users want out of an EMR?
What kind of EMR software do I need?
Do I require interoperability?
Which secondary features will my team require?
Do I need an integrated system or a solution to handle charting specifically?

Questions to Ask About EMR Software

Questions To Ask Vendors

Ask product merchants the right set of questions to better understand their software and style of work.

About the Software

Is the software scalable?
Does it provide the features we need?
Is the interface user-friendly?
Is it ONC certified?
How well can the application integrate with my existing solutions and lab interfaces?

About the Vendor

Do you offer training or demo sessions?
What kind of training do you provide? How much does it cost?
What kind of support options do you provide? What’s their typical response time?
Do you migrate old data to the new system? How much does it cost?
How do you handle updates?

Expert recommendations and analysis on the top EMR Software

Next Steps

EMR software can improve a health care organization’s level of treatment and bring in more revenue in the long run. As more and more facilities embrace the use of EMRs, don’t fall behind.

Although it may be an intimidating process, you’ll thank yourself for implementing this system in the end. We hope this guide will help you in making a smart decision.

Simplify the selection process by using our free comparison report to quickly and easily evaluate top products. Good luck!

Good luck!

Product Comparisons

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

By Kashish Arora

Technical Content Writer

Kashish Arora was a Technical Content Writer at SelectHub who specialized in developing content for accounting, EHR, EMR, practice management, patient scheduling and EPM. She holds a master's degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication. When not writing, she eats fictional quotes, listens to Latin jazz and reweaves the missing parts of her spiritual tapestry.

Technical Research By Dhanasri Yasam

Senior Analyst

As a Senior Research Analyst, Dhanasri Yasam works in key categories like EHR, EMR, business intelligence and HR. In her role, she conducts primary research, collects and analyzes empirical data, and draws evidence-based conclusions. She also has extensive experience gathering requirements for client projects. Dhanasri holds a B-tech in Computer Science and Engineering from Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Aurora's Business School, Hyderabad.

Technical Review By Manan Roy

Principal Analyst

Manan is a native of Tezpur, Assam (India), who currently lives in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). At SelectHub, he works on categories like CRM, HR, PPM, BI, and EHR. He has a Bachelor of Technology in CSE from The Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Master of Technology from The Institute of Engineering and Management IT, and an MBA in Finance from St. Xavier's College. He's published two research papers, one in a conference and the other in a journal, during his Master of Technology.

Edited By Ryan McElroy

Content Editor

Ryan McElroy is a Content Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub who writes and edits content on various software types, along with their broader concepts and the industries they serve, including medical, construction, CMMS, supply chain management and legal. He studied at the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and earned his BA in Journalism in 2016. During his free time, you’ll find Ryan playing video/card/board games, sipping coffee and reading speculative fiction, or listening to music his loved ones often describe as “headache-inducing.”