According to physician users, not all EHRs are created equal. In fact, EHR software cannot and should not be all things to all providers. To perform well in your practice, an EHR must be designed specifically for providers and developed free of structured charting templates. If not, an EHR has the potential to slow your charting down, hurt your medical quality, and waste your valuable time. An EHR can be a powerful liberating tool and improve your professional life, or it can be a tedious charting process, slowing you down while eroding the care you give to your patients. If you are searching for the Best Electronic Health Record (EMR/EHR), be sure and keep in mind that not all EHRs are alike. To help guide your EHR selection, here's what thousands of your colleagues think.
Praxis EMR, Epic, Oracle Cerner, CPSI, eClinicalWorks, Athenahealth, Allscripts, Nextgen, Meditech, Practice Fusion.
1. Praxis EMR
Founded in 1989 and considered the top AI EHR for small to mid-sized practices, Praxis EMR/EHR is an award-winning, serving thousands of physicians across the U.S. and throughout the world. Praxis has an artificial intelligence (AI) technology called Concept Processing that self learns while the user charts in free text. Due to its focus on usability and user experience, Praxis is the number one rated EHR in user satisfaction at Software Advice, Capterra, AmericanEHR, and in the AAFP's EHR User Satisfaction Surveys. Praxis is cloud or server based, and certified as a complete EHR for MACRA and automates CMS Quality Reporting Programs.
2. Epic
Epic Systems was one of the first providers of electronic health records since its founding in 1979. Epic mainly focuses on medical groups such as community hospitals, academic medical centers, multi-speciality groups, independent practices, and rehab centers. KLAS has ranked Epic's EHR as the best in KLAS for five years in the largest segment. The company is employee-owned and developer-led with its software built-in house.
3. Oracle Cerner - Oracle Health EHR
Founded by three accountants in Kansas City, Missouri, Cerner had been a leading provider of electronic medical records for over 40 years. In 2022, Oracle acquired Cerner, rebranding it as Oracle Health EHR. Oracle Health EHR continues to build on Cerner’s legacy, leveraging Oracle's extensive technological capabilities to enhance health information technology systems and services for healthcare providers of all sizes, across 55 distinct specialties.
Oracle Health EHR focuses on delivering an integrated, cloud-based electronic health record system aimed at improving workflow, organization, and advancing patient care. The platform offers extensive implementation support, full-service options, and strategic vision support, ensuring a successful deployment and utilization of their systems. Oracle Health EHR is committed to improving the charting experience and healthcare delivery for all institutions, including offering strategic population health advisory services to smaller medical practices and tailored cloud-based technology to help Critical Access Hospitals reduce financial barriers.
Oracle Health EHR provides robust support and training services, including revenue cycle management, wellness programs, scorecards, and performance improvement services. Its client care support model enables caregivers to communicate efficiently with other providers, clinicians, and patients, thereby optimizing physician-patient communication and increasing efficiency. Oracle Health EHR remains a prominent leader in the EHR market with a reputable list of high-profile clients.
Why should you use Oracle Health EHR?
- Easy Navigation and Organization. The platform is designed for intuitive use, ensuring easy navigation and organization of patient data.
- Protects Against HIPAA Errors. Oracle Health EHR incorporates comprehensive security measures to protect patient information and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Automatic Transfer of Charting Data. The system supports the automatic transfer of charting data using various input methods, enhancing efficiency and reducing manual entry errors.
- Integration with Third-Party Apps and Systems. Oracle Health EHR seamlessly integrates with third-party applications and systems, providing a cohesive and connected healthcare ecosystem.
- Patient Portal. The patient portal allows patients to access their health information, communicate with providers, and manage appointments, enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction.
- Comprehensive and Well-Regarded Support Services. Oracle Health EHR offers extensive support services, including implementation assistance, training, and ongoing customer support to ensure the success of its users.
With such a reputable and well-trusted background, Oracle Health EHR is a noteworthy option for institutions seeking a reliable and advanced EHR solution.
4. CPSI: Evident Thrive EHR:
Evident designs their solutions with acute and ambulatory settings in mind while taking into account the particular characteristics of rural hospitals and clinics. Evident has more than 40 years of experience in developing healthcare solutions specifically for smaller communities. Evident's Thrive EHR provides efficient and intuitive cutting-edge technology, documentation supporting value-based care reimbursement models, and strong interoperability support.
Evident Thrive EHR offers:
- Full integration between all care settings: emergency department, pharmacy and diagnostics, hospital, and affiliated clinics
- Notes for Thrive is a feature in which all patient information can be found in one place, resulting in more efficient navigation and shortened charting time. The ease of use and readability of Notes has led to fewer insurance denials and a higher claim success rate.
- Improve patient engagement with MyCareCorner, an easy-to-use portal that lets patients access their information from anywhere via mobile or desktop
Furthermore, Evident's relationship with Commonwell Health Alliance allows physicians to connect with 13,000+ other provider sites and access 50M+ individual health records and provide better and more knowledgeable patient care without any additional costs.
"Consistent billing and collections are now being done, and we can see that with our increase in cash and our lower AR days."
—Greg Gibbes, CEO
"Notes made documentation four to five times faster. Its narrative format made it read a lot better and easier for the next provider to interpret."
—Jeremy Reynolds, PA-C, MPAS at Falls Community Hospital and Clinic
5. eClinicalWorks
eClinicalWorks is a service provided by the electronic health record company, GroupOne Health Source, which entered the industry in 1999. They work with 80,000 facilities, along with 130,000 doctors and 850,000 nurse practitioners and are especially active with ambulatory health services. eClinicalWorks provides a Grid Cloud which are a group of nine data centers that safeguards private data and administers this information to their partner practices efficiently.
6. Athenahealth
Athenahealth is a cloud-based service for electronic health records (EHR), revenue cycle management & medical billing, as well as Epocrates and other point-of-care mobile apps. It is suitable for small to midsized practices. It offers five solutions: Athenaclinicals, AthenaCollector, AthenaCommunicator, AthenaCoordinator, and AthenaClarity.
7. Allscripts
AllScripts Healthcare Solutions was founded in 1982 as Medic Computer Systems, but rebranded to its current form in 1986. They provide electronic health records to a wide variety of small to medium sized practices, hospitals, and healthcare providers. In addition, Allscripts is consistently ranked number one by Black Book for ambulatory EHR vendors. Allscripts provides the industry's only platform not tied to the products of any specific manufacturer.
8. Nextgen
NextGen has been operating as an electronic health records service since 1976 and assists nearly 155,000 physicians with their software. NextGen focuses on improving ambulatory care with its nearly 2,900 employees. In addition, NextGen focuses on improving financial management for its clients.
9. Meditech
Founded in 1969, MEDITECH is a privately held Healthcare IT vendor focusing on small to medium-sized hospitals (under 100 beds up to 200 beds) offering both cloud and server based Billing, revenue cycle management (RCM), and EHR in addition to LIS and PACs solutions. MEDITECH is one of the oldest HealthcareIT vendors in the country and has recently released a cloud-based EHR called Expanse which is focused on improved communication between the patient and hospital. MEDITECH has offices in MA, GA, and MN with installations nationwide.
10. Practice Fusion
Practice Fusion is a relatively new enterprise in the electronic medical records industry, as the company officially opened in 2005. Practice Fusion's services are known to be best suited for small, independent private practices and ambulatory services.
Practice Fusion offers a cloud-based EHR system that prides itself on continual renewal on up-to-date health landscape changes in an attempt to meet growing healthcare demands. The cloud-based EHR system provides automatic updates, integrated policy support and a free patient portal. Additionally, the EHR's unified practice management system offers flexible billing, scheduling, and task management services. One of Practice Fusion's biggest selling points is its EHR's customizable nature, specifically its free library of customizable charting templates which allow for quick e-prescribing, labs and imaging connections, intuitive charting and patient engagement opportunities. Importantly, Practice Fusion also offers continued support services, such as on demand resources and customizable implementation resources, to guide institutions through implementation to billing selection. Lastly, Practice Fusion supports practices who would like to qualify for CMS incentives, as the company is fully certified in this domain.
SK&A and Reaction Data awarded Practice Fusion's EHR as the number one for ambulatory service in 2016 and as having a very high satisfaction rate in 2018, respectively. Overall, Practice Fusion's EHR is a popular option for small, independent practices and ambulatory services looking for a well-integrated, customizable, and efficient solution to ameliorating charting difficulties and improving clinical care.
Updated: July 03, 2024
you should look for
in the Best EHRs of 2024
1. Easy and Intuitive User Interface
Quality Electronic Medical Record Software (EHR/EMR) should be easy-to-use, intuitive, and enable physicians to chart quickly and efficiently. The user interface should have a natural and easy design. The best EHRs should document the entire clinical encounter on a single screen. This saves time and effort by eliminating excessive clicking on template fields, drop down menus, and pick-lists.
2. Protect Privacy and Confidentiality
All certified EHRs today are highly secure, HIPAA compliant, and fully encrypted. The top EHR software should protect you and your patients and offer 100% security and privacy.
3. Remotely Accessible, Compatible with Mobile Devices
A great EHR works on all mobile devices such as tablets, laptops, and remote access is fast and easy from anywhere.
4. Online Portal for Enhanced Patient Communication
Certified EHRs have Patient Portals for secure patient communication to improve patient communication, engagement, and save you time. A great Patient Portal shares just-in-time clinical information with your patients, automates Health Maintenance and enables higher degrees of satisfaction, engagement, and improved clinical outcomes.
5. MACRA & MIPS Certified
Only a Federally certified EHR allows you to comply with MACRA/MIPS/Meaningful Use and Quality Reporting Programs and avoid CMS penalties. Even if you are a Concierge Medicine, DPC, or other Direct Pay clinic, using a certified EHR is critical because only certified EHRs have been tested for minimum functionality, security, and interoperability whereas non-certified EHRs have not.
6. Health Maintenance, Quality Reporting, Population Health, and Clinical Research
The best EHRs will allow you to track, graph, and trend clinical parameters on any patient or patient population and then report clinical data for Quality Reporting, and include Customized Health Maintenance, Disease Management, and Population Health Management.
7. Interfaced Laboratory Systems, Automatic Lab Result Analysis
All good EHR allows you to integrate any laboratory and/or lab module and lab results and values are easily accessible inside your EHR. Only the best EHRs will also automatic graphing and trending of lab results directly in the patient chart.
8. ePrescribing (eRx) and Medication Management
Most good EHRs have ePrescribing (eRx) that allows you to easily add, change, and request for a new medication as well as automate refills. Today's top EHRs allow you to communicate electronically with various pharmacies simultaneously while alerting you to drug interactions, histories, and drug contra-indications.
9. Clinical Decision Support
The best EHRs include Clinical Practice Guidelines and Advisories that activate when a patient meets specific criteria such as diagnosis, physical findings, demographics, insurance, laboratory values, prescribed medications, vital signs and all other clinical parameters.
10. Templates vs. AI Machine Learning
The best EHRs should be based on A.I. or machine learning instead of standardized "template" technology. Template based EHR systems are rigid, cumbersome, and slow charting down. On the other hand, temple-free based EHRs will self-learn as you use them, enabling you to practice faster, easier, and higher-quality medicine.
The highest quality EHRs will of course have much more of an upside compared to any average EHR. Here are some of the benefits of the top EHR systems:
Easy to Use
The best EHRs are easy to use, helping doctors work manageable with intuitive and flexible programs.
Secure
The best EHRs are HIPAA compliant and encrypted, protecting a practice's information, both for the practice itself and the patient.
AI-Driven
The best EHR should have an AI system that learns and adapts based on a doctor's practice preferences and gets faster and smarter as it is used.
Fast
An EHR system enables doctors to work both easier and faster; efficiency is a trait that is pertinent for any business and is vital to the best EHRs.
Affordable
The best EHRs are affordable and offer the most bang for the buck by saving practitioners money and time and helping them to practice quality medicine efficiently.
Certified
Has the comprehensive security, functionality and interoperability features of an EHR to be certified by the Certification Committee for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) for MACRA attestation.
High-Quality
A high-quality EHR system is made up of a reliable, high performing, and user-friendly program that prompts better quality care from its users.
Interoperable
Being able to share information between different EHR systems and share information between providers.
Award-Winning
Rankings and awards, like the ACP, AAFP, Software Advice FrontRunners guide, will highlight the finest EHRs based on real life user experience.
Legal Protection
The best EHR will assure its users are abiding with HIPAA requirements, documentation guidelines, and many other legal needs to protect its doctors and ensure quality care.
Customer Satisfaction
Only the best EHR can be rated #1 in customer satisfaction and usability from physician-users who enjoy improved efficiency and medical quality, with increased revenues and professional satisfaction.
Template-Free
Only a template-free EHR will allow more freedom for the doctor as the software is comprehensively customized around the physician rather than relying on cumbersome and uncompromising templates.
EMR and EHR?
The terms electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) are synonymous today, but they did not start that way and some still argue that there is a difference. Praxis is a fully certified EHR. So, Praxis is an EHR. However the original term EMR is more precise, and should be preferred by medical practitioners.
Why does Praxis proudly claim to be the best EMR and not simply an EHR?