According to physician users, not all Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are created equal. In fact, EHR software should not be a one-size-fits-all solution. To truly enhance your medical practice, an EHR system must be designed specifically for physicians—free from rigid, structured charting templates that slow you down.
The wrong Electronic Health Records System can increase charting time, reduce efficiency, and compromise medical quality, ultimately wasting valuable time. However, the right EHR software can be a powerful, time-saving tool that improves patient care, enhances workflow, and makes documentation effortless.
If you’re searching for the best EHR system for your practice, remember: not all EHRs are the same. Some will burden you with excessive clicking, drop-down menus, and rigid templates, while others—like AI-driven, template-free solutions—will adapt to your workflow and help you practice faster and smarter.
To help guide your EHR software selection, here's what thousands of your colleagues think about the best Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and EHR software available today.
Founded in 1989 and considered the top AI EHR for small to mid-sized practices, Praxis EMR is renowned for its AI-driven "Concept Processing" technology, which learns from users to facilitate faster and more personalized documentation. Its template-free design allows physicians to chart in free text, enhancing flexibility and efficiency. Praxis EMR is award-winning, serving thousands of physicians and providers and is the number one EHR in by practicing physicians in most major User Satisfaction Surveys nationwide. Praxis is cloud based, and certified as a complete EHR for MACRA and automates CMS Quality Reporting Programs.
Praxis EMR stands out due to its AI-driven, template-free approach, offering a highly customizable and efficient documentation experience. Its focus on user satisfaction and adaptability makes it a strong choice for practices seeking a personalized EHR solution.
By incorporating these detailed insights, the Praxis EMR section provides a comprehensive overview that highlights its unique features and benefits, potentially improving its ranking and appeal to readers.
Epic Systems is a leading provider of healthcare software, offering comprehensive EHR solutions widely adopted by large healthcare organizations. Known for its interoperability and extensive functionalities, Epic supports various specialties and integrates seamlessly with other systems.
Epic Systems offers a robust and scalable EHR solution suitable for large healthcare organizations. Its emphasis on interoperability and patient engagement positions it as a leader in the EHR market.
Oracle Cerner delivers innovative EHR solutions designed to enhance clinical workflows and patient care. Its platform emphasizes data analytics and population health management, aiding healthcare providers in making informed decisions.
Oracle Cerner’s integration of data analytics and population health management tools makes it a valuable asset for healthcare providers aiming to enhance clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
CPSI specializes in EHR systems tailored for community hospitals and healthcare systems. Their solutions focus on affordability and ease of use, ensuring that smaller facilities can effectively manage patient records and improve care delivery.
CPSI provides affordable and user-friendly EHR solutions tailored to the needs of community hospitals, making it a practical choice for smaller healthcare facilities aiming to improve care delivery.
"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
eClinicalWorks offers cloud-based EHR and practice management solutions, serving a diverse range of medical practices. Its platform includes telehealth capabilities, patient engagement tools, and robust analytics, supporting comprehensive care delivery.
eClinicalWorks’ comprehensive features, including telehealth and robust analytics, make it a versatile solution for medical practices seeking to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.
NextGen Healthcare delivers EHR solutions tailored for ambulatory practices, focusing on specialty-specific workflows.
NextGen Healthcare’s focus on specialty-specific workflows and integrated practice management makes it a valuable EHR solution for ambulatory practices seeking customization and efficiency.
Allscripts provides EHR solutions designed to connect clinical and financial aspects of healthcare organizations.
Allscripts’ open platform and comprehensive tools for population health and revenue cycle management make it a versatile EHR solution for healthcare organizations aiming for interoperability and financial efficiency.
Meditech offers EHR solutions focused on enhancing clinical workflows and patient safety.
Meditech’s integrated platform and emphasis on patient safety make it a reliable EHR solution for healthcare organizations seeking to enhance clinical workflows and reduce errors.
Athenahealth provides cloud-based EHR and practice management services, emphasizing connectivity and interoperability.
Practice Fusion is a cloud-based EHR system designed to streamline clinical workflows for small to medium-sized medical practices.
Practice Fusion provides a comprehensive, cloud-based EHR solution that is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized practices. Its user-friendly interface, combined with features like integrated e-prescribing and customizable templates, enhances clinical efficiency and patient engagement. However, potential users should assess their specific needs and consider factors such as integration capabilities with existing systems when evaluating Practice Fusion as their EHR choice.
Updated: March 19, 2025
Selecting the appropriate Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is crucial for healthcare providers aiming to enhance patient care and optimize practice efficiency. The top EHR systems of 2025, including Praxis EMR, Epic Systems, Cerner, eClinicalWorks, NextGen Healthcare, Allscripts, Meditech, Athenahealth, and Practice Fusion, offer diverse features tailored to various healthcare settings. Among these, top rated Praxis EMR stands out for its innovative approach to clinical documentation and adaptability to individual physician workflows. Conversely, Epic Systems and Cerner are renowned for their hospital based solutions suitable for large healthcare organizations. Practices should assess their specific needs, considering factors such as practice size, specialty requirements, and desired features, to select an EHR system that aligns with their goals and enhances overall patient care.
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.
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.
A great EHR works on all mobile devices such as tablets, laptops, and remote access is fast and easy from anywhere.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
The best EHRs are easy to use, helping doctors work manageable with intuitive and flexible programs.
The best EHRs are HIPAA compliant and encrypted, protecting a practice's information, both for the practice itself and the patient.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Being able to share information between different EHR systems and share information between providers.
Rankings and awards, like the ACP, AAFP, Software Advice FrontRunners guide, will highlight the finest EHRs based on real life user experience.
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.
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.
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.
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?