EMR Software

EMR Software Buyers Guide

Last updated: March 29, 2023

Guide to buying EMR from top EHR Companies

In its simplest form, EMR software enables providers to create a digital representation of a person's medical record. It contains the medical and treatment histories of patients in a single practice. However, since its inception, top EMR companies have expanded the capabilities of best EMRs from simple note-taking modules to an analytical and decision support system that helps providers deliver better healthcare. 

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Benefits of using an EMR software

Here are a few benefits of EMRs over paper-based care: It saves you time thanks to automated features.

• In actuality, this is debatable as many physicians have complained that with EMRs, they are spending more time on redundant note-taking activities rather than patient care.
• Reporting happens faster, which makes for quick diagnosis.
• Finding patient information is quicker.
• Digital documentation is clear, legible, and contains fewer human errors thanks to not copying data manually.
• It is a hub of medical databases (e.g., available drugs) and patient education, which serve as helpful resources to physicians.
• EMRs with patient portals make it easy to communicate with patients.
• Should facilitate better-coordinated care. Better coordinated care is highly dependent on the systems being interoperable; however, recent data suggest that most EMR companies are still incapable or unprepared to boost greater interoperability between systems. 

There are hundreds of EMR companies operating in the US alone. Not all of them, however, meet technical standards set by the government for ensuring better and safer care.  It is imperative, thus, to only use the Top EMR software that is certified by the government regulatory agencies. 

What is a Certified EMR?

If you are a Medicare or Medicaid participating physician, chances are you need certified electronic medical record software. A certified EMR is a system that has received a nod from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCB) for meeting standards for structured data set by CMS and ONC. 

You can view the most updated list of certified Top EMR vendors here.

At times these certifications can be confusing to understand. You must ask EMR companies the following questions regarding their certification:

1. Has the whole EMR software received certification or only certain modules?
2. Is the version being demoed to you certified, or is it some other version? Please be careful as not all versions of an EMR company's product are certified.
3. Are there any guarantees? For example, athenahealth, CureMD, and AdvancedMD provide assurances to their clients for meeting all regulatory requirements in time.

Preparing to Evaluate EMR Companies

Before you embark on your software purchase journey, you need to get a better understanding of your

requirements. It includes taking stock of the financial and logistical circumstances of your practice.  Below we will discuss some initial steps involved in the buying decision-making process. 
But before we do that, let's get the elephant out of the room and talk about whether free software is good enough for you.

Is Free EMR a good fit? 

A free EMR can be a good fit initially for a small or solo provider practice. However, be prepared for the challenges that come with such a system:

• One on One Support is nonexistent 
• Customization is limited 
• Training is usually through online videos 
• There are hidden costs 
• Data collection and handling. Some free EMR vendors do offer data in their systems to pharmacies or research organizations without tacit consent from the provider.

An excellent alternative to a free EMR only would be to opt for a medical billing service deal with vendors for which most EHR companies offer their EMR and Practice Management system for free. Learn more about Medical billing companies.

We have also compiled a list of low-cost/ free EMR vendors for small practices in our blog.

Choosing Top EMR Software

Start by answering a few questions about the entity that requires the software.

What type of EMR buyer are you?

With so many EMR companies out there, not all of them cater to your medical specialty or business size.  For example, some vendors only provide software for outpatient and ambulatory care settings, while others offer inpatient functionality as well. You need to start your research by shortlisting candidates that specifically cater to your practice size and type. The industry division based on practice size is as follows:

Small Practices

It is a healthcare setting with solo or less than five physicians. Most buyers are either moving away from paper to meet regulatory requirements or replacing their existing EMR system with something better. Most of these offices do not have a lot of staff or IT support. Therefore, an ideal EMR software for them would be one that does not require a lot of hands-on IT support. It should also help automate most tasks in the organization, thus reducing the need to hire extra staff. 

An EMR company that offers both monthly subscription and per-visit pricing models would be a good fit, especially if this practice is starting new and does not anticipate a large patient volume from the beginning. Software vendors like AdvancedMD EMR can be a good fit as they have multiple pricing options for smaller practices. 

Midsize Practices

These buyers usually have around 6 to 25 physicians on staff. Apart from looking to improve efficiency, most such buyers are in search of a system that caters well to multiple specialties. A free system would not work for such a setting as the level of customization required would not be available with such a solution. 

Such practices also prefer software that is scalable and functions across multiple locations.

As considerable cost is involved in implementing a new system, the buying journey for midsize to large practices is longer. Such organizations also have the flexibility to influence EMR costs rather than accept standard contracts, something which they should make use of while negotiating with an EMR company. 

You can learn more about EMR contracting by downloading our whitepaper "EMR contracts: What they mean & how to Protect your Practice." 

Large Practices

Like their midsize counterparts, larger practices are also usually long-term buyers looking for a system that would last the organization for a long time. There are more than two dozen physicians on staff and considerable support staff to run such an organization.

EMR buyers can also be differentiated based on first-time buyers or practices looking to replace their existing system. Here are some additional guidelines that apply to them.

First-time buyer Vs. EMR replacement

If you are a first-time EMR buyer or a new practice owner, you need to make sure that both software and hardware support are available to you.  The hardware you purchase should support the requirements of your new EMR software or vice versa. 

There are many third-party managed IT services that can help you in this phase if you do not want to have a full-time IT person on board. Some EMR vendors also offer these IT support services to their clients during the onboarding stage.

Make sure that you discuss it with potential vendors before finalizing an EMR company for your practice. 

If you are looking to switch your existing system, however, your concerns will be slightly different. Firstly, you need to make sure that your contract with the current EMR vendor is up because if it isn't and you decide to leave midway, there may be financial penalties. You will also need their support in data migration to a new system. Some vendors, such as eClinicalWorks and CureMD EMR, offer primary data migration for free. However, if you are looking to migrate clinical content, it can cost you around $1500 to $3000 one-time fee depending on the size and volume of your data. It would be prudent to learn from these initial interactions with EHR companies and try to negotiate a better contract with a new vendor. 

Are You Involved in a Specialty Field?

The needs of a specialty practice are different than that of primary care. For starters, they require different templates, treatment plans, devices, and lab integrations. A primary care practice involved in family medicine requires different templates than other specialists, such as psychologists. Most EMR vendors offer a standard system that is customizable for other specialties. Some vendors specialize in one thing only. Which one of these will work best for you will depend on the depth of specialty content needed by your facility.

Please also keep in mind that EMR costs will vary between specialties. For example, an EMR software for cardiologists, Oncologists, and Dermatology practices is generally higher priced than other things as these require complex workflows and integrations.

What Support Do You Need from the EMR Companies?

Your size will also determine the amount of support you'll need. Not all entities employ permanent IT staff. If you need external help or assistance from the service provider for training, implementation, troubleshooting, and more—24/7 if possible—pick one where it's included in the offer.

Note that this aspect has a financial impact too: If this isn't already included in their standard package, it can become quite expensive.

The Features You Can't Go Without

Vet your options according to these features to determine which is best. Keep in mind that relevancy to your setup is always your starting point. Studies show that in most cases, 75% of software features never get used. That means you'll waste money if you purchase an elaborate program with functions you don't need.

Here are the ones that should be on your priority list.

Integration

If you're already using other software, you don't want to reinvent the wheel. Make sure the EMR you pick can be integrated into your hospital or practice management system. Working with two separate systems will only slow you down. You should also inquire about labs, radiology integrations, and device integrations

• Does the vendor integrate with in-house labs? 
• Do they have bi-directional interfaces with all leading labs across the country?
• Can you integrate your camera with your EMR?

It counts in your favor if you don't own any system yet. You can opt for an integrated EMR and Practice Management software so that one system governs all your tasks from the start.

Deployment

The deployment method you choose is as important as selecting an EMR company. Each option comes with its own set of pros and cons.  There are two main options to choose from:

Web-Based/ Cloud-Based EMR: You can access the software anywhere with the internet. Data hosting is in the cloud

On-Premise: Software is stored and implemented in on-site servers.

Either option has repercussions on price, security, and accessibility.

Security

Both your patients and the authorities require quality security features to keep data safe & confidential. Firstly, you need software with dynamic encryption services. Whether it's stored or sent to a third party, unauthorized parties or hackers shouldn't be able to access details. 

User Friendliness

Of course, you want a smooth implementation process for your staff's benefit. Even though EMR service providers usually provide training, a user-friendly, intuitive interface is a sign of a quality product, designed with the user in mind.

Standard Features of EMR from Top EMR Companies

Patient Portal in Greenway Health

Most Requested EMR Features By Providers

COVID-19 and Telemedicine

With COVID-19, Telehealth software adoption has seen a massive uptake. Hospitals have deployed the systems to provide safe care to their patients without exposing them or their staff to the infection. At the same time, many providers are using telemedicine software to run their practices, which would have been impossible otherwise due to a countrywide lockdown.

Responding to the need for quick deployment and implementation of these solutions, top EMR companies are offering a limited-time free or discounted telemedicine software to their users. 

Many vendors that did not have telemedicine software such as PrognoCIS, Chart Perfect, WRS health, and Chartlogic have recently launched their solutions as well.

How Much Does a Top EMR Cost?

Pricing for EMR software varies depending on your specialty, practice size, brand name, and the level of customization and training required at your end. There are low-cost EMR products with limited functionality as well as more expensive EMR vendors. The following pricing rules apply to the healthcare industry:

• Cloud-based EMR software is less pricey as compared to on-premise systems.
• Most vendors offer yearly or more extended contracts. However, some vendors such as Kareo & Chart logic have started offering no-contract options to practices as well.
• For a practice that has more part-time providers, the encounter-based pricing model is more suitable than a per-month per-provider model. Ask your EHR company how they handle such cases.

Top 25 EMR/EHR Software Companies

The following EMR/EHR companies have received recognition from KLAS* for their performance

1. AdvancedMD EMR Software

AdvancedMD EMR is a sophisticated yet user-friendly software for medical record keeping. It has extensive features, including personalized forms, greatly simplified scheduling, and appointment functions, secure messaging capabilities for better communication with other facilities and staff members, cost-effective AdvancedMD billing solutions, integrations for generating patient reports and assessments swiftly, taking complete control over data security procedures in line with HIPAA regulations, and more.

AdvancedMD EMR Features

Subscription Plans

The software offers subscription plans tailored to the specific needs of each clinical facility; from its Advancedplus* plan which is the most expensive with all the features mentioned above to Advancedlite* which is the most economic. 

AdvancedMD EMR users often praise its intuitiveness and affordability. It's rarely criticized on customer satisfaction platforms due to its advanced yet easy-to-grasp functionalities. 

The software, further, stands out when it comes to accommodating complex lab test results without compromising speed or accuracy. Subscription prices can be very reasonable depending on the size of the deploying practice; larger clinics may need a more robust system while smaller practices can use Advanced MD Lite at a much lower cost. 

Overall, AdvancedMD EMR can be recommended to clinical facilities that require an efficient, secure way of managing their electronic medical records without breaking the bank. With its plethora of features and ongoing customer support across multiple channels, the program’s implementation process comes as ‘guaranteed smooth sailing’ for a successful transition from paper filing systems to digitized ones.

Cost: For the fully Integrated AdvancedMD EMR & Practice Management System, the pricing ranges from $100 to $729 per provider per month.

Comparison: Learn about the AdvancedMD EMR Software Alternatives on the market.

Related Resources:

eClinicalWorks vs. AdvancedMD: Which EMR Software Is Right for Your Clinic?

AdvancedMD EMR vs. Kareo Clinical EMR

2. Athenahealth EMR Software

Athenahealth EMR software is a comprehensive healthcare system designed to provide efficient, secure, and cost-effective patient management services. It offers an array of features, including electronic medical records (EMR), appointment scheduling and booking, practice management, medication prescribing, patient data tracking and analysis, billing & claims processing, and other essential services.

Athenahealth EMR Features

Cost: The software comes in multiple subscription plan arrangements available to suit different clinical facility requirements.

Its Basic* plan offers core functionality such as secure messaging, document imaging, claims submission & payment tracking; the Plus* plan includes additional capabilities like ICD-10 compliance; while the Pro* package, in addition to all this, comes with enhanced analytics and automated reporting tools. 

The Athenahealth medical software has earned relatively positive ratings from users and analysts based on their user experience, customer satisfaction & technical proficiency. Its platform is ideal for clinics looking to digitally manage patient information without compromising quality or data security. Features such as the ‘Advanced Search Option’ and ‘Deep Workflow Automation’ make it a great choice for mid to large-sized healthcare organizations looking for quality EMR solutions without breaking the bank. 

Related Resources:

Which is Better for Your Healthcare Facility: Athenahealth or NextGen?

eClinicalWorks vs. Athenahealth: Which One Fares Best for Medical Facilities?

3. Cerner EMR Software

Cerner EMR software is a holistic electronic medical records solution for clinical facilities. Its primary features offer secure access to patient records, organized digital storage, electronic signatures, mobile capabilities, and customizable templates that simplify data entry and reduce inefficiencies.

Cerner EMR Features

Cost: Cerner’s subscription plan offers several tiers of services based on the extent of features needed by the facility; with each arrangement accompanied by various training and support solutions from the provider.

User reviews, for the most part, are overwhelmingly positive, centered mainly on the software’s provision of an intuitive platform for entering data and enhanced workflow applications that substantially decrease the amount of time it takes to transfer information between departments. 

For these reasons, Cerner is recommended for medical facilities looking for a streamlined EMR experience with user-friendly access points. Its pricing plans may be slightly higher than some alternatives but can offer substantial cost savings in improved productivity as well as compliance with regulations related to secure medical settings.

Related Resources:

Cerner EMR vs Epic EMR: An Actionable Comparison

4. eClinicalWorks EMR Software

eClinicalWorks EMR Software – also referred to by its initialism short form ‘ECW’ in the industry – is a cloud-based Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Practice Management (PM) solution designed to help clinicians streamline the patient management process. Its features include e-prescribing, document editing and e-signature capabilities, patient portals, real-time medical billing updates, and automated schedule reminders for patients. eClinicalWorks also provides users access to local labs or remote laboratories for lab orders, results, and follow-up.

eClinicalWorks EMR Features

Cost: As far as subscription plan prices/tiers are concerned, the software comes in three sign-up arrangements: Standard*, Professional*, and Complete*.

Each tier has something different to offer in terms of enhanced feature sets. 

User reviews of eClinicalWorks are generally positive and cite its ease of use as well as its support. For clinical facilities looking to take advantage of eClinicalWorks functionality, implementing an EMR should be part of their data strategy moving forward.

Comparison: Learn about the eClinicalworks Software Alternatives on the market.

Related Resources: 

5 Alternatives to eClinicalWorks EMR

5. Elation Health EMR Software

Elation Health EMR Software is a secure, user-friendly platform for medical providers, enabling them to collaborate across departments and transfer patient data with ease and efficiency. The application boasts a wide array of features such as secure patient records, automated appointment reminders, customized electronic forms, integrated billing solutions, and electronic prescriptions.

Elation Health EMR Features

Platform users generally praise the system’s design flexibility, clinical integration capabilities, and overall usage convenience. The main challenge users report facing is the system’s cost; some find Elation expensive compared to similar products in the market. Generally, though, the utility makes an excellent choice for medical practices of all sizes that require powerful yet simple clinical management tools for patient scheduling, e-prescriptions, and financial data tracking. 

Cost: Elation also offers three subscription plans based on the deploying facility's needs, ranging from the Elation Solo Plan* and Elation Professional* to the Elation ProPlus*. 

In terms of real-world use, Elation may not be right for facilities or clinicians who are looking for a basic EMR system since it offers so much more than just the basics. It outperforms many top EMR products in scalability which makes it a great match when it comes to facilitating growth at any sized practice. Overall, the platform ultimately proves itself to be an extremely reliable tool that gives clinicians the power to provide world-class care with minimal administrative overhead.

Related Resources:

Which EMR Provides Clinical First Platform For Doctors?

6. EpicCare EMR Software

EpicCare EMR is a leading software application for clinical facilities, offering robust electronic health records management tools paired with sophisticated patient scheduling features. By way of typical use, it allows users to both easily and accurately document patient-related information with the click of a button, minimizing the time spent on manual data entry and reducing human errors.

EpicCare EMR Software Features

The software has received largely positive reviews from healthcare providers who appreciate EpicCare's intuitive design and breadths of features, such as customizable reporting solutions and integrations with other hospital systems. As an industry-acclaimed EMR platform, it comes recommended for medium to large clinical facilities preparing to transition from paper records, as it offers comprehensive functionality that can reliably guide healthcare organizations toward success. 

Cost: EpicCare's subscription plans range from $1* per user per month for clinics and solo practitioners to $2* per user per month for hospitals and other larger practices. 

In summation, EpicCare EMR represents an ideal choice for clinical facilities looking to modernize their patient records management protocol without making significant investments in hardware or staff training.

Related Resources:

Top Orthopedic EMR Software

7. Kareo EMR Software

Kareo EMR Software is an innovative Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software designed to streamline the workflow of medical facilities and better equip them to meet patient demands. It makes it simpler for doctors and nurses to access and manage patient data, helping make sure that physicians have the up-to-date information they need at their fingertips. The platform also simplifies the important clinical concerns of ordering, coding, documenting, filing, managing patient records and reports, billing insurance claims, and tracking treatment plans.

Kareo's user-friendly interface allows users to customize settings and preferences in order to match their needs without sacrificing security or control.

Cost: The subscription is tiered according to each individual's usage. Kareo boasts a 4-5 rating across major online review sites such as G2 Crowd and Trust Radius thanks to its intuitive modern interface combined with powerful features like streamlined workflows, automated appointment reminders for patients, secure messaging between providers, e-prescribing capabilities — all built atop a modern cloud infrastructure for HIPAA compliance. 

For clinical facilities needing an EMR solution that can be tailored to specific requirements while offering best practices support Kareo is a top choice worth considering.

Comparison: Learn about the Kareo Billing Software Alternatives on the market.

Related Resources:

AdvancedMD EMR vs. Kareo Clinical EMR

A Side-By-Side Comparison of eClinicalWorks and Kareo

8. Nextgen EMR Software

Nextgen EMR is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline and digitize clinical operations. It offers a robust set of features, such as patient registration, ECG scans, appointment scheduling, and claims processing. 

Nextgen EMR Software Features

NextGen has earned overwhelmingly positive reviews from its users for its easy navigability and lovely interface design. Clinical facilities that match NextGen's user profiles (clinics dedicated to inpatient care or specialty practices) may find this software particularly useful for optimizing their data workflow capabilities. 

Cost: Its subscription plans are priced in three tiers: Standard*, Elite*, and ElitePlus*. The Standard plan comes with basic functionalities at a lower cost, while the Elite and ElitePlus plan comes with additional features such as exam templates and lab management services. 

All in all, this EMR is an excellent choice for any facility looking to modernize its digital healthcare platform. Its features are intuitive and user-friendly while its subscription plans offer plenty of options to match any budget size.

Related Resources:

Which is Better for Your Healthcare Facility: Athenahealth or NextGen?

List of Top EMR & EHR Solutions For Family Practice

9. Practice Mate EMR Software

Practice Mate EMR by Office Ally is a highly-rated Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software intended for small to medium-sized medical practices. It allows clinical facilities to collect patient demographics, record diagnoses, track vitals, and store notes and documents in one centralized location. Further, its easy navigation features allow users to quickly access all of their records in a secure HIPAA-compliant digital system.

Practice Mate EMR Software Features

Cost: The EMR’s subscription plans are available at three different levels: Lite*, Standard*, and Plus* - tied to varying user needs. Practice Mate offers lower, customized rates if more than 5 providers are subscribing at once. 

Several user reviews mention that the software is incredibly user-friendly with great customer service, which makes it ideal for clinical facilities just starting out.

10. Allscripts EMR Software

Allscripts EMR is a comprehensive electronic medical record system used by clinical facilities all over the world. It covers a wide range of functionality, including patient scheduling, task management, medical records tracking and documentation, and decision support; being designed to meet the needs of all types of medical settings, from solo practitioners to large hospitals and clinics.

Allscripts EMR Features

Cost: The software’s subscriptions are available in three tiers – Basic*, Pro*, and Enterprise* – with prices that correspond to each user’s business size and desired features. 

Allscripts boasts highly favorable user reviews across the board praising its robust set of features for data management and reporting as well as its intuitive design. For larger businesses seeking an EMR system that can scale up with them as needed, it makes for an excellent choice, although users may need extensive training or additional help from the vendor’s techs to take full advantage of the platform’s many capabilities. 

All in all, Allscripts EMR provides reliable health record-keeping and other facility management functionality for clinical facilities looking for affordable solutions and high-quality performance.

11. AestheticsPro EMR Software

AestheticsPro EMR is an online medical spa software solution that can streamline operations and optimize outcomes for Aesthetic practices. It offers a comprehensive range of features, including patient management, treatment scheduling, secure messaging, point-of-sale system integrations, appointment reminders, and powerful reporting tools. The platform’s intuitive user interface ensures that the subscriber experience is user-friendly and hassle-free.
 

AestheticsPro EMR Features

Cost: Subscription plans are based on the size of the Aesthetic practice's customer base and range, with tiered discounts available for larger subscription packages. 

AestheticsPro gets excellent feedback from users, who praise its easy setup process, ‘efficiency of organization’, and depth of options to match any business's needs. It is especially recommended for small to mid-sized Aesthetic clinics offering frequent services such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser treatments that could benefit from Aesthetics Pro's attention to detail in patient records and digital scheduling solutions.  

By using the EMR, Aesthetic clinics can experience improved workflows with reduced employee time and more efficient cost-control methods.

Related Resources:

Top EMR Systems For Dermatology Practices

12. Amazing Charts EMR Software

Amazing Charts EMR software has been designed to help medical professionals streamline their workflow and better manage patient records. With Amazing Charts PM, users can capture patient histories and track appointments, labs, orders, and referrals all in one place. The platform also features comprehensive clinical decision support components such as physician order entry, drug references, e-prescribing capabilities, and laboratory integration. Further, the application offers an extensive library of standard reports that can be generated to review the progress of patient cases.

Amazing Charts EMR Features

Cost: With Amazing Charts’ subscription pricing plans, ranging from basic to premium packages, facilities can select the tier of service best suited for their needs.

Reviews of the interface show positive feedback from users who appreciate its reliability and clean design. For clinical facilities looking for a user-friendly EMR with powerful tools for care management, the integration comes highly recommended.  

Items available for purchase on Amazing Charts include essential practice management products like billing service integrations in addition to services tailored to specialty practices such as psychiatry and pediatrics.

Related Resources:

Amazing Charts EMR vs. AdvancedMD EMR

13. Nextech EMR Software

Nextech EMR Software is a specialized electronic medical record (EMR) software developed to meet the increasing demand for streamlined, secure patient data management and physician productivity in eye care practices. It offers sophisticated tasks administration capabilities ranging from exam documentation, order entry with ePrescribing, inventory tracking, and control to referral letter creation and ocular imaging analyses – all tailored to ophthalmic workflow processes.
 

Nextech EMR Features

Cost: Nextech Ophthalmology EMR's pricing plans are based on the number of users needing access, offering lower-cost options for smaller eye care practice offices. The platform also provides multiple tiers of data back-ups for secure storage including cloud storage and local server backup options. 

Reviews from Nextech customers generally list fewer errors due to decreased transcription time as well as improved practice efficiency from the interface’s consolidated reporting capabilities and quality assurance metric management.

Related Resources:

5 Top Ophthalmology EMRs For Your Medical Practice

Top Orthopedics EMR & Its Functionalities For Your Practices

14. OneTouch EMR Software

OneTouch EMR Software, in addition to its suite of record management capabilities, provides a holistic patient portal built specifically for clinical facilities. One of the basic features of the platform is its ability to store, share and manage the complete digital records of a patient's medical history.
 

OneTouch EMR Features