Find the Best EMR Software

The EMR market is large and complex, with solutions that differ in functionality, price, and specialty focus. Now that you have gone through the list of popular EMRs, this detailed buyer’s guide provides practical insights and evaluation criteria, based on verified user reviews and industry rankings. Hopefully we will be able to help you make an informed decision, whether you are looking for small practice EMRs or solutions for larger clinics and hospitals.

Electronic medical records (EMR) software, often used interchangeably with electronic health records (EHR), is a digital solution that helps healthcare providers create, store, and manage patient records securely. This platform integrates a range of features within a unified dashboard to help healthcare providers ensure regulatory compliance, streamline workflows, and deliver patient-centric care. 

EMRs have become standard in modern healthcare. The question is no longer whether to use one, but which system best suits a practice’s needs. To support adoption, the U.S. government also introduced initiatives like the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which incentivized healthcare providers to implement and meaningfully use certified EMR software. 

EMR systems vary based on specialty, with solutions designed specifically for specialties like mental health, dermatology, ophthalmology, and more. In this guide, we will explore key considerations such as features, costs, and benefits to help you find the best EMR software for your practice. 

EMR systems include a variety of core and advanced functionalities designed to enhance patient care and streamline practice management. Here are some key features to consider when selecting the best EMR for your healthcare practice: 

Charting

EMR systems offer charting functionalities that enable providers to record patient visits, diagnoses, treatment plans, and progress notes digitally. These tools replace paper-based charts with structured, easy-to-use templates that streamline documentation. Providers can also link lab results, imaging reports, and prescriptions directly to patient records to document complete medical history in one centralized location.  

Since different specialties have unique documentation needs, it is important to choose an EMR with charting tools tailored to your specific field. 

E-Prescribing

This is another important feature that allows healthcare providers to send prescriptions directly to pharmacies electronically. It helps reduce medication errors, improves prescription accuracy, and enhances patient safety. EMRs with this functionality also streamline the prescribing process by eliminating the need for handwritten or faxed prescriptions, making it faster and more efficient for both providers and patients.  

Due to these benefits, e-prescribing has seen widespread adoption, with about 92% of U.S. prescribers now using it, a significant rise from just 7% in 2008. 

Patient Portal 

A patient portal is a key feature of EMR systems that allows patients to securely access their health records online. It enables them to review visit summaries, lab results, medications, and immunization history anytime, improving transparency and engagement. This active participation can strengthen patient-physician relationships and contribute to better health outcomes. 

Medical Billing 

Most EMR software systems come integrated with practice management tools to streamline billing and payments. They automatically capture and organize patient data to reduce manual entry and minimize billing errors. EMRs also suggest appropriate ICD and CPT codes, helping providers submit accurate claims and improve financial performance. This automation ensures faster reimbursements and a more efficient revenue cycle. 

Reporting And Analytics 

EMR systems with reporting and analytics provide clear insights into a practice’s financial and operational performance. With easy-to-understand visual reports, providers can track key metrics like appointment utilization, billing trends, and patient no-shows. These tools help identify inefficiencies, improve revenue cycles, and support data-driven decision-making. 

Telehealth 

Telehealth adoption has increased significantly across the U.S. Electronic health records solutions with built-in telehealth systems enable healthcare providers to offer virtual consultations alongside in-person visits, improving accessibility and convenience. This flexibility enhances the patient experience, supports better health outcomes, and helps reduce overall healthcare costs. 

Clinical Decision Support 

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools in EMRs help healthcare providers make informed treatment decisions by offering automated alerts, reminders, and recommendations. These systems analyze patient data, including medical history and demographics, to suggest personalized care plans and flag potential risks like drug interactions or allergies. 

AI Scribe

Physicians typically spend 35% of their time documenting patient visits, which can take away from direct patient care. AI Scribe automates this process by using artificial intelligence to transcribe conversations, summarize key details, and generate structured clinical notes. As demand for faster and more efficient documentation grows, many EMR vendors are integrating AI-powered tools to streamline workflows and reduce administrative burden.

A contemporary EMR is available in various forms since care environments and work processes are different. The type of software to select influences the cost, speed, and clinical fit. The following guide can be used to map options for your practice.

EMRs By Deployment

• Cloud-based: The system is hosted by the vendor, providing practices with easy access, automatic updates, and elastic storage. It minimizes local requirements of IT, but it relies on the availability of good internet and clarity of data-residency conditions
• On-Premise: It is executed on the servers of the practice and has more restrictive control and tailor-made policies. This type of EMR demands additional initial investment, hardware, and specialized IT support
• Hybrid: Core data is stored in the cloud and certain services are implemented locally. It is a combination of scalability and control. It may bring complexity to integration and governance

EMRs By Specialty

• General EMR Systems: Provide generalized templates for primary care and multi-clinic practices, which may need to be tailored towards specific workflows
• Field-Specific EMR systems: These are designed specifically in cardiology, oncology, or ophthalmology. They accelerate documentation using customized documentation and tools. Such systems are not flexible to expand services in the future
• Multi-Specialty EMR systems: A common system with specialty add-on modules. It is a good fit for groups that expand along service lines

EMRs By Care Setting

• Ambulatory EMRs: Streamline outpatient visits, including scheduling, e-prescribing, charting, and claims. It offers speed and convenience for users
• Acute care EMRs: Inpatient care, such as admission and transfer flows, CPOE, order sets, medication administration, and ancillary links. They also focus on coordination, safety, and 24/7 reliability

How We Curated Our Pros And Cons List

The pros and cons presented here are based off of insights from clinicians and staff members who shared their experiences using these EMR systems in daily practice. To maintain accuracy and clinical relevance, we utilized a structured process: 

• Data Collection: We conducted interviews and gathered survey feedback from healthcare professionals working across hospitals and ambulatory practices 
• Thematic Analysis: Responses were carefully reviewed, with recurring points about documentation, reporting, coordination, and specialty workflows identified and grouped 
• Qualitative Evaluation: The frequency of these themes was measured, with additional weight given to perspectives tied to higher levels of clinical responsibility or reported in more than one care setting 
• User Feedback: To supplement direct interviews and surveys, we also incorporated verified user reviews. This helped capture a broader range of experiences and ensure a more complete picture 
• Final Results: These findings were then compiled into concise pros and cons lists for each vendor, offering a clear and actionable overview for providers evaluating new systems 

Epic – Pros And Cons  

Pros

Around 40% clinicians consistently highlight strong tools for fast, high-quality documentation (smart phrases/templates) that cut down charting time:  

• “Smart phrases and customization make documentation a breeze.”  

About 30% of reviewers also point to solid reporting/analytics pull-through from charts and lists for audits and quality work:  

• “Reports can easily be created to pull data from patient lists and track a large variety of data.”

Con

Roughly one out of five users say longitudinal analytics can be limited out-of-the-box for trending:  

• “It doesn't have historical data to come up with trends.”  

Oracle Health – Pros And Cons  

Pros

Almost 30% of providers praise clinical views that surface results clearly for decision-making:  

• “Organization of lab values and easy access to Neuro imaging.”  

Approximately one out of five users like its core clinician features that support daily work:  

• “Electronic prescribing & results review are my favourite.”  

Con:

Nearly 20% of reviewers state that occasional maintenance windows can interrupt work:

• “Upgrades to the system may take hours at inconvenient times.”  

MEDITECH – Pros And Cons  

Pros

Around 35% of reviewers note helpful charting workflows for continuity of care:  

• “Ability to review notes, save/import previous notes for easy tracking.”  

About one-third of hospitals value comprehensive record-keeping:  

• “Very helpful when charting patient’s information and when viewing report”  

Con

Nearly 15% of users report system reliability issues:  

• “My least favorite thing about Meditech was how long the ‘downtimes’ took, and having to do papercharts.”  

athenaOne – Pros And Cons  

Pros

Roughly 30% of practices appreciate robust clinical recordkeeping across meds and pharmacies:  

• “keeps good log of patients, medications, pharmacy.”  

Two in five teams also describe broad, all-in-one clinical/administrative coverage that supports day-to-day operations:  

• “AthenaOne is a highly convenient medical records platform that facilitates tracking patient information, … diagnostic and procedural coding, as well as insurance billing and claims.”  

Con 

About 20% of users report service interruptions that impact workflow:

• “The frequent and unpredictable downtimes (including on Monday afternoons during rush hour)…”  

NextGen Healthcare – Pros And Cons  

Pros

Almost 35% of clinics call out specialty-friendly templates that speed charting:  

• “We have customized templates which help our providers streamline their workflow.”  

Approximately one out of four users praise its operational features that reduce admin work :

• “Faxing directly from the EMR, inbox is great.”  

Con

Nearly 25% of reviewers mention that revenue tasks can take extra steps for some teams:  

• “Reversing and/or correcting payments and claims can be unwieldy.” 

We analyzed over 2,000 user reviews and gathered direct insights from healthcare providers to identify the key benefits of EMR software. Below is a list of the primary advantages healthcare practices experience with EMR adoption: 

The cost of EMR software depends on various factors, including the size of your healthcare organization, deployment type (cloud-based vs. on-premises), and required features. In addition to the base software price, practices should also budget for setup, training, and ongoing maintenance costs. Pricing also varies based on the chosen model, whether it's subscription-based, a one-time license, or pay-per-visit. 

Based on our research, small healthcare facilities can expect an upfront cost of $1,500 to $5,000, plus a monthly fee of $200 to $700 per provider for a cloud-based system. For a detailed breakdown of EMR pricing models and cost considerations, explore our comprehensive guide on EMR costs in 2025. 

EMR/EHR software market is rapidly developing, its evolution is caused by regulations, patient-centered models, and the uptake of new technologies. As of 2024, the EMR market is estimated to reach $12.87 billion in the U.S and is expected to keep growing through 2030, although some estimates indicate that it may continue to grow to $27.15 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 11.48%.

This growth is centered around artificial intelligence (AI). According to a 2024 survey, more than 70% of U.S. healthcare leaders are implementing or piloting AI in EMRs to accelerate documentation, improve decision support, and customize care to patients.

Another important trend is integration of telehealth. The U.S. telemedicine market ($35.75 billion in 2024) is projected to exceed $160 billion in 2034. This makes the need for EMRs aimed at virtual visits and remote monitoring crucial.

All these drivers collectively indicate an EMR future in the form of AI-enhanced workflows, interoperability, and scalability. This is to address the changing clinical and patient expectations.

What Real Users Have To Say About EMR Software

EMR/EHR systems are often lauded by users as being convenient and effective. Their feedback includes the fact that new clinicians learn faster and charting as well as patient records are simpler to navigate. Moreover, existing users have stated that customer support helps optimize onboarding.

On the other hand, recurring issues revolve around redundancies in documentation, data entry, or tedious setup. Slow responses in some features and problems with some modules like insurance inputs and reporting causes issues for users. 

Here are some key factors to ensure the medical EMR software you choose aligns with the unique needs of your practice: