What Is athenahealth?
athenahealth EMR is an electronic health record (EHR) software designed for small to mid-sized healthcare organizations. As a cloud-based system, it allows healthcare providers to manage patient records, schedule appointments, order and track lab tests, and communicate with other clinical stakeholders involved in the care process.
athenahealth EMR prioritizes user experience through intuitive workflows, specialty-specific features, and real-time patient insights. In 2024, athenahealth was crowned ‘#1 Best in KLAS’ for athenaClinicals (Ambulatory EHR) and athenaCollector (practice management).
Recently, athenahealth has also collaborated with the American Council of the Blind to enhance digital accessibility for patients. Additionally, they launched a new suite of tailored specialty solutions, including offerings for OBGYN and Urgent Care. These updates demonstrate athenahealth’s commitment to improving healthcare experiences and providing specialized solutions.
What Is athenahealth Best For?
athenahealth EMR software is best known for its cloud-based architecture and integrated platform, which includes features for managing patient records, scheduling appointments, managing billing and revenue, and coordinating care with other members of the healthcare team.
The EMR software surfaces real-time data and insights from a network of 135K clinicians, which means medical practitioners can access more comprehensive information during encounters. The network also enables seamless patient record sharing through the company’s connections with Carequality and CommonWell–national-level frameworks for health data sharing.
In addition to its EMR software, athenahealth (the company) offers a range of other services, such as revenue cycle management, patient engagement, and population health management.
How Much Does athenahealth Cost?
The starting price for athenahealth EMR is $140 per provider a month. Additional costs for the software includes:
- Data migration: $500 to $10,000, depending on the number of patient records.
- Staff training: $500 to $5,000, depending on the number of sessions.
- Order transmission services: $150 per month plus $0.45 to $1.00 per order.
- Billing services: 4% to 7% of total practice revenue
athenahealth cost is based on the specialty, number of users, and the various modules selected.
Contact us for a personalized athena cost breakdown that best suits your business needs today!
How Does athenahealth Work?
athena EMR can be accessed through a web browser or mobile app. All its data is stored in the cloud, meaning it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
To use Athena EMR software, healthcare providers need to create a user account and log in to the vendor’s system. Once in, they can access a range of features and tools designed to help them manage patient records, schedule appointments, oversee billing and revenue, and coordinate care with other members of the healthcare team.
In addition, athenaEMR offers users the ability to access its mobile app solution, athenaOne. This app helps integrate electronic health records (EHR), medical billing tools, revenue cycle management (RCM), and medical practice management.
Furthermore, the athenaOne app enables physicians to document encounters on the go, utilizing customized macros, templates, and order sets, thus streamlining documentation and supporting meaningful clinical work from mobile devices.
Who Is athenahealth For?
athenahealth software is designed to support a wide range of medical specialties and can be used by healthcare providers in various settings, including primary care, specialty care, and hospital-based care. It can also be used by healthcare organizations of different sizes, from small practices to large hospitals.
Here are the practices it serves:
- Independent medical practices
- Hospitals and health systems
- Medical startups
- Member-centric organizations
- Ancillary Service organizations
- Internal and family medicine settings
The software, in addition to being a great all-purpose EMR, is particularly suited for these specialties:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- FQHC
- Ob-Gyn
- Urgent Care
- Orthopedics
- Gastroenterology
- Behavioral Health
How Is athenahealth Different From Other Software?
With a range of EMR software available on the market, it can be difficult to select which is the best fit for you and your team. Here are some ways in which athenahealth differs from other popular EMR software:
- Cloud-based EMR: athenahealth is a cloud-based system, which means that all data is stored in the cloud and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. This is in contrast to on-premises EMR systems, which require users to install and maintain the application on their own servers.
- Integrated platform: athenahealth EMR includes a range of features and tools that are designed to work seamlessly together, including patient records, scheduling, billing, and care coordination. This integrated approach can make it easier for users to manage all aspects of patient care within a single platform.
- Customization options: athena EMR allows users to customize certain aspects of the system, such as the layout and appearance of patient records. This can be helpful for users who want to tailor the system to meet the specific needs of their practice.
- Customer support and training: athenahealth provides support and training to help users get the most out of its platform. This can be especially helpful for users who are new to EMR software.
Is athenahealth Right For You?
athena EMR is widely used by various medical professionals, organizations, and practices. Serving medical professionals in the US for over 20 years, the platform is suitable for healthcare organizations of any size and specialty.
Many users have recommended athenahealth for its ease of use and reporting functionality, making its deployment equally beneficial for both medical offices and patients. In addition, many have found running reports on athenahealth EMR to be relatively straightforward, with each one tailored to a specific practitioner.
Furthermore, athenahealth’s comprehensive approach extends beyond clinical care, addressing financial efficiency and revenue management. For practices seeking streamlined billing processes and revenue optimization, athenahealth remains a strong contender.
Moreover, athenahealth EMR prioritizes compliance by automatically updating its system to meet changing regulations. Additionally, the platform offers ongoing support and enhancements to ensure healthcare providers stay aligned with industry standards.
However, some users have noted the price of athenahealth EMR as being a bit too high for its features, particularly for smaller practices that may not have the resources to invest in a comprehensive EMR system.