Find the Best Orthopedics EMR

Orthopedic practices are under constant pressure to manage lengthy documentation, coordination between surgical, diagnostic, and rehabilitative phases, and claims complexity. Many clinics find themselves stuck in workflows that fracture data across systems or require repeated manual entry, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and staff burnout.

This highlights the need for Orthopedic electronic medical records (EMR) software that goes beyond basic record-keeping and care coordination, transforming disconnected tasks into a seamless, unified patient care experience.

We have consolidated a list of the best Orthopedics EMR systems along with top benefits, key features, and user reviews to help you pick the right platform for your practice.

An Orthopedic EMR is a digital platform tailored for orthopedic specialists who handle high imaging volumes, complex procedures, and longitudinal patient recovery. It integrates advanced imaging management, adaptive documentation, implant and device tracking, and real-time analytics into a unified system.

Modern Orthopedics EHR solutions feature specialty-specific templates for joint, spine, and fracture cases, PACS connectivity, and outcome measurement tools. These capabilities ensure that data from diagnosis to rehabilitation stays consistent, secure, and actionable, empowering Orthopedic teams to make faster, evidence-based decisions.

An Orthopedic EMR is more than a digital charting tool, it serves as the backbone of your clinical workflow, minimizing operational friction and enhancing coordination across every stage of care. Below are the key features to consider when choosing Orthopedics electronic medical record (EMR) software.

Imaging And PACS Integration

An Orthopedics EMR system integrates seamlessly with Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and DICOM to embed diagnostic imaging directly within patient records. Clinicians can view, annotate, and compare X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans side by side using built-in measurement and overlay tools. This integration removes the need to switch between platforms, enabling faster, more precise diagnoses and surgical planning.

Surgical Workflow And Implant Management

These EHR platforms support end-to-end surgical workflows including Operating Room (OR) scheduling, resource allocation, and implant catalog tracking streamlining Orthopedics surgical workflows. It also helps to log information regarding implant usage to specific patients and procedures, keeping audit trails for revisions or recalls. Preference cards and intra/post-op note templates further enhance surgical precision and care coordination.

Specialty-Specific Templates

Orthopedic EMR systems include structured templates designed specifically for musculoskeletal care. Modern orthopedic EHRs also feature AI-assisted scribing, enabling clinicians to document with speed and precision. Some EHR platforms also allow care providers to save routine sets of diagnoses, treatment orders, and codes as reusable ‘Protocols’. These specialty templates are typically no-code, with customizable layouts and fields that simplify patient record access.

Billing, Coding, And Claims

These platforms offer embedded coding intelligence, automatically suggesting CPT/ICD codes, modifiers, and validating code combinations against conflict rules. They also simplify complex claim workflows such as workers’ compensation and personal injury, generate required legal reports, and interface natively with billing systems to reduce denials and accelerate reimbursement.

Patient Portal And Telehealth

Patient portals in Orthopedics EHR systems let patients securely view imaging, surgical summaries, and rehab plans, update their medical history, and communicate with their care team—without needing an office visit. They can self-schedule video or in-person follow-ups, get automated reminders, view statements, and pay bills. Meanwhile, the system ensures that telehealth visit types are coded correctly for reimbursement.

Our Methodology For Evaluating Pros And Cons 

The pros and cons for each orthopedic EHR or EMR vendor listed below were based on real user input and a structured evaluation process. We focused exclusively on feedback from orthopedic practices and care settings. 

1. Sourcing Feedback: We aggregated user reviews from orthopedic and musculoskeletal care providers and limited the dataset to these specialist users to maintain relevance 
2. Thematic Tagging: All collected feedback was methodically tagged based on how it aligns with vendors’ feature sets and pain points in orthopedic workflows 
3. Pattern Frequency Assessment: Recurring themes were highlighted to reflect consistent patterns across users 
4. Result Compilation: The analyzed results were organized into a structured set of pros and cons for each vendor. This provided a clear, practice-focused reference that providers can use when evaluating new software options 

ModMed – Pros And Cons

Pros:

37% of reviewers highlight intuitive navigation and ease of use in clinical workflows, stating:

• ‘We find ModMed's ease of use refreshing, enabling smooth navigation and effortless chart updates.’

Around 20% of ModMed’s users praised its embedded coding and billing support and specialty integration:

• ‘Specialty-specific EMR built that is easy to use and intuitive. Assists with proper ICD-10 coding and use of modifiers.’

Con:

A few users, around 7%, note limitations in language support, as highlighted by a user:

• ‘There are not many downsides to Mod Med. One thing we do wish it had would be spanish language due to our patient population.’

ChartLogic – Pros And Cons

Pros:

25% of users emphasize fast charting via voice dictation or macros. One user state:

• ‘Having used ChartLogic in the past, I found its EHR suite to be incredibly efficient, especially the charting process, which consistently took under 90 seconds.’

Around 26% of physicians and practices praise its customizable templates and flexibility in documentation

• ‘Provide highly customizable templates that can be tailored to the unique needs of medical practices, aiding in efficient documentation and workflow.’

Con:

Some users, around 6%, report slow updates or delayed syncing of data, especially after server-side changes. One physician state;

• ‘Some features and information take a while to update on the server side.’

PrognoCIS– Pros And Cons

Pros:

Many users praise workflow and reporting automation, saying the system “increased productivity and reduced error rates”, whereas customizability is another commonly cited plus

• “Our workflow is very different than typical clinics. Our workflows and reporting is dictated by state and federal regulations in which the engineers have taken time to understand and assist us with automated processes that have increased productivity and reduced error rates.”

15% of reviewers praised their documentation pathways, claiming it to be its top strength

Despite other EMR's that claim that they "...think like a doctor..." they actually do not. They all start with Chief Complain, which is a standard documentation pathway, exactly how the Computer Scientist would think. Most doctors, however document the chart while already having Differential Diagnosis partially materialized in their minds.’

Con:

Some users mention limitations in support responsiveness or handling of complex template changes, using phrases like ‘delayed turnaround’ or ‘difficulty getting customizations processed’

• ‘Sometimes, tech support was unable to accommodate our requests …’

NextGen – Pros And Cons

Pros:

27% of users praise NextGen’s customizable templates and workflow flexibility. As one review notes:  

• ‘NextGen allows for multiple customizations. We have customized templates which help our providers streamline their workflow.’

Around 39% of providers highlight the platform’s user-friendly documentation a big driving force behind using NextGen for their practice

Con:

• ‘The program is easy to use, intuitive and very fast to document a patient encounter. Their new Ambient Assist AI scribe makes documentation a no brainer.’

Approximately 4% of users mention excessive clicking or navigation friction as a usability inconvenience at times. One comment state:

• “We don’t like the number of clicks it takes on various screens (i.e. medications). The nurses don’t like that you can only be in one patient chart at a time.”

athenaOne – Pros And Cons

Pros:

Many users highlight athenaOne’s integrated workflow and efficiency, appreciating that clinical, billing, and scheduling tools are unified within one interface.

• “AthenaOne is powerful and can seriously streamline your practice if you want one system for everything. It’s especially good for keeping billing on track and staying connected with patients.”

Roughly 20% of reviewers praised the platform’s reporting and analytics tools, calling them flexible and useful for tracking performance metrics

• “Providers can access patient records from anywhere, enhancing flexibility. User-Friendly Interface. Regular system improvements and updates keep up with evolving industry standards.”

Con:

About one-fourth of users highlighted slow customer support response at times:

• ‘AthenaOnes help desk can be a little slow getting back to you.’

eClinicalWorks – Pros And Cons

Pros:

A notable proportion of users report that eClinicalWorks succeeds in consolidating multiple functions in a unified system, making collaboration a breeze

• ‘Among the features that really stand out is how electronic health records (EHR) are integrated with scheduling, billing, and clinical documentation.’

17% of users mentioned smooth implementation and helpful customer support:

• ‘I have used ecw since 2008, and i would recommend to anyone. implementation was streamlined. the customer support is always helpful’

Cons:

A few users – around 9% requested for a refresh in user interface (UI) for better navigation

• ‘It is clunky and difficult to navigate. Outdated for the times.’

Here are some of the key benefits of using the best ophthalmology EHR systems:

• Proactive Risk Management: Advanced Orthopedic EHR platforms use built-in analytics and clinical decision support (CDS) to flag high-risk patients or post-op complications early. They can issue automated alerts (e.g. for infection risk, implant issues, abnormal labs) so care teams intervene sooner and improve outcomes
• Patient Engagement And Retention: With the patient portal, Orthopedic patients can securely access imaging, surgical reports, and rehab plans, update health details, and message clinicians—all without stepping into the clinic. That ease of access correlates with reduced no-show rates: studies report about 6.8% for portal user's vs 9.3% for non-users
• Accurate Documentation: With structured templates, integrated SOAP notes, and built-in ICD/CPT coding, Orthopedics EHR system improves documentation accuracy and consistency. AI-assisted scribing further reduces information lag, ensuring every patient encounter is captured  
• Enhanced Patient Care: Orthopedics EHR/EMR systems give clinicians instant access to full patient histories, imaging, and treatment plans, right inside the chart. Embedded DICOM viewers with orthopedic measurement tools allow side-by-side image comparisons and precision assessment, reducing guesswork  
• Universal Data Access Across Sites: Cloud-based Orthopedic EHR platform allows surgeons and clinical staff to retrieve patient histories, imaging, and care plans from any location. This flexibility is especially beneficial for multi-site practices, surgical teams needing real-time access on the go, and clinicians preparing for visits outside the clinic 

Selecting the best Orthopedic EMR for your practice isn’t about checking generic boxes. The right system needs to align with your workflows, scales with new tech, and adapt to evolving regulations.

These considerations can guide you toward choosing a system that truly supports your Orthopedic practice goals.

• Internal Coordination: Choose an EMR that enables surgeons, nurses, and rehabilitation staff to collaborate seamlessly. Look for features like shared notes, role-based task assignments, and real-time messaging to ensure smooth information flow between clinic and OR teams. Strong internal coordination reduces miscommunication and enhances patient outcomes
• Specialty-Aware Support: Orthopedic care demands precision. Partner with a vendor whose support team understands musculoskeletal workflows—imaging integration, surgical templates, implant management, and documentation standards. Knowledgeable, responsive assistance often matters more than generic 24/7 availability
• Security: The EMR you choose must uphold medical-grade data security, including encryption, access controls, and audit trails. Confirm that it complies with HIPAA, ONC, and other regulatory frameworks. Reputable orthopedic EMR vendors also publish third-party security audits or compliance certifications to demonstrate transparency
• Diagnostic And Lab Integration: Orthopedic practices rely heavily on imaging and diagnostic data. Prioritize EMR systems that integrate with PACS/DICOM systems, allowing clinicians to view and annotate images directly within the patient chart. Additionally, HL7 or FHIR-enabled lab connectivity ensures test orders and results to sync automatically, minimizing manual entry

Orthopedics EMR software typically costs more than standard EMR systems due to its specialized feature-set. These advanced tools include advanced imaging integrations, orthopedic-specific templates, and tools for managing musculoskeletal assessments. Additional factors affecting final Orthopedics EMR Software Cost are the size of the practice, deployment method (cloud-based or on-premises), implementation type, customization level, and data migration needs.

Many orthopedic EHR/EMR systems use subscription pricing billed per provider, per month. Recent market reviews show cloud-based orthopedic EHRs ranging from $299/provider/month to $699/provider/month, depending on practice size and feature depth. Smaller clinics may see pricing closer to $300/provider/month, while enterprise groups with advanced imaging, surgical planning, and rehabilitation coordination features fall toward the $650 to $1,000/provider/month range.

TEFCA exchanges began launching in late 2023, and December 2024 ONC rules expanded FHIR requirements and interoperability mandates. Orthopedic systems are increasingly expected to be “TEFCA-ready.” Systems lacking robust data exchange capabilities risk falling behind.

The AJRR 2024 report highlights over 3.7 million verified hip and knee arthroplasty procedures in its dataset, with expansions into procedure-level outcomes such as Debridement, Antibiotics, Implant Retention (DAIR). In EHR systems, automated extraction of implant data has already achieved 80%–95% accuracy in hip replacement cohorts, validating the potential for EHR-based registries.

Advanced image processing and AI segmentation methods are emerging. For example, one recent model achieved real-time fluoroscopy segmentation at 20 fps with a mean average precision of ~88.8%, a signpost of what’s possible for implant planning and intraoperative support. The integration of machine learning in orthopedic planning, kinematic modeling, and surgical simulation is accelerating.

As these shifts continue, it becomes even more important to understand how orthopedic practices experience today’s leading systems, from daily workflows to support quality.