Managing the complexities of healthcare operations requires a balance between patient care and administrative efficiency. From scheduling appointments to maintaining accurate billing and ensuring compliance with ever-changing regulations, healthcare providers must juggle numerous tasks. This is where EHR and EMR systems play a vital role.
athenahealth and Allscripts (now Veradigm) are prominent contenders in this space, each offering distinctive benefits. athenahealth is known for its cloud-based solutions that streamline administrative tasks and improve patient outcomes, while Allscripts focuses on improving clinical workflows and fostering better patient engagement.
In this comparison, we’ll delve into the features, pricing, and user experiences of athenahealth and Allscripts, guiding you toward the best option for your practice's needs and goals.
Head-On Comparison
athenahealth is an all-in-one healthcare solution designed to enhance clinical and operational efficiency for independent and small practices. Its standout features include specialty-specific workflows, athenaPatient app, and a proven track record of increasing collections by 2-6% for practices that switch to their system.
The platform is particularly beneficial for independent clinicians seeking to reduce overhead costs and alleviate staff burnout, thereby allowing them to focus more on patient care.
On the other hand, Allscripts EMR offers a suite of healthcare technology solutions aimed at empowering providers to optimize both clinical and financial performance. This includes advanced analytics and quality solutions that cater not only to healthcare providers but also to life science companies and health plans.
Allscripts emphasizes collaboration within a dynamic community, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver insights that enhance patient access and improve care quality. Their solutions are designed to unlock critical data-driven insights that can transform healthcare delivery across various stakeholders.
athenahealth And Allscripts: At A Glance
Features
athenahealth
Allscripts
AI Capabilities
Automated insurance selection for reduced manual work
Document summarization allowing quick access to information
Predictive schedular that forecasts patient visits
Revenue Cycle Management
Alerts for eligibility issues
Routine AR task automation
Coding assistance by professionals
Revenue cycle analytics for better insights
Telehealth
Integrated billing for televisits
Group conferencing
High-quality video and audio
Documentation within the EHR
Patient Engagement Tools
Mobile patient app
Patient portal
Proactive patient outreach
FollowMyHealth app
Interoperability
800 API endpoints
Supports HL7 and C-CDA standards
dbMotion™ Solution
Support
Offers phone, web, email, and chat support, plus a customer success manager
Offers 24/7 live chat, online resources, FAQS and support via phone, form submission and email
Security and Compliance
HIPAA, HITECH/ARRA, ACA compliant
ONC-certified and HIPAA-compliant
Comparing Strengths And Weaknesses
PROS
PROS
Easy INR management
Effective use of screening tools
Responsive customer support
Simple charting, insurance scans, and patient registration
Smooth and clearly communicated software updates
Automates scheduling
Prints problem and medication lists easily
Editing patient data is easy
Generation of macros template is simple
Users appreciate its e-prescribe feature
CONS
CONS
The terminology is a bit dated
Medication lists can be improved
The phone app may need improvement
Users seek more customization flexibility
Side By Side Features Comparison
AI Capabilities
athenahealth's automated insurance selection, powered by optical character recognition and machine learning, minimizes manual data entry. Additionally, athenahealth’s AI-driven document summarization helps providers quickly access relevant patient information, across millions of clinical records.
On the other hand, Allscripts incorporates AI primarily to enhance scheduling efficiency. Its Predictive Scheduler uses analytics and artificial intelligence to forecast patient demand, ensuring high-priority patients receive timely appointments. This system adjusts schedules seamlessly, optimizing patient visits without disrupting pre-existing appointments.
Winner: athenahealth edges out as the winner due to its broader AI capabilities that offer all-rounded support across different aspects of healthcare.
Revenue Cycle Management
athenahealth offers a comprehensive suite of tools that streamline billing processes and improve collections. Key features include a revenue cycle dashboard that provides real-time visibility into financial performance, automated alerts for patient eligibility issues, and a strong billing rules engine that identifies errors before claim submission.
In contrast, Allscripts emphasizes a holistic approach to revenue cycle management, combining technology with expert support. With 30+ years of experience, Allscripts offers scalable, flexible RCM solutions, including real-time Revenue Cycle Analytics for better decision-making and effective denial management, along with coding expert assistance
Winner: It's a tie as both athenahealth and Allscripts are equally strong contenders in revenue cycle management.
Telehealth
athenaTelehealth allows practitioners to conduct telehealth visits without additional software or platforms. Key elements include customizable video conferencing that allows up to four participants, integrated billing features that initiate tailored coding workflows for telehealth sessions, and automated patient outreach through commonly used email and text channels.
Allscripts has also made significant strides in integrating telehealth with its EHR system to enhance care delivery. Partnering with American Well, the platform enables seamless virtual visits, allowing providers to access comprehensive patient data during consultations for improved decision-making and continuity of care.
Winner: athenahealth takes the lead here with its athenaTelehealth platform as it offers an extensive range of functionalities.
Patient Engagement Tools
athenahealth empowers patients with digital access to their health information through a user-friendly mobile app and an award-winning Patient Portal. This allows patients to securely communicate with their care teams, schedule appointments, and manage their medical bills digitally. Features like self-scheduling and self-check-in reduce no-shows and minimize staff workload.
On the other hand, Veradigm's FollowMyHealth platform takes a mobile-first approach to patient engagement. It offers patients a unified view of their health data. FollowMyHealth enables features such as appointment self-scheduling, electronic check-in, and real-time video consultations, making it easier for patients to engage in their care journey.
Winner: It's a tie between athenahealth and Veradigm. Both platforms offer an extensive app and well-rounded patient engagement tools.
Integrations
athenahealth boosts interoperability with over 800 API endpoints for seamless third-party app integration, supporting HL7 and C-CDA standards for real-time data exchange. With partnerships like CommonWell and Carequality, athenahealth connects over 84,000 care sites.
Allscripts enhances interoperability with its dbMotion™ Solution, which integrates effectively with various EHRs across different vendors. The platform processes over 14 million unique patient transactions monthly, with data transmitted from more than 1,000 hospitals.
Winner: It's a tie, with athenahealth offering extensive API integration and Allscripts excelling in cross-vendor EHR compatibility and high transaction volume.
Pricing Plans For athenahealth And Allscripts
Pricing is a crucial consideration when choosing an EMR/EHR system, particularly for practices aiming to balance cost with functionality. Both athenahealth and Allscripts offer customized pricing models that allow practices to select solutions tailored to their specific operational and budgetary needs.
Both pricing models adjust according to the size and requirements of the practice. They can vary depending on factors such as the number of providers, features selected, and the level of support needed. This flexible approach allows practices to scale their services without unnecessary expenses.
What Users Have To Say?
Users generally appreciate athenahealth for its intuitive interface and comprehensive functionality. Many highlight its ease of use, noting improvements in patient care and revenue collection. The mobile app's convenience and wealth of patient information are frequently praised. However, some users feel that the reporting capabilities could be more user-friendly, and a few mention challenges with customer support and the onboarding process.
Allscripts is praised for its strong analytics and integration features, which improve clinical workflows and data sharing. This capability helps improve patient outcomes. While some users note a learning curve and occasional slow response times from customer support, Allscripts is valued for its potential to boost efficiency and streamline healthcare delivery.
The Bottom Line: Which System Suits Your Needs Best?
Both athenahealth and Allscripts stand out as powerful EMR and EHR solutions, each with unique strengths.
athenahealth excels in its cloud-based features and solid patient engagement tools, while Allscripts focuses on interoperability and detailed analytics.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on the specific needs and goals of your practice. If you need help deciding which software to invest in for your practice, contact us at Software Finder for personalized guidance.
