Epic Vs. Allscripts: EMR/EHR Showdown For Healthcare Providers

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Balancing the demands of modern healthcare with the operational side of running a practice has become increasingly challenging. From managing patient interactions to handling billing and ensuring regulatory compliance, healthcare providers face a growing list of responsibilities. This is where electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR) software come in. 

Epic and Allscripts (now Veradigm) are key players in this space, each offering unique advantages. Large healthcare organizations trust Epic’s comprehensive systems, while Allscripts specializes in improving clinical workflows and patient engagement through its tailored solutions. 

In this comparison, we’ll explore the features, pricing models, and user experiences of Epic and Allscripts, helping you determine which platform best aligns with your practice's needs and long-term goals. 

A Head-On Comparison

Epic EMR is a leading healthcare software solution known for its extensive functionality and ability to cater to large healthcare organizations. Its comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system offers advanced clinical decision support, billing management, and patient scheduling, making it a strong platform for hospitals, labs, and clinics. 

What sets Epic apart is its ability to unify various healthcare contexts under one platform, providing a fluid experience across different departments.

Allscripts EMR, now branded as Veradigm, is another prominent healthcare software designed to boost clinical efficiency for small to medium-sized practices. It offers essential features like AI-powered appointment scheduling, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement tools with user experience at its core. 

What sets Allscripts apart is its practical, cloud-based interface, which allows healthcare providers to quickly adapt without extensive training, making it a convenient choice. 

Epic And Allscripts: At A Glance

Feature 

Epic 

Allscripts 

Patient Engagement 

  • Digital front door allows patients to connect with scheduling, payments, and shopper estimates
  • CRM for healthcare 
  • Communication for patient outreach 
  • Check-ins with mobile 

AI Capabilities 

  • AI assistant 
  • Draft notes and messages with AI 
  • Predictive scheduler 

Telehealth 

  • In-home primary care with EpicCare 
  • Remote patient monitoring 
  • High-definition video and audio 

Compliance 

  • Compliant with HIPAA 
  • ONC regulations apply 
  • ONC-certified 
  • HIPAA compliant 

Patient Portal 

  • Epic’s MyChart allows patients to view lab results, histories, medications and more 
  • Patients can access personal health records 
  • Specialized tools for communication

E-Prescriptions 

  • Send authorization requests digitally 
  • Integrate with state PDMPs 
  • Order prescription refills with FollowMyHealth 

Revenue Cycle Management 

  • Referral management and authorization 
  • Electronic verification of insurance and coverage 
  • Coding experts to speed up execution 
  • In-built patient eligibility checks 

Specialty Management 

  • Supports multiple types of healthcare specialties like dental, orthopedics, urology, oncology etc. 
  • Serves numerous specialties, including cardiology, psychiatry, endocrinology, ENT, gynecology, etc. 

Comparing Strengths And Weaknesses

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PROSPROS
  • Reduces documentation time with Dot phrases
  • Enables easier cross-system communication due to widespread adoption
  • Connects to medical devices for smooth data integration
  • Reduces billing and coding errors
  • Offers great customer support
  • Frequent updates keep the software running smoothly
  • Manual errors are reduced by workflow automation
  • Employee communication is improved
  • Provides specialized insights about patient demographics
  • Offers ease of use for patients and practitioners alike
CONSCONS
  • Changing orders requires canceling and re-entering them
  • Some desktop features are missing on the mobile app
  • Multiple users can't access the same patient note simultaneously
  • Users report concerns about customer support

Side By Side Features Comparison

EHR And Patient Management

Epic: Provides an EHR solution that connects various healthcare facilities on a global scale, enabling interoperability across systems. It excels in acute care and large hospital environments. Additionally, it offers patient monitoring, record management, and AI-driven data analytics.

Allscripts also offers a comprehensive EHR, but it gravitates more towards smaller to mid-sized practices, with a strong emphasis on usability. It allows clinical intake and assessments, diagnosis and treatment care plans, and patient follow-up communication.

Winner: It's a tie here since Epic offers more maneuvering space between large-scale healthcare systems, while Allscripts wins points for ease of use in smaller settings.

Telehealth And Virtual Care

Epic integrates telehealth within its system, allowing practitioners to monitor patients remotely, manage medications, and obtain patient histories during patient visits. Its virtual care options are deeply incorporated into the system, enabling continuity across patient care, whether virtual or in person.

Allscripts also offers telehealth functionality. Care providers can manage high-definition video consultations, follow-ups, and documentation, but its telehealth features may be somewhat limited when compared to Epic’s all-encompassing approach.

Winner: Epic wins in this category because it offers a fully integrated telehealth experience.

Scheduling

Epic includes strong scheduling tools like its Digital Front Door that puts scheduling in the hands of the consumer. Additionally, the software will soon allow patients to pick appointment times with the help of AI chatbots.

Allscripts also provides top-notch scheduling tools. A standout feature is its Predictive Scheduler that leverages AI technology to automate scheduling and utilizes predictive analytics to foresee patient demand.

Winner: Allscripts comes out on top in this category, as it offers a scheduling feature that is more mature and fleshed out.

Interoperability

Epic is widely known for its leadership in interoperability. Its system allows different healthcare providers across the globe to connect and share patient data through a unified network. This boosts collaboration and improves care coordination across facilities and government partners.

Allscripts supports interoperability as well with its Allscripts dbMotionTM Solution. It integrates with a variety of EHRs regardless of vendor. The platform states that it receives over 14 million unique patient transactions every month and 1000+ hospitals transmit data through it.

Winner: Epic wins but only by a small margin due to its widespread usage on a global scale.

Revenue Cycle Management

Epic offers sophisticated revenue cycle management tools that improve transparency, increase collections, offer professional estimates, and verify insurance coverage in its consolidated platform. These functionalities allow for extensive management of the financial side of healthcare operations.

Allscripts also provides revenue cycle management with a suite of solutions that include coding, registration, eligibility checks, denial management and advanced analytics. A standout attribute about Allscripts is the inclusion of coding experts that help smoothen out any bumps in the coding cycle.

Winner: It's a tie in this category, as both Epic and Allscripts offer exceptional features.

Pricing Plans For Epic And Allscripts

Pricing is an important factor when selecting an EMR or EHR system, especially for practices that need to balance functionality with budget considerations. Both Epic and Allscripts offer customized pricing models, allowing practices to tailor solutions according to their specific operational and financial needs. 

Epic Pricing Breakdown 

Epic operates on a custom pricing model, which is fashioned to the size and requirements of the healthcare organization. Costs can vary based on factors such as the number of users, features required, and the complexity of the implementation. This flexibility makes sure that larger practices or healthcare systems can scale accordingly. 

Allscripts Pricing Breakdown 

Allscripts also uses a customized pricing structure, offering rates based on the unique demands of each practice. The costs will depend on the selected services and features, making it a versatile option for practices of varying sizes. This pricing model allows healthcare providers to choose only the tools that best suit their workflow and budget. 

Comparing The Two 

Both Epic and Allscripts offer pliable, custom pricing models, allowing healthcare practices to adapt the software to their specific needs. While neither platform provides fixed pricing, this approach enables them to accommodate a wide range of practice sizes and operational requirements. 

What Users Have To Say About The Software

Epic has garnered a reputation for being an all-in-one system that excels in functionality and integration across large healthcare organizations. Users frequently highlight its ability to connect across various healthcare systems. Many reviewers highly appreciate its features like billing and coding, medicine reconciliation, and appointment scheduling. Allscripts, in contrast, is often lauded for its user-friendly interface and straightforward functionality, making it particularly appealing to smaller practices. Users appreciate how easy it is to track patient progress and templates. Additionally, the platform’s responsiveness to feedback is also commendable. Both platforms shine in their own way, Epic for its advanced capabilities in large healthcare settings, and Allscripts for its simplicity and adaptability for smaller practices. 

The Final Word: Epic Or Allscripts?

Deciding between Epic and Allscripts ultimately depends on your practice’s size, needs, and long-term goals. Whether you’re managing a large hospital network or a small to mid-sized clinic, both platforms offer powerful tools to improve patient care, ease workflow, and boost operational efficiency. 

If you're still unsure which platform is best for your healthcare practice, contact Software Finder for a one-on-one consultation to help you make the right choice!