 |  |
| Monthly Price: Custom | Monthly Price: $149/month |
| Best for: Ambulatory Care, Pediatrics | Best for: Behavioral Health, Urgent Care |
| Mobile App: iOS, Android | Mobile App: iOS, Android |
| Rating: 4.0 | Rating: 3.7 |
For healthcare practices, an effective EHR system isn’t just a tool. It is the backbone that supports daily operations, patient engagement, and data-driven decision-making.
Two leading choices, athenahealth and Practice Fusion, are frequently appreciated for their specialized functionalities and support for various medical specialties and sizes. Both these healthcare systems offer several benefits in their own ways. For instance, athenahealth has strong networking capabilities, whereas Practice Fusion is easy to use and adapt to.
This athenahealth vs. Practice Fusion blog will analyze and compare their features, usability, and pricing plans to help you find the best solution for your clinic.
athenahealth is a cloud-based EHR software that offers various features to overcome several healthcare challenges for different medical specialties, including ambulatory care and pediatrics. It offers several integrated capabilities, including medical billing, scheduling, and revenue cycle management, all in a single platform. Moreover, it also offers several patient engagement tools to enhance collaboration and patient satisfaction.
Practice Fusion EHR is another popular cloud-based healthcare system that is specifically designed for ambulatory and primary care specialties. It helps medical clinics overcome administrative and clinical workflows by automating tasks and providing several features, including charting, e-prescription, and integrations.
Feature | athenahealth | Practice Fusion |
Mobile Access | ‘athenaPatient' mobile app to access on-the-go patient data management along with ‘athenaCapture’ app to upload images to ‘athenaONE’ using iOS or Android phones | Accessible anywhere via iPad and/or Android tablet on several browsers, including Google Chrome on Android or Mobile Safari for iOS |
Cloud Access | Cloud-based EHR services | Cloud-based EHR solution |
Integrations | 800+ API endpoints along with its own athenahealth marketplace to connect with several third-party applications | Several integrating options to exchange data with 98000+ pharmacies, 500+ labs, imaging centers, and other tools, along with several billing partners, including Tebra and CollaborateMD |
Compliance | HIPAA-compliant and Common Security Framework (CSF) certified from HITRUST to ensure data security and confidentiality | Meets all HHS certifications and HIPPA compliance regulations to ensure privacy and security |
Medical Billing | Includes several billing solutions like automating routine account receivable (AR) tasks, accurate claims submission, and medical coding | Consists of various medical billing tools, including automatic eligibility checks, superbills, ICD-10 certified claim submission |
Scheduling | Enables online self-appointment scheduling through athenaOne' that can be booked via API along with Digital check-in to verify patient’s information | Offers a personalized patient scheduler with several options, including appointment reminders, online scheduling, and paperless patient intake forms |
Telehealth | HIPAA-compliant telehealth consultations, with several features, including appointment scheduling, integrated camera, and billing, via athenaOne | Connects patients with medical professionals via several telehealth tools, such as HIPAA-compliant direct messaging, automated appointment reminders, and online check-ins |
Document Management | Create and modify several types of documents via API, including lab and diagnostic results and administrative/clinical documents | Provides integrated scanning and bulk download documents along with drag-and-drop tools and enables users to upload 20 documents simultaneously |
Reporting | Automates analytics and reporting processes to enhance financial performance | Different types of reports, including quality, clinical, running, and practice management reports, along with several tools to organize patient information |
Support Options | Phone, email, web, and live chat support options along with a customer success manager | Help tickets, live chat, and phone support options to resolve any issues faced by users timely |
 |  |
| PROS | PROS |
|
|
| CONS | CONS |
|
|
athenahealth cost depends on the total collections of your healthcare organization with no hidden fee structures, minimal initial costs, and the option to cancel the subscription anytime. In contrast, Practice Fusion has a starting price of $149/provider/month, including implementation costs, training, and support options. However, unlike athenahealth, Practice Fusion requires an annual commitment.
Overall, while athenahealth provides flexible pricing options with no long-term commitments required, Practice Fusion offers a more fixed and predictable pricing structure with an annual commitment. Thereby, the choice between the two ultimately depends on the preferred payment structure and finances of a medical organization.
Users appreciate athenahealth’s features, particularly its strong telehealth capabilities and seamless integration with other systems. However, some users have noted that the patients cannot view their bills after immediately playing them, whereas some users have also pointed out complexities in understanding the instructions given in the help desk section.
On the other hand, Practice Fusion is praised for its user-friendly interface and customizable templates, making it a preferred choice among small and/or solo healthcare practitioners. However, despite its ease of use, some users have reported disappointment over the requirement of an annual commitment to buy the subscription plan.
athenahealth and Practice Fusion are both top EHR contenders that offer tailored solutions according to the differing requirements of medical specialties.
While athenahealth excels with its comprehensive features, integrations, and telehealth capabilities, Practice Fusion is known for its simple interface, customizable scheduling, and efficient document management functionalities. athenahealth is the right solution for practices seeking scalable solutions with strong support options. Meanwhile, Practice Fusion is a great option for solo practitioners and small medical clinics.
Therefore, when selecting an EHR system, it's crucial to consider your practice’s workflow requirements, budget, and specialty needs. Assessing how each software fits into daily operations ensures it enhances efficiency and minimizes frustration.
