Selecting the right electronic medical records (EMR) system is a critical decision influencing how smoothly a medical practice operates. With numerous options available, finding a solution that fits your workflow can be challenging.
Elation Health and NextGen stand out as top choices, each offering robust features designed to meet the needs of modern healthcare providers. Each platform brings unique capabilities, catering to different practice sizes and specialties.
This blog will compare Elation Health vs NextGen, breaking down their key features to help you determine which EMR solution best aligns with your practice’s needs.
Elation Health Vs NextGen: Head-On Comparison
Elation Health is a cloud-based Electronic Health Record (EHR) system tailored for independent primary care practices. It is known for its intuitive clinical-first design, allowing physicians to prioritize patient interactions without navigating complex interfaces. The platform also supports direct patient communication and includes extensive documentation tools, making it ideal for practices that value efficient patient engagement.
NextGen Healthcare offers a cloud-based EHR solution catering to practices across multiple specialties, including pediatrics, cardiology, and behavioral health. The platform offers two products – NextGen Office EHR and NextGen Enterprise EHR – to cater to medical specialties of all sizes. It stands out for its customizable templates, which adapt to the unique needs of different medical fields. With integrated telehealth capabilities and revenue management, it’s a comprehensive choice for practices requiring a versatile, all-in-one system.
Elation Health Vs. NextGen: At A Glance
Feature
Elation Health
NextGen
Cloud Access
✓
✓
Mobile Access
✓
✓
Telehealth
✓
✓
Medical Billing
✓
✓
Scheduling
✓
✓
Reporting
✓
✓
Integration
✓
✓
Document Management
✓
✓
Compliance
✓
✓
Support Options
✓
✓
Elation Health Vs. NextGen: Pros And Cons
PROS
Send referrals directly from charts
Easily drag and rearrange boxes
Efficient office visit documentation
Great auto appointment reminders
Easy flow between charts
Efficient employee tracking
Smart phrases for faster notes
Integrates with third-party apps
CONS
No undo option after box deletion
iPhone app needs improvement
Limited customer service support
Limited specialty options
Advanced features overwhelm
Poor claims auto-population
Elation Health Vs NextGen: Side By Side Comparison
Reporting
Elation Health provides basic reporting options like patient lists, appointment records, and payment summaries. For more advanced data, users must request custom reports through the ‘Data Services Team’, which involves a fee and requires several steps, including approval and signing a ‘Statement of Work’. Delivery time varies based on complexity, typically five business days after approval.
NextGen offers comprehensive, built-in reporting covering regulatory metrics like MIPS/MACRA, value-based payments, and patient-centered care models. Its all-in-one platform integrates financial analytics and compliance tracking, reducing manual effort while ensuring accuracy. NextGen also provides personalized guidance for regulatory success through its ‘Quality Programs’ team.
Winner: NextGen leads in reporting due to its extensive, integrated analytics and compliance tools, which offer greater depth and ease without additional fees or manual requests.
Telehealth
Elation Health boasts an award-winning, Zoom-powered telehealth platform, recognized as Best in KLAS 2025 for virtual care. Its seamless integration within the EHR’s three-panel view ensures uninterrupted, high-quality video visits. This user-friendly system allows physicians to deliver virtual care efficiently witho ut switching platforms, enhancing provider workflow and patient experience.
NextGen provides a feature-rich telehealth solution with group visits, guest access, and advanced in-visit tools like screen sharing. It integrates smoothly with the EHR and practice management systems, allowing patients to join virtual sessions on any device without needing an app or log in.
Winner: NextGen leads in telehealth due to its comprehensive features, including multi-party visits and enhanced administrative workflows, offering greater flexibility and patient engagement compared to Elation Health’s simpler Zoom-based approach.
Referral Management
Elation Health offers a fully integrated referral management system within its EHR, featuring e-faxing, document management, and an embedded provider directory powered by Ribbon. Its electronic chart sharing and close-the-loop tracking enhance coordination, ensuring smooth care transitions and reducing administrative workload.
NextGen focuses on automated referrals for patient outreach, helping practices improve scheduling efficiency. Features include in-message scheduling, smart rebooking, and revenue tracking, ensuring patient follow-ups. However, it lacks direct EHR-integrated document management and a built-in provider directory, relying more on automation than workflow optimization.
Winner: Elation Health stands out with its seamless EHR integration, advanced referral tracking, and provider directory, making referrals more efficient while minimizing administrative burden.
Billing
Elation Health streamlines medical billing with real-time charge capture, automated claim submissions, and advanced claim scrubbing. Its integrated clinical and billing workflows ensure that 98% of claims are paid within 90 days, reducing errors and improving cash flow.
NextGen offers robust billing solutions with expedited claims processing, automated outreach, and a charge review rules engine. It enhances accuracy through claims scrubbing and provides flexible patient payment options, including online methods like Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Winner: Elation Health takes a slight edge due to its superior claim approval rate (98% within 90 days) and seamless integration of clinical and billing processes, offering faster reimbursements and reduced administrative burdens.
Patient Self-Scheduling
Elation Health the software’s patient self-scheduling offers 24/7 online booking through a personalized web page. It syncs appointments in real-time with the EHR, reduces front-office workload, and supports customizable appointment types. Patients can access appointment reminders and forms, improving patient engagement and reducing no-shows.
NextGen, powered by Luma, provides self-scheduling with flexible 24/7 booking with web and text options. It integrates with the EHR, features automated reminders for confirmations or rescheduling, and includes a ‘Smart Waitlist’ for filling cancellations. Additional modules offer referral engagement and expand scheduling through ‘Google Business’.
Winner: NextGen leads with its advanced automation, including Smart Waitlist and interactive referral notifications, offering a more comprehensive and efficient patient scheduling experience.
Elation Health Vs NextGen: Pricing Plans
Elation Health offers tailored pricing plans according to each healthcare practice's size, requirements, and preferences. The vendor provides additional services such as performance consulting and technical support for larger organizations and value-based care providers. Like Elation Health, NextGen also offers custom pricing plans that vary as per the size and needs of healthcare practices.
Both Elation Health and NextGen follow a custom pricing model, allowing healthcare practices to pay for only the needed features. Thus, the best choice ultimately depends on the specific requirements, budget, and desired level of customization for each healthcare organization.
Elation Health Vs NextGen: What Users Have To Say?
Elation Health users often commend its intuitive interface and its positive impact on practice productivity. Many appreciate its seamless patient record management and smooth e-prescribing process. However, some users have reported challenges with data migration and customization limitations, which can affect workflow efficiency for larger practices.
NextGen Office is appreciated for its comprehensive features and robust interoperability, enhancing productivity in small practices. Users also highlight the platform’s advanced reporting capabilities and flexible scheduling tools. Yet, some users have experienced system speed and usability issues, particularly when handling complex patient data.
In summary, both platforms have their strengths and areas for improvement. Prospective users should consider these factors about their specific practice needs when choosing between them.
Our Verdict: Which EMR System Is The Right Fit For You?
Both Elation Health and NextGen offer comprehensive solutions tailored to the diverse needs of healthcare practices. Elation Health stands out for its user-friendly interface and patient-focused approach, making it a strong choice for primary care providers. In contrast, NextGen offers robust interoperability and advanced reporting capabilities, making it suitable for more extensive data management practices.
Healthcare providers should consider their specific operational needs, practice size, and desired features when deciding between these platforms. Evaluating how each system integrates with existing workflows can help ensure smooth transitions and efficiency.
