In healthcare technology, the right practice management and EHR can enhance practice efficiency and patient satisfaction. With the majority of healthcare organizations prioritizing digital transformation in this era, cloud-based solutions have become important to enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Smaller practices, in particular, often face challenges when selecting between platforms like Kareo and athenhealth, both of which have garnered strong industry reputations. As the healthcare IT market is expected to grow to $974.5 billion by 2027, the right platform can shape the success of your practice.
This comparison aims to help medical providers find a platform that meets their needs in a tech-driven healthcare market.
A Head-On Comparison
Kareo EMR (now Tebra) is an easy-to-use and efficient platform that is designed for independent practices. It focuses on optimizing billing processes and improving practice profitability. The platform integrates medical billing with EHR and provides an end-to-end solution that makes administrative tasks easier for practices.
In 2020, Kareo was titled with the "Best Practices Award” title by Frost and Sullivan, which validates its ability to deliver on the needs of independent practices.
On the other hand, athenahealth is well-suited for small practice ambulatory EHR and practice management. The platform’s reach is impressive, with over 160,000 healthcare providers across the US using its solutions. athenahealth has earned four 2024 Best in KLAS awards in multiple categories, a testament to its scalability and comprehensive offerings.
Additionally, athenahealth excels in population health management and analytics by offering deep insights into patient outcomes. It enables healthcare providers to track health trends and manage chronic conditions more effectively.
Kareo Vs. athenahealth: At A Glance
Features
Kareo
athenahealth
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Optimized for small practices with pre-built templates
Advanced EHR with customizable workflows
Voice recognition feature
Practice Management
Appointment scheduling, patient communications, and task management
Patient check-in kiosks, appointment reminders, and automated scheduling
Medical Billing
Built-in billing system with tools for coding, claim submission, and tracking denials
Advanced real-time claim tracking to ensure faster payments
In-depth analytics for denial management and collections
Patient Portal
A patient-friendly portal for appointments and access to health records
Advanced patient portal with tools for secure messaging, prescription renewals, and test result access
Telehealth
Virtual visits and billing for remote care
Telehealth with real-time scheduling, video visits, and documentation
Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)
Strong focus on billing optimization for smaller practices
Real-time insights into claims, payments, and denials
AthenaCollector, a revenue cycle management system to automate coding, claim scrubbing, and reimbursement tracking
Interoperability
Integration options for sharing data with external systems
Known for strong integration with other healthcare providers, labs, and systems
Mobile Accessibility
A mobile EHR app with access to patient data, scheduling, and task management on the go
Mobile app for EHR, billing, and patient engagement
Reporting And Analytics
Focused on billing, appointments, and patient management
Reporting across clinical, operational, and financial metrics
Pros And Cons Of Kareo And athenahealth
PROS
Enables data-driven decision via its analytics
Tailored EMR features for company’s requirements
Clean, professional dashboard
Optimized daily admin workflows
Workflows tailored to specialties
Intuitive mobile application
Improved patient relationships via communication tools
Connections with industry-leading partners
CONS
Mobile app is less optimized than desktop
Customer support needs improvement
Lab integration could be unreliable
Frequent updates can disrupt workflow
SOAP format pages can be slow
Email notification lag
Side-By-Side Features Comparison
Insurance Verification
Kareo allows practices to check a patient’s insurance eligibility before appointments. This capability helps reduce claim denials related to insurance issues. Practices utilizing this feature can improve their upfront collections, as patients can be informed of their coverage details beforehand.
athenahealth offers automated insurance verification within its scheduling and billing modules. This feature minimizes the risk of revenue loss due to unpaid claims.
Winner: athenahealth’s automated insurance verification system, integrated with billing, makes it the superior choice.
Security And Compliance
Kareo prioritizes security with advanced measures to ensure patient data protection, including encryption. Additionally, it assists practices in maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations by offering resources that simplify documentation and security requirements.
athenahealth also emphasizes security with comprehensive data protection strategies. Their system is designed to meet HIPAA compliance standards and includes features like automatic backup and disaster recovery.
Winner: Kareo’s comprehensive security framework gives it a decisive edge in data protection.
Mobile Accessibility
Kareo provides a mobile app that enables providers to access patient information, manage schedules, and document notes. The app is designed to be intuitive, allowing for quick navigation and functionality.
The athenahealth mobile app offers extensive access to all platform features, including EHR, billing, and patient engagement tools. Unique to athenahealth is the ability to utilize voice recognition for clinical documentation directly within the mobile app.
Winner: Athenahealth’s mobile app, with voice recognition functionality, provides greater utility and efficiency.
E-Prescribing
Kareo’s e-prescribing functionality is integrated directly within the EHR, allowing providers to send prescriptions electronically to pharmacies quickly. A unique feature of e-prescribing tool is its ability to check for drugs interactions and allergies in real time.
athenahealth offers a powerful e-prescribing tool that includes a comprehensive drug formulary to ensure that providers are aware of cost-effective medication options. Its system also facilitates prescription renewals directly through the patient portal.
Notably, athenahealth earned the highest accuracy score in e-prescribing quality, winning the 2020 Surescripts White Coat Award for its excellence in this area.
Winner: athenahealth’s award-winning e-prescribing tools make it a stronger choice.
Reporting And Analytics
Kareo helps practices monitor key performance indicators such as appointment volume, patient demographics, and revenue metrics. One unique aspect is its customizable dashboards, which allow users to tailor the data they track according to their specific needs.
athenahealth provides reporting and analytics tools that help exploring clinical, operational, and financial metrics. It features predictive analytics to help practices anticipate patient trends and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Winner: Kareo powerful analytics tools, including customizable dashboard, make it the stronger option for practices.
Pricing Plans For Kareo And athenahealth
Kareo provides flexible pricing options, allowing practices to pay only for the specific features they need. This tailored approach is particularly beneficial for smaller practices or those with budget constraints, as it helps avoid unnecessary expenses on unneeded tools or add-ons.
Similarly, athenahealth also offers a distinctive pricing model, in which costs are adjusted based on patient volume and revenue. This flexibility helps practices better manage expenses. Additionally, athenahealth promotes transparency by offering no hidden fees and avoiding long-term contracts.
What Users Have To Say?
Kareo users often praise the platform for its user-friendly interface and ease of implementation. Many small to mid-sized practices appreciate the simple onboarding process, which allows them to get started quickly without extensive training.
Users frequently note that Kareo features, such as its billing tools and patient portal, improve their workflow efficiency. Additionally, Kareo offers a transparent pricing model with no hidden fees, making it appealing for budget-conscious practices.
In contrast, athenahealth users highlight the platform’s powerful analytics and interoperability features as standout aspects of their experience. Many practices value the real-time reporting capabilities that allow for better performance tracking and quality improvement.
Users also appreciate the flexibility in athenahealth's pricing model, which is based on a percentage of collections rather than flat fees. This performance-based model provides a cushion during slower periods and eliminates the pressure of fixed costs.
However, some users have mentioned that athenahealth can be complex to set up, and they’ve faced challenges during the initial implementation phase.
The Verdict: Kareo Or athenahealth—Which EMR Wins For You?
Both platforms offer a range of features that address different types of organizations. Kareo is an excellent choice for small to mid-sized practices or independent healthcare providers looking for an easy-to-use EMR system. Its intuitive interface and simple onboarding make it appealing for the practices.
athenahealth, on the other hand, is designed to support healthcare organizations that prioritize scalability, advanced analytics, and interoperability. Its powerful tools for clinical documentation, patient engagement, and revenue cycle management make it a comprehensive solution for practices with a high patient volume. The right choice depends on where your practice falls on that spectrum.
If you're still unsure which EMR system would best suit your practice, feel free to reach out to Software Finder. Our experts are ready to assist in identifying the ideal solution tailored to your specific needs.
