Last Updated | August 23, 2024
Executive Summary: What Are The Top 5 EHR Systems?
An assessment is made by gathering data on all of your top possibilities and then reducing it to only those that fit your selection criteria. The article is posted as a bridge to determine what are the top 5 EHR systems while choosing an EHR system along with the pros and cons.
Overview: What Are The Best EHR Systems?
Medical data exchange, storage, and aggregation now rely on Electronic Health Records (EHRs), which have made the paperwork a thing of the past. Thanks to the efforts of medical software development companies, patient-relevant information can be gathered in just a few seconds regardless of the physical location.
Surprisingly, EHR systems aren’t the latest form of capturing, storing, and exchanging medical records electronically. The first electronic health data registries date back to the ’70s. The latest version of this software is advantageous to medical practitioners in several ways; they significantly reduce paperwork, minimizes costs, saves time, and enable practitioners to handle data in compliance with the HIPAA standards.
On the other hand, patients don’t have to undergo repetitive medical tests since their records can be accessed with just the click of a button!
The credit goes to the software developers who work alongside integration teams to ensure the software is as seamless as possible. For example, the Folio3 healthcare integration team helps develop tailored healthcare software systems to help organizations solve challenges.
The system ensures that doctors receive the most accurate and consistent health information, leading to more precise prescriptions.
However, the sharing of data makes the role of healthcare compliance consultants even more critical since they must ensure the private data of patients is protected at all times. So, if you’ve been looking for the best EHRs, you’re in the right place!
Whether you’re looking for efficient EHR software for solo practices or larger scale practices, these are some of the best, most cost-effective EHR systems you will find in the USA. Also if you are a therapist, we have some great recommendations on the best EHR system for you.
So, let’s get started!
1- EPIC:
Epic was founded in 1979 and is one of the first providers of electronic health records. The EHR has been designed more specifically for more extensive medical groups, offering inpatient settings. The software is well suited to hospitals where various specialists require access to patient records from time to time.
This explains why Epic’s software is most commonly used in community hospitals, academic medical centers, and health organizations. Epic features’ MyChart’, which enables patients to access their family and personal health data easily which are some of the most vital elements out of the 10 Components Of Medical Records.
Through the software, patients can get in touch with doctors and even schedule appointments electronically. Using the ‘MyChart Bedside’ feature of the application, patients can contact their care team and obtain patient education materials tailored specifically for them.
What is Epic software? It is quite easily implementable and easy software that can be utilized in your organization. This is not only because of the fast specialty applications, screens, and workflows that the software offers but also because of the flexibility that allows clinics to personalize these features according to their requirements. Since the software can be managed through mobile applications and computer systems, it allows medical personnel to stay connected regardless of their location.
Thanks to the embedded decision support tools and hospital CMMS software, a medical practice can now generate improved results that enhance overall healthcare standards.
On the downside, since it has been designed for larger healthcare facilities, smaller facilities might find it complicated to set it up according to the needs of a smaller clinic.
Here are some of the pros & cons of Epic software, however if you need to dive into it, explore in our guide Cerner vs Epic pros and cons:
Pros:
- Offers inpatient settings
- Easy to use and implement
- Allows doctors and patients to stay connected at all times
Cons:
- Not suitable for smaller healthcare facilities.
2- Cerner:
Cerner was first introduced 40 years ago in Kansas, Missouri, by three accountants as a provider of electronic medical records. It is now one of the largest suppliers of systems for inpatient care and the top provider of Health IT solutions, currently supporting more than 55 facilities.
Because it is also one of the EMR integration companies. It allows patient data to be shared from one system to the other smoothly. This includes messages sent in response to trigger events when a patient is either being admitted to or discharged from a clinic. These are just some of the HL7 message examples.
The software has been designed to cater to the needs of healthcare providers of every size, offering support in several areas, including the clinical, operational, and financial needs of organizations. Cerner is capable of integrating devices to share accurate data in a suitable format whenever required.
This raises efficiency in clinics by saving the time that would otherwise have been spent on acquiring information from paperwork.
Not to mention the voice recognition feature that allows physicians to document data much faster than typing it into a system. Despite your vendor, Cerner provides unparalleled connectivity between medical devices through healthcare applications.
The seamless HL7 Integration allows medical professionals to gain access to medical health records in just a few seconds. This also improves healthcare delivery quality. Through the central monitoring station, trained observation technicians can observe several patient rooms simultaneously.
As for the patients, the software connects them with both IT architects and clinical care team members, aiming to increase patient engagement and bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients in need.
Pros:
- Designed for organizations of every size
- Offers a plethora of features needed by healthcare providers
- Supports all kinds of needs of health care providers
- Increases patient engagement.
Cons:
- The wide variety of features makes it challenging to adapt to.
3-NextGen:
Operating since 1976, NextGen has been assisting approximately 155,000 physicians, providing them with a variety of features. Quality Systems, Inc. owns this EHR service. This electronic health records service has over 2900 employees operating to enhance ambulatory care. Plus, it is designed to cater to the financial needs of its users specifically. The software is best suited for small to medium practices, offering clinical content for a few specialties.
Specifically, NextGen has been designed to provide efficient solutions to smaller healthcare facilities where resources and staff are sometimes insufficient to provide excellent healthcare to its patients. It uses various tools for clinics ranging from cloud-based billing solutions to mobile Integration, streamlining clinical processes to maintain optimum efficiency.
This cloud-based EHR system allows clinics to customize it according to their needs, making it easier to operate. Another factor that makes it a good choice for smaller practices is its modern interface which makes it highly adaptable. The software provides appointment reminders automatically, intending to increase patient engagement and improve access to healthcare. Combined with their expert CRM, the EHR system raises profitability while minimizing the burden of medical billing.
It allows customers to schedule appointments online and receive automated reminders, ensuring their medical needs are met fully. Additionally, patients also can make payments online, which is a major convenience for patients.
Pros:
- Provides financial assistance
- Increases patient volume
- Improves ambulatory care
- Improves communication between patients and healthcare facilities
Cons:
- Not well suited for larger healthcare facilities
4- eClinicalWorks:
Although it is a privately owned company, eClinicalWorks has been catering to the needs of more than 130,000 doctors and nurse practitioners and has been providing EHR services to over 850,00 medical professionals. One of the most notable features of this EHR system is its integrated solutions for Population Health which allows healthcare practitioners to track disease patterns.
This helps assess risks more accurately, yielding improved medical results. To cater to the financial needs of clinics, the software offers both self-service Practice Management models and RCM Service models, allowing healthcare facilities to decide whether they want complete control of their billing or if they prefer a complete billing solution handled by the software itself.
eClinicalWorks is compatible with both PC and Mac, which means healthcare facilities can take full advantage of the cloud-based EHR and access patient data at any time from anywhere. Moreover, this software also provides access to the PRISMA health information search engine, allowing doctors to acquire all kinds of medical records of their patients from various sources to make a more accurate diagnosis.
This form of messaging is known as FHIR and is used as an alternative to HL7. HL7 vs FHIR: FHIR can be considered an easier mode of exchanging data compared to HL7.
Hence, the software is designed to improve healthcare facilities for its users.
Pros:
- Offers flexible financial support options to users
- Easy access to patient data
- Wide compatibility
- Helps track disease patterns
Cons:
- New users might find it difficult to use because of the vast variety of features.
5- Allscripts EHR:
Meditech EHR systems are designed to cater to the needs of healthcare facilities and the patients themselves. Meditech provides customers with a Consumer Health Portal and their MHealth app, scheduling appointments online, contacting medical professionals, and administering vaccine dosage.
The primary purpose of these features is to involve patients in their healthcare management actively. Moreover, participating organizations can access various patients’ health information, helping them get a clearer picture and get to a more accurate diagnosis in less time.
Medical data includes allergies, vital signs, medications previously administered to the patient, lab results, etc. Through mobile applications, medical professionals can access patient records, respond to important messages, and results, and stay informed at all times.
This promotes the remote management of routine tasks, raising productivity levels of clinics. The cloud-based EHR solution brings several benefits to healthcare facilities, including communicating proactively with patients, which increases patient volume and engagement.
The software provides virtual care features allowing clinics to offer remote visits on a routine or urgent basis. Clinics can take advantage of the business and clinical analytic features of the EHR software thanks to EDITECH’s Data Intelligence team, which provides support to clinics to improve their business-related performance.
Pros:
- Easy for patients to schedule appointments
- Allows remote access to medical professionals
- Virtual care features allow patients to reach out whenever they require care
Cons:
- The user interface is complicated to get the hang of
Do you know about the best EHR software for mental health? For psychiatrists, especially, there are benefits of an EHR that can guide them to make the best choice.
Other EHR systems you can explore
An EHR system is a real-time, patient-oriented record. With EHRs, information is instantly and securely available only to authorized users. Different practices have different EHR systems available to them. Listed below are the top 5 EHR systems currently available.
Praxis EMR
Praxis EMR is a flexible server or cloud-based EHR system. It is a certified EHR for MACRA and stands out from the list of best EHRs due to its innovative AI operating system known as Concept Processing.
Praxis is a world-renowned EHR system helping thousands of physicians all over the world. It focuses on effective usability and its template-free model reflects a good user experience.
Due to the customizable nature of this system, perhaps it is the best EHR that well serves all different types of specialties.
Pros:
- It allows for highly personalized workflows and documentation and is ideal for various specialties.
- The Concept Processing system adapts to the physician’s unique practice style, improving efficiency.
- Avoids rigid templates, providing flexibility in how patient data is recorded.
Cons:
- The lack of templates can require a longer learning period for new users.
- May not integrate as smoothly with other third-party software as some other EHRs.
Athenahealth
Athenahealth is one of the best EHR systems for small practices. The company presently works with a network of over 160,000 providers. This EHR has a homepage that lets you review patient information and the daily schedule as well as manage orders and view lab results.
Its practice management tools incorporate custom benchmarking, viewing daily responsibilities, dynamic trends analysis, and much more.
Pros:
- Includes practice management, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement tools.
- Intuitive interface with a highly organized homepage for easy navigation.
- An extensive network of providers and robust customer support.
Cons:
- Can be more expensive than other EHR options, especially for smaller practices.
- Less customizable than some other systems, which might not suit all practice needs.
DrChrono
DrChrono offers an EHR compatible with iPhones and iPad and the medical billing portal which assists all kinds of medical practices to manage clinical charting, patient intake, patient care, billing, and their revenue cycle. It might be the best EHR for small practices.
It provides customizable scheduling tools, e-prescribing, medical forms, a patient portal, and patient eligibility checks as well.
Pros:
- Designed for use on iPhones and iPads, making it highly accessible.
- Combines EHR, medical billing, and practice management in one platform.
- Offers flexible scheduling, e-prescribing, and patient portals.
Cons:
- Some features may be less robust on desktop versions compared to mobile.
- The full range of features can be costly, particularly for smaller practices.
CureMD
CureMD offers a streamlined solution for up-to-date clinical reporting and some software tools to simplify the process of patient care. Their reporting options are flexible and the patient information dashboard is easily customizable.
CureMD’s EHR can easily be integrated with other third-party billing systems for transferring patients’ billing data, ensuring seamless financial data exchange and efficient revenue cycle management. This entire collection and billing process is efficiently managed, further optimizing the advantages of integrated health services.
Moreover, their EHR is in compliance with HIPAA and strictly follows directives to protect patient health information.
Pros:
- Integrates well with third-party billing and lab systems.
- Strong focus on HIPAA compliance and security of patient data.
- Offers flexible reporting options tailored to practice needs.
Cons:
- Initial setup and customization can be time-consuming.
- Some users report that customer support response times can be slow.
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FAQs: What are the top 5 EHR Systems
What is the most popular electronic patient record software in the UK?
The UK has some of the top healthcare app development services globally, which means it also has some of the best patient record software that aids healthcare facilities throughout the United Kingdom. One of the best electronic patient record software in the UK is ChARM EHR, an online web-based electronic health record (EHR) solution designed to cater to the needs of both healthcare organizations and patients.
The EHR solution is designed in compliance with HIPAA, allowing clinics to manage and create patient records seamlessly with just your browser. Through the EHR solution, organizations can prescribe medication to patients electronically and transfer Vaccine and Immunization data to the state immunization registry seamlessly.
What is the top electronic medical records software in Australia?
Adroit is a popular medical records software in Australia, providing many electronic solutions to users. It allows patients to transfer customer data quickly from one department to another, increases productivity by raising the number of patients served daily and provides advanced e-Prescribing and clinical documentation capabilities. Since electronic medical records are stored electronically, the risk of errors in medical records is minimized, maximizing the standard of healthcare.
What is the Canadian EMR market share?
TELUS Health Solutions is one of the most prominent EMR vendors in Canada, with a market share of about 35%, followed by OSCAR, which has about 19 %. On number 3 and number 4 come QHR Technologies and Nightingale Informatix, with 19 % and 13% market shares, respectively.
About the Author
![Naqqash Khan](https://digitalhealth.folio3.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ProfilePicturePhoto.jpg)
Naqqash Khan
As a seasoned .NET Developer, I am dedicated to creating innovative digital health solutions that improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare processes. Working in the Digital Health division of Folio3, I have a wealth of experience utilizing the latest technologies to craft highly scalable, HIPAA-compliant, and secure software systems. My experience includes developing web and mobile applications, implementing RESTful APIs, and utilizing cloud computing technologies such as AWS/Azure for scalable and secure data storage and processing. If you're looking for a professional who can turn your digital health vision into a reality, connect with me to discuss how we can work together to revolutionize healthcare through technology.