What are the most common EHR?

Modern medicine and digital technology go hand-in-hand. A greater and more seamless flow of information within an EHR system has transformed care delivery―bringing along with it, many benefits.

Improved Patient Care

EHRs can improve patient care quality by making it more convenient for providers and patients. Quick access to legible records from inpatient and remote locations provides more coordinated, efficient care.

Increase Patient Participation

EHR software can increase patient participation by making healthcare more convenient. Telehealth allows flexibility to be seen without traveling to an appointment. Communication between provider and patient is made easier by sharing information back and forth through secure emails, providing health information through patient portals and getting prescriptions ordered and ready even before leaving the provider’s office with e-prescribing.

Improved Care Coordination

EHRs can decrease the fragmentation of care by improving care coordination. They integrate and organize patient health information, which facilitates instant distribution among all authorized providers involved in a patient’s care.

With EHRs, every provider can have the same up-to-date information about a patient. This is especially important with patients who are:

Seeing multiple specialists
Receiving treatment in emergency settings
Making transitions between care settings

Better availability of patient information can reduce medical errors and unnecessary tests. It can also reduce the chance that one specialist will not know about a relevant condition managed by another specialist.

Improved Diagnostic and Patient Outcomes

EHRs improve the aggregation, analysis and communication of patient information, allowing healthcare providers access to complete and accurate information. This access enhances the ability to diagnose disease and reduce medical errors, leading to a better quality of care and improved patient outcomes.

Documenting patient records used to be a time-consuming, expensive and error-ridden task – the introduction of electronic medical records software changed that. Health care organizations of all sizes and specialties provide more accurate treatment, resulting in increased efficiency through EMR systems.

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We are going to cover the following topics in this article:

Without further ado, let’s get started!

What is an EMR System?

EMR, or electronic medical records, are digitized paper charts that include diagnoses, allergies, medical histories, immunization dates, lab results, medications and physicians’ notes. EMR systems can handle everything from documenting patient data and scheduling appointments to filling prescriptions and verifying insurances. You may have concerns regarding the implementation of an electronic medical records system. But with it, your facility’s productivity and efficiency can reach new heights. You can also gain monetary incentives by adopting these platforms.

Components

Cars cannot move without wheels. We cannot survive without oxygen. The world could end if it stops spinning. Similarly, EMR programs cannot function properly without their essential elements. And before you invest in an EMR, you should have a fair idea of what you are getting into.

Below we have outlined some components of EMR systems that are worth keeping in mind.

Technical Staff

We know that your primary focus is delivering high-quality patient care. You won’t achieve it if you spend most of your time maintaining an EMR system. We advise you to delegate such technical tasks to someone who understands the interface thoroughly. As Steve Jobs rightly said, “Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” That’s why you need to build a team that enables you to provide patients the care they deserve.

Infrastructure

Are your devices compatible with EMR systems? Before you spend on a product, check if it’s compatible with the hardware you own, like laptops, printers, tablets, smartphones, PCs and workstations. You don’t want to end up spending on an app that will cause additional hardware costs (unless you wish to upgrade your devices).

Business Processes

You should set guidelinesto ensure the smooth running of medical practices. Compile a document highlighting steps and instructions involved in maintaining EMR systems. It can include appointment scheduling, billing and data inputting procedures. This way, you make it easier for your staff to resolve issues in no time. They can also refer to files to gain an in-depth understanding of the app.

Backup System

Even technology can make mistakes. Imagine losing essential patient files containing insurances, diagnoses, treatment plans and financial details. Patients trust you to store such confidential documents securely. For that purpose, it’s crucial to have data recovery plans in place. With EMR systems, you can store all your data offline. This makes it possible for you to access information from anywhere, at any time.

Data Processing Modules

As the name suggests, EMR systems help to store patients’ medical information safely. It allows you to record notes taken during patient discussions. You can scan and upload documents and images, draw up data from EKGs and record dictations. Without a data input system, it would be challenging to organize loads of information and gain a complete view of patients’ health.

Patient Portals

EMR programs are not only designed for medical professionals but also for patients to enhance their experiences. Allow patients to schedule appointments, contact physicians, request refills and access test results digitally. With the rise in Covid-19 cases, patients are opting for virtual instead of physical visits. According to a survey conducted by HIMSS, 58% of medical professionals connect with their patients using mobile-optimized patient portals.

Practice Management Integration

EMR systems usually integrate with practice management products. It simplifies workflows and reduces the burden of transferring data from one app to another. You can manage and monitor patients’ data safely and efficiently. Export audit logs to trace financial information and conversations quickly. Practice management integration is like a cherry on the cake to your EHR software.

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Types of EMR

Did you know there are several types of EMR systems out there? EMR programs have traveled through technological advances, evolving from traditional to digital versions. At the industry level, hospital EMR systems are common.

Besides that, here are some additional, more specific types of EMR software.

Cloud-Based

Won’t it be fantastic to access data whenever you wish to? A cloud-based electronic medical record software helps you view and update information online. You can locate files from the comfort of your home. These systems are more affordable because they do not support data hosting. You can store patients’ medical documents securely on cloud servers for quick access. Cloud-based products are also known as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or web-based software.

Mac-Based

Mac EMR apps are compatible with Apple devices. You can find several Mac-native options that are designed specifically for Mac operating systems. If you use Mac devices, then this kind of EMR system will be perfect for your medical practice.

ONC Certified

Software that meets the requirements laid down by the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology is ONC certified. It assists you in storing and protecting sensitive patient data. Several EMR systems have received ONC certifications over the years.

Behavioral/Mental Health

EMR systems developed for behavioral and mental health providers offer different functionalities. It could be really irritating to search for notes through mountains of files. And as a therapist or mental health clinician, you need to be calm and not angry in front of your patients. That’s why behavioral and mental health EMR systems provide you with advanced note management modules that help you store and access notes efficiently. They also provide you with built-in documentation templates for formats like BIRP, DAP and SOAP.

Medical Billing

Irrespective of medical specialties, billing is a vital aspect. One coding error can bring you a lot of bad jujus – meaning it can complicate workflows and tarnish your reputation in the eyes of patients. Some EMR programs integrate with medical billing software, which helps you verify and process insurance claims and generate accurate bills effectively.

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EMR vs EHR

It’s common to see people use the terms EMR and EHR interchangeably. Just one change of letter can make a difference. EMR systems store digitized versions of patients’ medical histories in the form of charts. An EHR is a broader version of an EMR that contains lab reports, demographic data, insurance information and more. More importantly, EHRs are interoperable with other systems.

EMREHRDesigned to store patients’ information in the form of charts digitally.Records health data digitally.Cannot share patients’ data outside the practice.Transfer data to concerned authorities according to CMS standards in real time.Helps diagnose patients accurately.Simplifies decision-making processes.Restricts access to demographic data.View lab results, imaging, insurance claims information, demographic data and more.

Want to know about these distinctions in detail? Read our article – EHR vs. EMR: Comprehensive Comparison of the Differences Between Them.

Similarities

Though EHR and EMR systems provide different functionalities, they share a few similarities.

Store data on cloud servers securely.
Simplify workflows.
Help physicians prescribe accurate and effective medications.
Provide quality care via patient portals.
Compliant with HIPAA regulations.
Integrate with practice management software.

Advantages

EMR systems are beneficial not only for clinicians but also for patients. Their robust technology simplifies patients’ tasks and allows them to follow their treatment plans easily.

Below we have outlined a few advantages of using EMR systems.

For Patients

Notify Patients: Send appointment and follow-up reminders to patients through the patient portal.
Digital Access: Allow patients to view lab results electronically.
Clinical Summaries: View prescriptions and prepare notes to follow recommendations.
Keep Records Securely: View patients’ historical data to conduct assessments quickly.
HIPAA-Compliant: Store patients’ data safely.

For Clinicians

Centralized Dashboards: Access patients’ information quickly.
Secure Insights: Predict potential risks while prescribing new medications.
Improved Workflows: Store data in a centralized location. Filter files by patients, doctors or disease types.
Error-Free Coding: Automatically assign accurate codes to generate precise bills.
Quick Payments: Allow patients to pay bills online.

EMR systems provide ample benefits. We have listed just a few of them to help you get started with your software selection journey.

Potential Drawbacks

If there’s good, then there’s evil too. Similarly, EMR systems come with a few drawbacks.

Online data storage can raise privacy concerns. According to the HIPAA Healthcare Data Breach Report published in april 2021, 2,583,117 health care records were exposed or compromised. So, take some time to understand security policies before investing in an EMR system.
Sometimes the system goes down under maintenance, restricting access to records. This can waste your time and delay processes.
The world has become a global village. But still, it can be challenging to convince some physicians to adopt digital technologies. You need to emphasize the benefits of EMR systems to persuade medical professionals.

Top EMR Systems List

To help you and your medical practice make the best choice for your patients’ and physicians’ needs, consider the following vendors leading the way in our list of the best EMR systems. Our product scoring tool rates these electronic medical records systems as top performers.

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CureMD

CureMD, a cloud-based EMR, is fit for health care systems of all sizes. It provides clinical and administrative operations for specialties like gynecology, oncology, dermatology, obstetrics, public health and more. Its salient features include workflow automation, electronic prescribing, interoperability, electronic labs and an iOS app.

CureMD’s clinical overview summarizes alerts, trends and patients’ histories on one screen. Its rheumatology feature provides templates for common symptoms and includes patients’ complaints and reviews of symptoms. The vendor offers frequent updates according to CPT and ICD codes for every specialty. It lets you track, submit and capture charges.

Included features help streamline bill coding and patient medical history tracking.

Benefits

Achieve Mobility: Its iOS app, Avalon, allows you to add physical exams, lab orders, vitals, diagnoses, complaints, prescriptions and histories. It also provides an end-to-end order entry module that acknowledges, assigns, reviews and signs lab results.
Interoperability: It allows data exchange between stakeholders and connections to payers, cancer registries, health information exchanges, radiology and imaging services, patients, pharmacies, and DICOM-compliant equipment.
Simplify Documentation: Supports overnight transcription that auto-fills dictations in templates. Reduces costs related to documentation and searches for clinical findings within the system.
Cloud-Based: Store and access sensitive files from an accessible location. Grant role-based permissions to authorized employees to ensure data confidentiality.
Reduce Medication Errors: Create patient charts from collected data for better visualization purposes. View charts frequently to avoid diagnostic mistakes. Electronic documentation helps you prevent legibility of handwriting issues.

Features

Workflow Editor: Has a configurable process that lets you assemble data forms, component templates and knowledge to help the system adapt to users’ priorities, preferences and styles.
Electronic Labs: Receive results and send orders electronically from laboratories using lab interfacing capabilities. Supports features like task assignment and alerts for anomalous results.
Auto Note: Create notes using customizable templates. Compose paragraphs and sentences according to entries and selections.
Document Imaging: Enables scanning and attaching clinical images, paper charts, audio files, medical drawings and photographs using a PACS system to the patient’s electronic chart.
Outcome Analysis: Aggregates clinical reports and outcomes in compliance with P4P standards and national benchmarks.
Revenue Cycle Management: Enables administrative and financial functionalities via claim preparation, follow-ups, claim submission, problem resolution and appeals.
Electronic Prescription: Connects physicians with pharmacies while leveraging a drug information base, medication history and reconciliation, weight and age-based dose adjustment, controlled substance prescribing, formulary, prescription eligibility, and process refill requests.

Limitations

Does not have a mobile app for Android devices.
Does not support handwriting recognition.
Not available for dentistry.

Price: $$$$$

Deployment:
Platform:

Company Size Suitability: S M L

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athenaOne

athenaOne, offered by athenahealth, is an integrated and cloud-based suite that lets you manage electronic health records, care coordination, population health, patient engagement and medical billing. Its application is available on Android and iOS devices.

It is fit for health care organizations of all sizes. You can organize patient visits, patient care, clinical operations and documentation while supporting billing and interoperability.

athenaClinicals is a part of the athenaOne suite. Some of its other features are medication list management, clinical summaries, documentation support and paper processing.

Organizations can easily plan out visits in a visually digestible format.

Benefits

Documentation Support: Use voice to dictate, navigate, correct, review and finish patient records in real time with clinical speech recognition. Helps with dictating patient stories, choosing a patient, navigation to desired fields and tabs using voice commands, and inserting auto-text.
Authorization Management: Has an integrated authorization feature to enable practice management and EMR services. Authorize electronically using HSR-278 EDI standards in an integrated dashboard with complete visibility.
Streamlined Communication: Care teams can connect with patients via automated, live and online communications that integrate with EMR services and practice management. athenaCommunicator offers features like a symptom checker and messaging service to send test results, appointment reminders and information about office closures.
Paper Processing: Attach paper documents to patient records after processing them.
Interoperability: Connects to 12,000 imaging and lab endpoints, 95% of pharmacies in the US, 26,000 health plans, and 1,200 non-athena sites. Connects to Carequality and CommonWell to access Cerner and Epic sites, and local and national health information exchanges.

Features

Medication List Management: SureScripts certification allows physicians to track all medications prescribed to a patient by letting them record historical and current medications, including those taken over-the-counter and prescribed by other doctors.
Patient Portal: Lets patients access forms, schedule appointments, make co-payments digitally and obtain test results digitally.
Clinical Summaries: Lets practices provide clinical summaries via the patient portal or on paper. Encounter summaries are prepared after patient visits and posted on the portal or sent to the patient. Assign tasks to staff members for quicker follow-ups on patient education and care planning.
Medical Reference App: Access treatment guides and drug information via Epocrates. It also provides evidence-based and peer-reviewed disease and diagnostic guidance. Manage out-of-office workflows like viewing patient charts, managing the athenahealth inbox, creating patient cases and prescribing medicine through Android or iOS devices.
Record Demographics: Maintains records of demographic data like insurance type, gender, preferred language, ethnicity and race. Lets physicians contact specific patients for outreach using the above attributes as filters or exclusion or inclusion criteria.

Limitations

Does not support handwriting recognition.
Unavailability of an integrated telehealth module.

Price: $$$$$

Deployment:
Platform:

Company Size Suitability: S M L

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Epic Care

Epic’s electronic medical records system lets doctors maintain historical records of their patients. It manages daily operations like billing, appointment scheduling and payments. It offers capabilities that handle clinical trials, revenue cycles, care management, analytics and artificial intelligence. In addition, the platform offers mobile support for iOS and Android devices.

It is interoperable with other medical systems. It also provides multiple payment options and a community where physicians can ask questions to specialty experts.

Simplify patient health tracking with accessible medical history forms.

Benefits

Mobility: Lets physicians and patients access the EMR on their Apple watch, tablet or phone to receive notifications and schedule appointments. Allows physicians to monitor patient treatment remotely.
Telehealth: Facilitates patient monitoring, ongoing care, specialist referral and peer consultation. Has telehealth tools that handle ICU monitoring, telecardiology, chronic disease management and video visits.
Care Management: Supports management of health insurance operations, has a utilization tool that helps make financially sound decisions and processes and submits claims. Provides a web portal with tools and information to manage correspondence while identifying high-risk patients, vendors and employers in a single database.
Share Records: Epic Share lets you expand EMR functionality to hospitals, independent practices and post-acute facilities and keeps scheduling and billing separately.
Interoperability: Providers can share patient charts with other healthcare providers that meet interoperability standards.

Features

Patient Portal: MyChart, its patient management tool, lets patients access family and personal health information on mobile devices, send messages to providers, attend e-visits, complete questionnaires, set appointments and access treatment plans.
Revenue Cycle Management: Allows providers to interact with patients and consolidate their physician, hospital and post-acute bills in one statement to improve the patient experience. Facilitates online bill paying, paperless billing and pre-payments calculated based on financial assistance and estimates. Supports automated coding to lower administrative overhead costs and A/R days and avoid missing charges.
Artificial Intelligence: Has embedded machine learning algorithms and deploys artificial intelligence models in the cloud.
Analytics: Lets patients’ family members investigate hunches and build dashboards. This system combines various sources of operational, financial and clinical data in one data warehouse. You can also curate and distribute their analytics on a portal.
Community Portal: Helps patients keep caregivers and providers informed about the patient, close care gaps, submit referrals, schedule visits and order imaging and labs.

Limitations

No handwriting recognition feature.
Absence of electronic prescription technology.

Price: $$$$$

Deployment:
Platform:

Company Size Suitability: S M L

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AdvancedMD

AdvancedMD lets you access its cloud-based system with a single login. It is designed for small and medium organizations and handles scheduling, patient rooming, task management and e-prescribing and provides patient messaging functions. Its all-in-one design includes billing, medical coding, online patient records and portal access.

Custom health plans help physicians manage patient-specific conditions based on factors like age, sex, lab results and more. You can also customize standard and design note-taking templates to help optimize and correlate with workflows and practice preferences.

It enables patients to talk with their practitioners face-to-face, receive notifications and schedule telemedicine appointments. Doctors can capture screenshots during conference calls and securely save images and other sensitive information to a patient’s file. Prescription requests can be reviewed and signed electronically by practitioners, regardless of their physical location.

Accessible dashboards give users a quick view into vital scheduling information.

Benefits

Health Watcher: Sends auto-alerts and has custom plans to help patients follow treatment plans. Monitors and creates patient population health trends. Builds health care plans to manage conditions according to sex, lab results, age and diagnoses.
Deliver Care Remotely: Telemedicine enables conference interactions and transmits still images/high-resolution video screenshots and saves them to patient files. Schedules online appointments and lets physicians view all meetings on one dashboard.
Improve Patient Engagement: Lets staff select which patients will receive emails or texts by creating a new set or choosing from existing criteria. Segment patient lists to send messages and sales promotions to patients to increase engagement.
Patient-Centered: Allow patients to send prescription renewal and appointment requests through the patient portal. Approve or deny patients’ requests digitally. Let clients pay bills online to manage cash flows effectively.
Compliant: Follow HIPAA, MIPS and MACRA regulatory standards without having to review each form manually. Conduct risk assessments as per ISO 27001 standards.
Prevent Negative Cash Flow: Advanced functionalities like e-prescribing, smart dashboards, patient kiosks, and more, help you enhance productivity and save money.

Features

Task Dashboard: Practice dashboard manages and prioritizes tasks with actionable lists, analytics, alerts and role-based access. Provides access to daily and everyday tasks.
Advanced CQM Reports and Dashboards: Captures information like visits automatically. Lets users send reports electronically to health registries. Has an expandable CQM that adapts to regulatory changes.
E-Prescribing: The mobile app enables electronic prescription signing and viewing. Uses secure tokens and passphrases for two-factor authentication. Automatically maintains a complete DEA audit history.
Physician Dashboard: Schedule appointments and view patient and staff messages, test results, referral letters and to-do lists.
Customizable Templates: Optimizes workflows with customizable templates that fit charting requirements and specialties. Lets physicians design sub-notes and notes that align with preferences and workflows of practices.
Patient Kiosk Mobile App: Allow patients to fill consent and intake forms using the patient kiosk on an iPad. Send data to staff for a quicker check-in process.
Patient Rooming: Allows physicians to track statuses, activity metrics and send notifications. Updates patient locations in real time and alerts care providers about wait times reaching their maximum limits.

Limitations

Does not let users scan documents directly to PDF formats.
Not designed for physical therapy practices as it lacks visit number tracking on both patient’s notes and charts.

Price: $$$$$

Deployment:
Platform:

Company Size Suitability: S M L

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Cerner Ambulatory

Cerner Ambulatory is an integrated practice management and EMR system suitable for health care organizations of all sizes. It supports more than 40 specialties, including cardiovascular, oncology, women’s health, pediatrics and mental health.

It integrates seamlessly with popular health care systems while adhering to industry standards and following communication protocols as prescribed by regional, local and national health information exchanges (HIE). Some of its other features are a patient portal, billing management, clinical documentation, data analysis and appointment scheduling.

Compile all relevant documentation into medical charts

Benefits

Access Remotely: PowerChart Tough enables physicians in ambulatory or acute settings to access current orders and clinical data on a tablet or smartphone.
Reduce Errors: The Enterprise Master Person Index minimizes duplicate records, lets end-users identify the right person and maintains patient record integrity.
Tap & Go Authentication: Sign in with a single password and access key applications using an authentication tool. The proximity cards give providers no-click access to patient records even as they change locations.
Automate Processes: Automates the registration, transfer, discharge and admitting processes. Creates a master identifier to design how a patient will move across the health system. Can collect payments and co-pays on outstanding balances before care is delivered.

Features

Documentation: Creates documentation and supports the doctor’s cognitive process with code words, free text, structured documentation and voice recognition in the patient’s chart. Also integrates Dragon voice recognition and creates documentation in real time using speech recognition.
Patient Portal: The patient portal integrates seamlessly with the EMR. Members can communicate with physicians to change or book appointments, request refills, send files, update information and view immunizations, allergies and lab results.
Ambulatory Organizer: Doctors and nurses can view daily patient schedules, check-in time, reason for visits and other documentation. Also provides shading in the outstanding tasks column.
Scheduling Management: Automates appointment scheduling from decentralized and centralized locations. Manages schedules across facilities and multiple appointments. It also validates medical necessity and moving appointments.
Patient Kiosk: Enable patients to view and confirm appointment details, check-in, and update and view insurance information, demographics and registration forms. Stores signed forms in the patient’s chart.

Limitations

Requires multiple sign-ins.
Does not have handwriting recognition.

Price: $$$$$

Deployment:
Platform:

Company Size Suitability: S M L

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System Selection Strategy

The federal incentive program kickstarted the adoption of EMR systems for small practices and large hospitals alike. Health care facilities can receive funds for implementing EMR systems and additional incentives for meeting meaningful use standards.

Providing an updated way to keep medical records has made the health information technology market explode. Converting and maintaining e-records is becoming easier every year. However, the long list of available EMR system companies to choose from can be overwhelming and confusing.

How to Conduct Vendor Assessment

Rome was not built in a day! Similarly, it’s not possible to vet all providers without proper planning. We recommend you follow the steps mentioned below tol make your process easier.

Step 1: Analyze Needs and Set Budget

You can analyze what functionalities you need according to your growth stage. For instance, if you have just started your medical practice, then you can look out for features such as patient scheduling, EHR integration and billing. On the contrary, if your organization is at an established stage, you can look for advanced modules like messaging, speech recognition and patient relationship management.

The price of EMR systems depends upon several factors such as the number of users, organization’s size, migration needs, support options and required features. You can read more about pricing considerations here.

Step 2: Make a List of Expected Integrations

Prepare a checklist containing integrations you require to help improve workflows. Search for software that offers practice management, EHR and billing integrations. This way, you can streamline your vendor assessment processes.

Step 3: Consider Federal Regulations

Seek for software that’s ONC certified and HIPAA compliant. You don’t want to land yourself in trouble or risk the data of thousands of patients.

Step 4: Ask Questions to Vendors

When in doubt, ask questions. Don’t keep your concerns to yourself. Ask vendors for clarifications. If you are still confused, don’t hesitate to contact the vendor again. Consider these questions as a starting point.

Do you provide training?
Is your EMR certified?
What integrative solutions do you offer?
Do you provide data migration assistance?

Step 5: Conduct Vendor Comparison

After data collection, the next step is to analyze the information. You can prepare a chart or transfer data into an Excel sheet. You can also convert data into bar graphs or pie charts for better visualization.

Step 6: Decide!

Finally, it’s decision time. After days of hard work, you now have a winner. An EMR system that could drive your problems away.

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Making Your Decision

As you can see, the system selection process is time-consuming and stressful. We hope this list of electronic medical records systems has given you an idea of what you should expect out of these solutions as well as how they can be beneficial for your health clinic.

Remember, these are just some of the top EMR systems available. When searching through hundreds of vendors, some of the most popular EMR systems may not be well-suited for your health care organization in particular. For example, an EMR specifically designed to accommodate optometry clinics will probably not work out in a dental practice. Be sure to know your specific requirements and do plenty of research prior to your search and selection process.

It’s critical you do your due diligence when making your potential EMR systems list. For a more in-depth overview of our top electronic medical records systems, take a look at our detailed comparison report.

How has your health care organization benefited since adopting an EMR system? What has been your biggest challenge regarding the use of your EMR? Let us know in the comments.