The Best Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Software of 2019

by Adam C. UzialkoLast Modified: January 2, 2019

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Best Picks

EHR vs. EMR

Trends to Watch

Pricing

Negotiations

Our Methodology

Reviews

State of the Industry

Map

Services

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Best Electronic Medical Record Software Comparison for 2019

Electronic medical records (EMR) software, also known as electronic health records (EHR) software, is becoming an increasingly critical component of modern healthcare. These digital records systems do more than simply establish an electronic archive of patient data; EMR software also communicates with other healthcare providers at other points of care throughout the entire medical ecosystem. This means they are instrumental in creating a digital record that follows a patient wherever they seek care, as well as helping to order prescriptions and tests, obtain lab results more quickly and offer patients a meaningful way to engage with their own healthcare through patient portals.

Best Picks

Best Overall

Specialists

Small Practices

Best EMR Overall

AdvancedMD EHR

AdvancedMD is a comprehensive EHR system that offers a variety of implementation options and good value for the price. It is our best overall pick for electronic medical records systems.

AdvancedMD offers solutions for practices both large and small, with manageable pricing and regular opportunities to secure promotional deals or discounts. It is a fully integrated EHR and practice management solution that is either coupled with AdvancedMD's practice management solution or a third party. There is no option for a stand-alone EHR system. AdvancedMD's price point is about average for the industry, but many desirable features are not included in the core subscription, including a patient portal, telemedicine and e-prescribing. While these add-ons make AdvancedMD somewhat pricier than average, the system's usability and comprehensiveness make for good value per dollar.

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Best EMR for Specialists

NueMD - EHR

NueMD is a highly flexible electronic medical records system that can be customized to a practice to suit any specialties and workflows. It is our pick for best EMR for specialists.

NueMD comes with templates that are usable for more than 100 different specialties. Templates can be built or customized to suit an individual provider's preferences. This versatility expands to the system, which can be configured to suit multi-specialty, multi-practice locations, and built upon and expanded as the practice scales up. That makes it a great option for a growing practice that is considering adding more specialties in the future.

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Best EMR for Small Practices

Kareo

Kareo is an inexpensive, effective EHR system that eliminates the bells and whistles in favor of a well-rounded, competent set of core functions. It is our pick for best EMR system for small practices.

Kareo's highlights include an easy-to-use interface that can be learned quickly, and a rapid implementation period that can have users charting on the first day and finalizing billing and e-prescribing in a few weeks. Both features are desirable for any medical practice, but especially for a small practice on a tight budget.

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Editor's note: Looking for an electronic medical records (EMR) system for your business? Fill out the questionnaire below and our vendor partners will contact you about your needs.

EMR software is complex and as such there are many factors to consider when selecting which vendor to partner with. Price and ease of use are key, but there are also other considerations including the system’s interoperability with other types of software, the effectiveness of its coding and billing tools, and the level of support you can expect in the implementation period and beyond. Implementation support is especially important, because EMR software are often difficult to setup and could lead to significant disruptions without proper assistance and training. A good EMR vendor will be able to work with you every step of the way to ensure a smooth transition.

Finding the right EMR software partner can be a daunting task but doing so successfully puts a powerful tool in the hands of your medical practice. EMR software shares information seamlessly and create a unified, lasting record that patients and other providers can easily access remotely to create a more effective care plan. To help you make sure you’re selecting the best partner for you, this guide examines the EMR industry today and offers reviews of some of the EMR software currently on the market.

This page focuses on our following Best Pick use cases: Best EMR Overall, Best EMR Software for Specialists, and Best Electronic Medical Records Software for Small Practices.

Electronic Health Records vs. Electronic Medical Records

There is technically a difference between electronic medical records (EMRs), which are essentially just digitized paper charts for a single practice, and EHR systems. For one, EHRs not only replace paper charts, but can also streamline critical functions like billing, ordering prescriptions and tests, managing your practice, and communicating with your patients.

The advantage of an EHR system is that everything appears in one place, from a patient's entire medical history to the logistical aspects of running your practice. Even better, EHR systems allow providers at all points of care to communicate with one another electronically. So, if a patient visits the hospital on Saturday, their general practitioner will know exactly what happened on Monday. Physicians and staff can use an EHR system to deliver more effective treatment and create more comprehensive health records that circulate across every point of care. However, members of the industry often use the terms "EMR" and "her" interchangeably, and so for the ease of our readers, we've chosen to use them interchangeably as well.

EMR Trends to Watch in 2019

The major trend to watch in 2019 is the start of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) next stage of meaningful use standards, which is focused on “Promoting Interoperability.” Interoperability refers to a software’s capability to communicate with other systems and seamlessly deliver patient records as well as requests for prescriptions, tests and more. The CMS requirements include reporting measures and a set of objectives that healthcare providers must abide by in order to avoid penalties to incentive payments.

Innovative tech will change EMR software

While EMR software represented a big leap forward in terms of healthcare IT, the transition from paper records to digital archives has been marred by complaints and difficulties. Like most emerging technologies, though, EMRs have continued to adapt and improve to address complaints and become more effective at their intended purposes. For 2019, this includes the addition of tech that can analyze and interpret EMR data, as well as offer recommendations for how to deliver better care and reduce costs.

Amazon, for example, is developing text-analysis technology that could identify inconsistencies in the way doctors take notes, like differing abbreviations across points of care, to create a more coherent patient record. Microsoft is also expanding into the space, developing an artificial intelligence solution designed to improve patient care and engagement. These improvements come as no surprise given the rocky switch to EMRs that many healthcare providers have bemoaned.

Pricing

Pricing can vary widely for EMR systems, not only between different vendors, but even between two systems from the same vendor. Many EMR systems are customizable and can adapt to specific workflows. Moreover, EMRs often include optional modules, including billing and practice management. Sometimes you can integrate these modules at an additional cost. In our reviews, we looked only at the cost of an EMR module with no add-ons, unless an integrated practice management system was included by default.

What we found was that most EMR systems are priced per provider, per month. Some vendors require an upfront licensing fee, while others do not. Many also include implementation or training fees of some kind, as well as options to pay more for additional modules. A few EMR options offer a one-time cost, but this pricing model is uncommon.

Prices tend to fluctuate greatly, depending on the scope and breadth of the system. There are additional fees for customer support, clearinghouse fees, electronic statements and more. This pricing is subject to change based on the size of your practice and your specific needs.

Negotiations

When negotiating an EHR, it's important to go into the conversation understanding your team's specific needs and how you expect the system to integrate with your workflow. This will help you avoid purchasing unnecessary components of a larger suite, which a vendor is likely to try to sell you on. By having a clear checklist of features and how you anticipate using them, you can guide the rep through your process, rather than being taken into theirs.

The EHR space is filled with uncertainty and inconsistency, due to the crowded field and nature of the solutions. That means you're going to want to kick the tires of a range of solutions, ask tough questions, and seek second, third and fourth opinions. Here are some of the biggest things to keep in mind when choosing an EHR system, and some red flags to look out for:

What is the implementation process like? Will it take a long time and disrupt operations?
Does the vendor offer training to your team? How long does the training last? Is it included, or does it come at an added cost?
What sort of continuing support is there following implementation and launch? Does that cost extra, or is it included?
How reliable is the system? What is the percentage of total uptime that you can reasonably expect?
What software can the system interface with? Be sure to know what systems your local labs, hospitals and pharmacies use, because your EHR will need to interface with those regularly.
What is the patient portal like? Is it user-friendly and easy to understand? What information can your patients access?
Try to find customer reviews, or contact other users of the EHR in your area to find out about their experience from start to finish.

Because EHRs are sprawling systems, you could ask a million questions about each one. Take a look at our reviews for some more in-depth information about how to choose a system, but be sure to consider your team's needs and preferences in all things. Consulting the people who will have to use the EHR every day is the best way to ensure the least painful transition to a new EHR system.

Our Methodology

To determine our best picks for EHRs, we reviewed a list of more than 40 vendors. We examined their websites, marketing materials, user reviews and Better Business Bureau scores to narrow our initial list down.

After this initial round, we were left with 15 finalists, which we reviewed in depth to determine the very best. We evaluated our finalists on the following criteria:

Estimated cost
Ease of use
Practice management integrations
Patient portal
Interoperability
Implementation support
Meaningful Use Stage III
Customer service
Free trial or demo experience

To gather information and assess the quality of each best pick's customer service, we called each company and identified ourselves as working for a small medical practice that would open soon.

To estimate the cost of each system – which varies widely depending on what is included, what optional features are available and the size of a practice – we consistently stated to sales representatives that we would opt for cloud hosting and integrated practice management for a practice of five providers. We based our estimates on pricing we were given for those parameters.

Reviews

Electronic medical record software helps you improve your office management and patient interactions. Read all our reviews to find the best one for your practice.

State of the Industry

The EMR industry is a rapidly growing one. It surpassed $20 billion in value in 2016 and is projected to continue its growth unabated through 2025. While both client-server EMR and web-based segments of the industry are growing, the software as a service (SaaS) model is far outpacing the growth of the on-premises option.

IBISWorld anticipates continued growth, driven by late EMR adopters that are now feeling the squeeze of government-mandated Medicare penalties. That expectation is supported by Allied Market Research, which estimates the EMR industry will be worth $33.29 billion by 2023. Factors that push back against industry growth include concerns surrounding patient data security and high system costs, but those drags are outweighed by ongoing adoption and growth in patient populations.

EMRs are implemented in a lot of different places throughout the healthcare ecosystem, including hospitals, labs and practices. The practice-based ambulatory EMRs are growing most quickly at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6 percent. Currently, North America represents about half of the global market, but the Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow the most quickly at 6.5 percent compound annual growth rate.

Map

AdvancedMD EHR

10876 South River Front Parkway

South Jordan, UT

Allscripts

80 E Campbell Road

Richardson, TX

CareCloud EHR

5200 Blue Lagoon Drive

Miami, FL

Centricity EMR by GE Healthcare

3350 North Avenue

Arlington Heights, IL

ChartLogic

3995 S 700 E

Salt Lake City, UT

Greenway

4301 W. Boy Scout Blvd.

Tampa, FL

Kareo

3353 Michelson

Irvine, CA

NueMD - EHR

1685 Terrell Mill Rd. SE

Marietta, GA

athenahealth

311 Arsenal Street

Watertown, MA

drchrono

328 Gibraltar Drive

Sunnyvale, CA

eClinicalWorks - Version 11

2 Technology Drive

Westborough, MA

Modernizing MedicineBoca Raton, FL

Core Solutions Inc.King of Prussia, PA

Services

List of 16The Best Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Software of 2019

AdvancedMD EHR

http://www.advancedmd.com

AdvancedMD offers an effective, reliable electronic health records system that can easily scale up with a young practice as it grows. AdvancedMD is flexible enough to adapt to almost any workflow, and offers several different implementation packages suitable for practices of different sizes and budgetary constraints.

Allscripts

https://www.allscripts.com

Allscripts Professional electronic health record (EHR) system is a solution intended for small- to mid-sized practices. It offers an open architecture, so you can use it to connect to other providers or medical facilities and provide patient information quickly and securely. Allscripts supports more than 20 specialties, which includes pre-built templates for charting.

CareCloud EHR

https://www.carecloud.com

CareCloud is a relatively inexpensive and easy to use electronic health record (EHR) system with a modern user interface and optional integrated practice management system. It has no startup costs or additional fees beyond its subscription price.

Centricity EMR by GE Healthcare

http://www3.gehealthcare.com

GE Healthcare's Centricity is a full-featured EMR application certified under meaningful use so your medical practice complies with government and industry regulations.

Cerner PowerChart

https://www.cerner.com

Cerner PowerChart is an ambulatory electronic medical record system that covers just about all the information a practice could need on a patient.

ChartLogic

http://www.chartlogic.com

ChartLogic is an electronic medical record system that focuses on voice recognition and commands, believing that hands-free, accurate navigation is essential to keep providers engaged with their patients. It supports a variety of specialties and offers the flexibility to suit various needs.

CompuGroup Medical

https://www.cgm.com

CompuGroup Medical offers three different electronic health record solutions. CGM Clinical PM/EHR is an integrated practice management and EHR solution; CGM Enterprise is an EHR solution for large practices, enterprise systems and hospitals; and CGM webEHR is a fully cloud-based, stand-alone EHR solution.

Greenway

https://www.greenwayhealth.com

Healthcare IT company Greenway Health offers several options when it comes to electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Depending on the needs of your practice, you can select the most appropriate platform.

Kareo

https://www.kareo.com

Kareo provides EHR systems to small practices and has no contractual requirements. The company understands the needs and budgetary restraints of smaller practices, while allowing the option of cancelling the cloud-based service at any time if you're unhappy.

NueMD - EHR

https://www.nuemd.com

NueMD's EHR system offers customizable software packages for nearly 100 specialties, and can be tailored to each provider's workflow. It also integrates with NueMD's medical billing software.

MedicsCloud by Advanced Data Systems

https://www.adsc.com

MedicsCloud, Advanced Data Systems' cloud-based EHR, supports more than 20 specialties with specific, pre-set templates that can be customized to suit each provider's personal preferences. The company maintains a full featured mobile application for MedicsCloud that allows users to engage with the EHR on a deep level on their iOS and Android mobile devices.

athenahealth

https://www.athenahealth.com

athenahealth's web-based EHR system, athenaClinicals, is a suitable solution for mid-sized practices, ideally 11 to 75 providers. This system offers templates you can customize to suit your practice and workflow.

drchrono

https://www.drchrono.com

In terms of pricing, drchrono offers a top-tier EMR system. The company also offers a free trial of the service, rather than just a demo.

eClinicalWorks - Version 11

http://www.eclinicalworks.com

eClinicalWorks is a top electronic medical records provider that offers web-based hosting.

Modernizing Medicine

https://www.modmed.com

Modernizing Medicine offers several EHR options for a handful of different medical industries.

Core Solutions Inc.

https://www.coresolutionsinc.com

An EHR solution for behavioral health as well as health and human services practices.

The Best Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Software of 2019

by Adam C. UzialkoLast Modified: January 2, 2019

Best Electronic Medical Record Software Comparison for 2019

Best Picks

Best EMR Overall

Best EMR for Specialists

Best EMR for Small Practices

Electronic Health Records vs. Electronic Medical Records

EMR Trends to Watch in 2019

Innovative tech will change EMR software

Pricing

Negotiations

Our Methodology

Reviews

GE Healthcare - Centricity Review

athenahealth Review

eClinicalWorks v11 Review

AdvancedMD - Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Review

Greenway Review

Cerner PowerChart Review

Allscripts Review

Carecloud EHR Review

ChartLogic Review

CompuGroup Medical Review

Drchrono Review

Kareo Review

MedicsCloud Review

NueMD EHR Review

State of the Industry

Map

Services

List of 16The Best Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Software of 2019

AdvancedMD EHR

http://www.advancedmd.com

Allscripts

https://www.allscripts.com

CareCloud EHR

https://www.carecloud.com

Centricity EMR by GE Healthcare

http://www3.gehealthcare.com

Cerner PowerChart

https://www.cerner.com

ChartLogic

http://www.chartlogic.com

CompuGroup Medical

https://www.cgm.com

Greenway

https://www.greenwayhealth.com

Kareo

https://www.kareo.com

NueMD - EHR

https://www.nuemd.com

MedicsCloud by Advanced Data Systems

https://www.adsc.com

athenahealth

https://www.athenahealth.com

drchrono

https://www.drchrono.com

eClinicalWorks - Version 11

http://www.eclinicalworks.com

Modernizing Medicine

https://www.modmed.com

Core Solutions Inc.

https://www.coresolutionsinc.com

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