Finding software can be overwhelming. We've helped thousands of health care organizations choose the right EMR software so they can create digital patient charts and track assessments.
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AdvancedEHR FrontRunners 2021
AdvancedMD is a unified suite of software solutions designed for mental health, physical therapy and medical healthcare organizations and independent physician practices. Features include practice management, electronic health rec... Read more
DrChrono’s iPad and iPhone compatible EHR and medical billing platform allows medical practices and healthcare providers to manage patient intake, patient care, clinical charting, billing and revenue cycle management. It includes ... Read more
athenahealth recently named 2020 Best in KLAS: Small Practice Ambulatory EMR/PM, athenaClinicals, for 10 or fewer physicians, and Ambulatory RCM Services, athenaCollector, is providing cloud-based services for electronic health re... Read more

Kareo Clinical FrontRunners 2021
Kareo ClinicalFrontRunners 2021
Kareo is a Web-based EHR, medical billing, and practice management used by thousands of physicians across the United States. This system suits small practices and billing companies. With Kareo, practices can schedule patients, con... Read more

Compulink Healthcare Solutions FrontRunners 2021
Compulink Healthcare SolutionsFrontRunners 2021
Compulink Healthcare Solutions is an integrated hybrid medical solution that provides medical service providers functionalities such as electronic health records (EHR), practice management, revenue cycle management, inventory mana... Read more
PrognoCIS EHR and PrognoCIS Telemedicine have earned a reputation for fast, flexible individual provider workflow. The software package offers a full suite of highly desirable features and functions. PrognoCIS provides a cloud-bas... Read more
Elation Health is a cloud-based clinically focused electronic health record solution for physicians looking for an ONC-ATCB certified EMR along with patient scheduling, a patient portal, e-prescribing and e-faxing. The solution ca... Read more
Modernizing Medicine offers an integrated telehealth platform within its specialty-specific EHR system, EMA. Called modmed Telehealth, it offers synchronous audio and video telemedicine capabilities for specialty physicians as wel... Read more

NextGen Healthcare FrontRunners 2021
NextGen HealthcareFrontRunners 2021
NextGen Healthcare offers NextGen Office—a cloud-based EHR – specifically designed for private practices. NextGen Office is a fully integrated practice management solution that includes specialty-specific content, a claims clearin... Read more
patientNOW is a hybrid integrated Practice Management (PM) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) solution for aesthetic medical practices like plastic surgery, medical spas and cosmetic dermatology. The solution can be deployed eit... Read more
AdvancedMD is a medical office software suite with cloud-based, integrated physician-patient workflow solutions including: practice management/medical billing, electronic health records, telemedicine, patient engagement, practice ... Read more
WebPT is a cloud-based, multi-product platform for outpatient physical, occupational, speech therapy, and chiropractic clinics. At its core, WebPT is an electronic medical records (EMR) system that enables therapists to produce an... Read more
Remedly is a cloud-based medical solution designed for plastic and cosmetic surgeons and medical spas. It is an integrated solution that encompasses functionalities such as practice management, electronic health records, patient p... Read more
ChartLogic offers an ambulatory EHR suite that includes electronic medical record, practice management, revenue cycle management, e-prescribing and patient portal. The solution caters to primary care, surgical care and other compl... Read more
Aesthetics Pro Online is a cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant medical spa management solution that offers staff management, calendar management, client management, point-of-sale and marketing management functionalities within a suite. ... Read more
RevolutionEHR is a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) solution built specifically for optometry practices. RevolutionEHR includes a complete EHR, medical billing, patient scheduling, medical accounting and a picture archiv... Read more
Eyefinity EHR and Eyefinity Practice Management are a cloud-based, electronic health record and practice management solution designed to meet the unique needs of the optometric industry for single and multi-location practices. ... Read more
Virtually click-free and hands-off, the certified MedicsCloud EHR dramatically reduces encounter and clinical documentation time through its built-in (no extra cost) Medics FlowText utility. Operating in three ways, FlowText ... Read more
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2021 Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software Pricing Guide
Learn about the key aspects of accurate software pricing before you make your purchase decision.
Includes:
Pricing models & ranges
Unexpected costs
Pricing of popular systems
Step 1: Ensure EMR software is right for your business
In order to determine which EMR software system is right for your practice, you first have to understand what EMR software is and how the features commonly included in these systems benefit you and your patients.
What is EMR software?
Electronic medical records software (EMR), often used interchangeably with electronic health records software (EHR), is a collection of features and tools that allow medical providers to create, store, and update patients' digital health records more easily and more securely than paper charts.
Common features of EMR software include digital charting, order entry, decision support, and clinical reporting. In addition to making life easier and processes faster for healthcare workers, this software can also help physicians qualify for government incentives, meet regulatory requirements, and improve overall care quality.
Essential features of EMR software
When comparing EMR software systems to choose the best system for your practice, it's important to know what features are included in each system. The most common features of EMR solutions include:
Charting: Prepare digital charts in real time related to patients’ medical problems and diagnoses. Merge all patient record information into a single chart. For charting, many EMR solutions offer customizable templates and users can select desired fields as per their needs.
E-prescribing: Electronically print and transmit prescriptions to pharmacies of the patient's choice. Receive automatic notifications related to various interactions with pharmacies such as dosage amounts, allergies, and prescriptions.
Patient portal: Enable patients to login and access various information such as their medication history, number of visits to the doctor, and lab results. Improve patient engagement by promoting active participation and ownership of their own healthcare.
Order entry: Enter, store, and transmit orders for lab tests, medication orders, and other services.
Decision support: Receive automated treatment alerts, reminders, or recommendations meant to help patients based on their specific conditions and demographics.
Of course, not all EMRs are created equal and many are designed specifically to serve large healthcare organizations instead of smaller, independent practices.
To better understand where you fall on that spectrum and which EMR software features you need to have at this point in your practice’s development, you can read our full IT needs cycle for medical practices here.
Benefits and competitive advantages of using EMR software
EMR software gives medical practices a number of benefits, including:
Better quality of patient care: Features such as integrated drug databases, symptom checks, and drug interaction verification help physicians prescribe the correct medications and dosages.
Improved clinical reporting: When patient information and medical record systems are digitized, it's much easier to create reports that identify and track health risks for individuals or groups of people. These reports can help physicians intervene earlier when a patient is developing a worsening health condition. An EMR's reporting tools can also make it possible for practices to participate in Medicare payment programs such as the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
Enhanced care coordination: It's important for charts to be easily accessible and legible so they can be shared with all authorized providers on a patient's care team, such as specialists and technicians. An EMR system provides a standardized format to clearly present dated patient information that can be shared digitally—which is more secure than printing and transporting or faxing sensitive medical records to authorized colleagues.
More efficient collections: Electronic patient records give physicians the necessary documentation to support claims sent to insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid. Integrated features for E&M coding also help providers code visits appropriately and confidently.
Streamlined operations: Doctors and administrators can access patient health information without rifling through scores of paper-based records. Other time-saving EMR advantages include the ability to receive lab test results digitally and prescribe medications electronically.
Step 2: Set your EMR needs and budget
How much should you spend on EMR software?
The price of EMR software is difficult to generalize because it depends on factors that vary by buyer, such as:
- Number of users
- Required features
- Size of patient panel
- Availability of IT support staff
- Patient data migration needs
That said, we have some data-backed insights that can help small, midsize, and large practices determine how much they should budget for a stand-alone EMR system (excluding setup costs). The data in the chart below is based on conversations between our expert software advisors and real medical practices seeking software. The practices surveyed are budgeting for monthly subscription-based EMRs.
You can also explore free and open source EMR software options. Read our guide to understanding these EMR options and choosing the best one for you here.
Understanding cloud vs. on-premise EMR software pricing
Another aspect of EMR pricing that often complicates the buying decision is the difference between cloud-based and on-premise software purchase options. Generally, the biggest difference between these options is how the software is actually deployed and then accessed by users.
Cloud-based EHR software is hosted on a secure, remote server and can be accessed using compatible devices (tablets, laptops, etc.) over the internet. This type of deployment is usually associated with monthly subscription payments, and the price can be based on number of licensed users, number of patients, or appointment volume.
On-premise EHR software is hosted on your own practice’s servers, and you will be responsible for security and maintenance. This type of deployment is most commonly available through a perpetual license, which involves a one-time purchase fee followed by additional fees for system updates as they become available.
Read more about different EMR pricing options in our guide to understanding EMR pricing.
Step 3: Make a shortlist of EMR software
Get qualified help from an advisor
At Software Advice, we can guide you to the right software with real advice from real people—our advisors have helped hundreds of healthcare providers. We’re here to help you find solutions that meet your needs and budget.
"We have helped practices find simple ways to track patient information, scaling to more robust EMRs with practice management applications built-in.
The issue with searching EMRs is the vast amount of options. We can help with narrowing down the search based on specialty, price, and functionality."
- Josh Pierce, Senior Advisor, Medical Software
You can chat online now with an advisor or schedule a phone call. In just a few minutes, your advisor will help you narrow down a list of options that meet your needs.
Explore our list of EMR FrontRunners
If you’re not ready to speak to an advisor just yet, you can also start compiling your shortlist of EMR software with our FrontRunners report. Only products that earn top user ratings make this list. To be eligible for consideration, a product must:
- Have at least 20 unique user reviews in the last 24 months
- Be a stand-alone EMR software product
- Offer these features:
- Charting
- Decision support
- Coding assistance
Check out our full methodology description for more detail on how the report is compiled.
Step 4: Pick your best option
Consider federal regulations when selecting your EMR
Many practices are in the market for an EMR specifically because they want to participate in government health care initiatives that incentivize the use of health IT.
Whether you were one of the thousands of physicians who got an EMR to cash in on Meaningful Use incentives or you're a first-time buyer preparing for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), it's clear that regulatory compliance is a huge purchase driver for practitioners.
Your best bet for ensuring a system has the robust functionality necessary to meet government health care regulations is to choose an "ONC-certified" EMR. These systems have been tested and certified to confirm they offer a set of technological capabilities, functionalities, and security requirements approved by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
Be aware of potential drawbacks
While there are many benefits of implementing EMR software, there are also potential pitfalls you may encounter while purchasing EMR. The good news is, they’re very avoidable. Here are some of the most important ones to be aware of:
Security: One common concern for EMR software buyers is data security. Patient privacy and HIPAA compliance are typically on the front of providers' minds, so buyers should make sure that the EMR is implemented properly and that standard security features exist in the system. Most vendors are well aware of buyers' security concerns and have taken steps to ensure proper data encryption technology is in place for both on-premise and web-based systems. Additionally, a digitized medical record is often safer than a paper chart.
User adoption: A second consideration is user adoption, primarily among providers. Some providers find EMRs difficult to use because they are used to working with paper charts. Most user adoption issues can be solved with adequate training. The amount necessary depends on the user's tech savviness.
Interoperability challenges: Interoperability is the transfer of patient data between different EMR systems so authorized providers can access and interpret that data. While vendors are making progress toward achieving interoperability, it's still an issue the industry is struggling with. Fortunately, technologies such as direct messaging make it easier to share records electronically.
How to prepare for vendor demos
Once you’ve compiled your shortlist of EMR software systems, you’ll begin to schedule demo sessions with each vendor in order to learn more about their product. This is your chance to ask questions about the features they offer, pricing, technical support, training tools, and anything else that might be an important factor in choosing the right EMR system for your practice.
Some questions you should consider asking vendors in each demo include:
What kind of customer support do you offer during implementation?
One of the major reasons implementations fail is a lack of proper customer support and assistance. Be sure to ask vendors what plan they have to assist your staff members during the implementation process.
How often do you update your EMR software and what updates are you planning for your next release?
Look for answers such as, "Yes, we update our software regularly and offer free updates to our customers," or "Yes, we update our software regularly and our next version is scheduled to be released in three months." Products that are updated regularly are usually better when it comes to addressing customer requests and offering functionality to meet changing regulatory requirements.
What customization options are currently available?
The ability to customize existing EMR features can help you get exactly what you want from your new software. A given system may include specialty-specific features that don't apply to your practice, for example, so the ability to tailor a system to your specific needs will make it more efficient and cost effective.
To help you keep track of the questions you want to ask each vendor and their answers, we’ve created an EHR vendor scorecard. Use this checklist to ensure you’re asking the right questions and objectively considering their answers.
Step 5: Finalize your EMR purchase
Build a business case for EMR software
Once you’ve finalized your EMR selection, you may need to pitch your choice to the rest of your team before making your purchase. The best way to do this is by creating a business case for EMR software.
Purchasing EMR software can generate a strong return on investment (ROI) for your medical practice. The top three ROI drivers for purchasing EMR software are:
- Improved patient care
- Reduced administrative costs
- Improved billings and collections
The primary measures of effectiveness are:
- The claims collection rate
- The number of patient visits per day
- The amount of time spent managing faxes and paper charts
- The direct costs of paper charts (e.g., cost of materials, storage, destruction)
You can follow our template to start building your own business case.
Step 6: Make the most of your EMR software
Best practices for implementing EMR software
Once you’ve made your selection and finalized your EMR software purchase, you’ll begin the implementation process. Whether you’re switching from one EMR to another or going from paper charts to your first electronic system, there are some important considerations you’ll want to pay attention to during this process:
Data migration: Transferring all of your patient data and records from an existing EMR to a new system is time consuming, but it’s crucial to get this part of the process right. Communicate with both your old and new EMR providers to make sure nothing gets missed in this part of the process.
Training: Once you have the new system in place, you’ll want to make sure your staff fully understands how to use it. If possible, you should lean on your new EMR provider to run staff training sessions and provide training materials. Be aware that this will take some time, so plan on holding multiple training sessions and refresher courses until everyone feels confident with the new EMR.
Communication: Realistically, the implementation process may cause some delays or confusion for your staff that could impact patients. In order to head off any potential issues, it’s helpful to communicate with patients that you’re in the middle of an EMR transition. This is a great way to set expectations, reassure patients that any issues will be temporary, and remind them that you’re doing this in order to provide even better care.
For more details on how to ensure a smooth transition, check out our guide here.
Software related to EMR
Depending on which EMR you choose, you may need to supplement some features with related software systems in order to provide the most convenient care to your patients. Some types of software that are closely related to EMR, but may or may not be included in your EMR system, include:
Behavioral/mental health EHR software Electronic medical record (EMR) systems for mental and behavioral health providers have unique features for counselors, mental health clinics, and group practices.
Medical billing software: Medical billing systems help providers generate patient statements and submit claims. This software is ideal for practices that want to handle billing in-house.
Patient portal software: Patient portal systems allow patients to access their own healthcare information, pay bills, schedule appointments, and communicate directly with providers. This software is an ideal way to keep patients engaged with their own care and improve outcomes.
Patient scheduling software: Patient scheduling systems make it easier to set and manage your schedules by automating the process. You can enable patients to schedule their own appointments without needing to call your office, and automated appointment confirmation and reminder notifications can be sent to decrease no-show rates.
Telemedicine software: Telemedicine systems are HIPAA-compliant tools that allow medical professionals to provide care to patients remotely using features such as secure video conferencing, chat, and messaging.
More resources for your EMR journey
- 3 EHR Selection Criteria for Your Independent Practice
- 3 Top-Rated EMR Solutions—How Does Yours Compare?
- Is Google Building an AI-Powered EHR?
- Mitigate Malpractice Mistakes: 3 Risks Associated With EHR Implementation
- Five Best Practices for Training Staff on Using a New EHR
- 5 Ways to Reduce Physician Burnout Caused by EHRs
- EHR Strategies for Small Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- 3 Disadvantages of EHRs (And How to Overcome Them)
Your Guide to Top Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software, February 2021
Software Advice uses reviews from real software users to highlight the top-rated Electronic Medical Records Software products in North America.
Learn how products are chosen