Top EHR software systems for physicians

Electronic health record (EHR) systems, also sometimes referred to as physician software, or electronic medical records (EMR) for doctors, are a key ingredient in physician offices. Used to streamline workflows, improve patient care, and ensure regulatory compliance, EHR software systems reduce manual tasks and ensure operational efficiency.

In this article, we’re exploring the top physician EHR software systems for physicians seeking reliable, efficient, and user-friendly EHR solutions.  

EHR systems provide physicians with immediate access to comprehensive patient information. Some of the key benefits of physician software include informed decision-making and better care coordination. 

With up-to-date and complete patient data, physicians can:

Streamlined billing and coding processes, together with faster retrieval of patient information, help physicians manage their practices more efficiently. EHR systems are also a safer way of storing information compared to paper records. With built-in robust security measures to safeguard data, EHR doctors meet compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other regulatory requirements. 

As regulatory requirements become stricter, patient expectations evolve, and the need for operational efficiency grows, the importance of implementing effective EHR systems has never been greater.

EHR systems play a critical role in:

As the market for EHR systems continues to evolve, several solutions have emerged as leaders in meeting the diverse needs of physician practices. 

Let's explore some of the top physician software, including their key strengths and features.

Epic is widely recognized for its comprehensive and scalable EHR solution, which hospitals and large health organizations primarily use.

Key strengths:

Robust interoperability features for seamless data exchange between different healthcare providers. 

Virtual 1:1 consultations, specialist referrals, insurance vetting, and remote patient monitoring are useful tools for practitioners. Patients can also benefit from accessing their medical history, receiving alerts, and making simple payments. 

The extensive array of features can pose a challenge for physicians to fully grasp. Reviews mention the need for external adoption tools and a structured educational program to effectively train teams. 

Cerner has established itself as a long-standing player in the EHR market, offering strong integration capabilities for mid- to large-sized practices and hospitals.

This enterprise EHR platform has a large customer base and offers bespoke integrations and third-party plugins via Cerner’s API. Cerner enables physicians to rapidly document patient encounters by using templates and workflows to streamline the process, reduce errors, and save time. 

Key strengths:

Cerner EHR system is easy to use and a popular platform for coordination and communication across the care team. This physician software is best suited for any hospital or large organization with multiple sites.

Due to its complex, modular design and extensive features, Cerner is not as user-friendly as some other EHRs.

Athenahealth focuses on providing cloud-based solutions that are easy to use and cater to the needs of small and mid-sized practices. 

Athenahealth provides a customer success manager and live support agents to onboard teams and deliver ongoing EHR end-user support.

Key strengths:

This EHR system is most suitable for small practices and medium organizations. Athenahealth customers must use their revenue cycle management services.

‍eClinicalWorks provides a comprehensive solution tailored to meet the complex requirements of medium to large medical practices with multiple physicians and locations. 

Key strengths:

It’s worth noting that the EHR-only plan does not include practice management or billing implementation services.

Tebra offers a comprehensive platform designed specifically for independent practices, combining EHR functionality with additional features to support billing and payments, practice growth, and patient engagement.

Key strengths:

Tebra’s EHR is modern, cloud-based, and ONC-certified with integrated billing, telehealth, and eRx- and eLab-ordering workflows. Its breadth of services (which include patient experience and marketing tools) meets practices where they are in their business lifecycle.

Tebra’s EHR is built for independent practices and was designed by healthcare providers. Write a note, prescribe a medication, view electronic medical records, and create a superbill in just minutes.

When comparing key features to determine which EHR is right for your practice, there are several important factors to consider:

Epic offers comprehensive functionality including robust patient management, billing, scheduling, and reporting capabilities. It excels at handling complex workflows for large health systems.

Cerner provides strong clinical decision support tools, population health management features, and interoperability, while Athenahealth focuses on streamlined workflows for smaller practices with integrated practice management and billing. eClinicalWorks provides a comprehensive suite of features and is suitable for practices of various sizes and specialties.

With Tebra, you get an all-in-one platform combining EHR, practice management, and patient engagement tools tailored for independent practices.

The best choice ultimately depends on your specific practice needs, budget, and workflow requirements. It's advisable to request demos and trials from a variety of vendors to determine which system best aligns with your practice's unique needs.

Typical physician software includes EHR systems, practice management software, and billing systems. Larger practices and hospital-affiliated physician offices may use more comprehensive systems like Epic or Cerner, while smaller independent practices might opt for cloud-based solutions like Tebra that offer more flexibility and lower upfront costs.

Currently, Epic Systems is the largest EHR vendor to physician offices in the US, particularly in terms of overall market share and usage across the country. Epic was the only EHR vendor to experience a net market share increase in 2023, adding 153 new acute care clients while maintaining all existing customers.

Epic is primarily used in hospitals, large health systems, and academic medical centers. Cerner is a popular choice for mid-sized hospitals and health systems. Athenahealth is prevalent in ambulatory care settings, smaller practices, and some hospitals. Tebra competes against larger vendors like Athenahealth and eClinicalWorks, and is recognized as a significant player for independent healthcare practices.

The 3 primary types of medical record systems are:

The best EHR for your practice will have all of the necessary features to make your operations run more smoothly. Small practices have challenges such as tight budgets, limited resources, and the pressure to deliver high-quality care. Fit-for-purpose EMR for doctors can help overcome all of these challenges and more.

Some criteria to consider when selecting an EHR system include cost, practice size, specialty-specific needs, ease of use, and integration with existing systems. To make your decision easier, we’ve created an EHR selection guide.