# Best EHR Software - Page 13 *By [Emma Stein](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/emma-stein)* Electronic health records (EHR), also known as electronic medical records (EMR), are real-time digital versions of patient medical information. EHR software allows medical professionals across multiple health care organizations to access, input, and adjust patient data. It also allows patients to log on to their own profiles so that they can stay up to date on their own medical record. Since EHR software is designed to share information with multiple health care providers, like pharmacies and laboratories, a patient’s profile can have information from all of the professionals involved in the patient’s care. When medical professionals use an EHR, they have a more holistic view of the patient’s health and will be able to more effectively serve their patients. EHRs can integrate with several different types of software such as practice management software, billing systems, medical scheduling, and more. To qualify for inclusion in the Electronic Health Record category, a product must: - Record and track patient data in real time. - Have functionality across multiple health care providers. - Allow patients to log in to view their own profile. ## How Many EHR Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 567 ### Category Stats (May 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.03/5 (↑0.01 vs Apr 2026) - **New Reviews This Quarter**: 70 - **Buyer Segments**: Small-Business 69% │ Mid-Market 23% │ Enterprise 9% - **Top Trending Product**: Netsmart CareManager (+1.25) *Last updated: May 31, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank EHR Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 7,200+ Authentic Reviews - 567+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which EHR Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [ModMed](https://www.g2.com/products/modmed/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [EHRYourWay](https://www.g2.com/products/ehryourway/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [EHRYourWay](https://www.g2.com/products/ehryourway/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [SPRY](https://www.g2.com/products/spry-spry/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Carepatron](https://www.g2.com/products/carepatron/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### Eldermark Eldermark, the only true ERP software solution for the senior housing market, unites clinical, sales, engagement, and financial operations. Eldermark's state of the art technology with modern user interface leverages AI, predictive and prescriptive analytics, and is backed by decades of clinical expertise to ensure regulatory compliance and enhance decision-making, care efficiency, and revenue capture. Information at your fingertips, delivered to the right people, at the right time, in the right place. If you're looking to increase revenue, enhance care, simplify work, and create more meaningful resident outcomes, visit eldermark.com to experience the transformative power of centralized software solutions built specifically for senior living. Learn how you can optimize your business to generate an additional $1,263 in revenue per resident each month, save 12 hours of admin time each week, and increase your move-in rates by 20%! [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=444&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=444&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=444&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=10100&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=444&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fehr&secure%5Btoken%5D=0242d11b52b319bb81569516c25dd64f969380a8ef02122f6f1349bd1a69e935&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eldermark.com&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated EHR Software Products in 2026? ### 1. [CaregiverDesktop EHR](https://www.g2.com/products/caregiverdesktop-ehr/reviews) Internet-based application that provides patient reminders, triage management, problem list management, and immunization recording. **Who Is the Company Behind CaregiverDesktop EHR?** - **Seller:** [Inforia](https://www.g2.com/sellers/inforia) - **Year Founded:** 2000 - **HQ Location:** Dublin, US - **Twitter:** @InforiaInc (307 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/inforia-inc- (10 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 2. [CertaCure Hospital Information System](https://www.g2.com/products/certacure-hospital-information-system/reviews) CertaCure is a comprehensive, integrated a hospital information system HIS, EMR designed to manage all the aspects of a hospital operation, such as admissions, outpatient services, Emergency, Operating theater, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, clinical information system, CPOE, nursing and patient Billing that certified vertical add-on SAP. with a smart form designer and workflow engine that will guarantee smooth customization and adaptation. **Who Is the Company Behind CertaCure Hospital Information System?** - **Seller:** [CertaCure](https://www.g2.com/sellers/certacure) - **Year Founded:** 2016 - **HQ Location:** amman, JO - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/certacure (32 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 3. [CGM webEHR](https://www.g2.com/products/cgm-webehr/reviews) CGM webEHR™ is a web-based electronic health record solution that combines powerful features and capabilities with ultimate ease-of-use. In fact, whether your practice has extensive experience using EHRs or your staff members are completely new to this process, you can immediately experience the advantages of this solution with very little training or implementation time. Thanks to CGM webEHR ’s flexibility, you can securely access patient data from any location at any time. You also have the ability to connect on a community basis with other providers who use this solution, while choosing to securely and selectively share patient data according to your needs and preferences. As a result, you can increase collaboration with other physician practices while improving coordination of care for your patients. This innovative solution also includes templates that can be customized to your practice’s unique needs. This allows you to consistently enter exam and historical patient data for every visit—eliminating “missing” data that can impact reimbursement and quality of care. With locations in 19 countries and products in 56 countries worldwide, CompuGroup Medical is one of the leading eHealth companies in the world. CompuGroup Medical's support a unique customer base of more than 1.5 million health professionals including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and other service providers in inpatient and outpatient facilities. **Who Is the Company Behind CGM webEHR?** - **Seller:** [CompuGroup Medical USA](https://www.g2.com/sellers/compugroup-medical-usa) - **HQ Location:** Austin, US - **Twitter:** @CGM_TR_KSA (65 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1814449/ (362 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** ETR: COP ### 4. [ChartPath](https://www.g2.com/products/chartpath/reviews) ChartPath offers long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) solutions that provide better charting, billing operations and revenue cycle management. **Who Is the Company Behind ChartPath?** - **Seller:** [ChartPath](https://www.g2.com/sellers/chartpath) - **Year Founded:** 2012 - **HQ Location:** Austin, US - **Twitter:** @chart_path - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/chartpath (11 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 5. [ChartPerfect EHR](https://www.g2.com/products/chartperfect-ehr/reviews) All in one EHR/PM system **Who Is the Company Behind ChartPerfect EHR?** - **Seller:** [Acrendo Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/acrendo-software) - **HQ Location:** San Diego, CA - **Twitter:** @acrendo (22 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 6. [ChartSynergy](https://www.g2.com/products/chartsynergy/reviews) ChartSynergy facilitates cost-effective collection, storage, transmission, and analysis of clinical data. Health care providers use our system to improve their services. **Who Is the Company Behind ChartSynergy?** - **Seller:** [Novadge](https://www.g2.com/sellers/novadge) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @Novadge (10 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 7. [ChildCareDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/childcaredoc/reviews) ChildCareDoc is a electronic health record system for child care, designed by doctors, nurses and administrators. Our secure, easy-to-use web-based solution helps child cares manage health forms, medications/allergies and health logging throughout the year. **Who Is the Company Behind ChildCareDoc?** - **Seller:** [DocNetwork LLC.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/docnetwork-llc) - **Year Founded:** 2009 - **HQ Location:** Ann Arbor, Michigan - **Twitter:** @ChildCareDoc (342 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3184794/ (39 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 8. [Ciyex EHR](https://www.g2.com/products/ciyex-ehr/reviews) Ciyex EHR — Your Health Records, In Your Control Ciyex EHR is building a secure digital health platform that allows people to store, manage, and share their health records in one place — for free. Today, medical records are scattered across hospitals, clinics, labs, and pharmacies. This makes it difficult for individuals to access their own health information when they need it. Ciyex solves this by giving people a single, secure place to manage their entire medical history. Community support helps fund the development, testing, and ONC certification needed to ensure the platform meets modern healthcare technology standards and remains accessible to everyone. How Ciyex Helps People With Ciyex, individuals can: • Keep all medical records in one secure location • Access health information anytime, anywhere • Share medical history easily with doctors and clinics • Track medications, lab results, allergies, and vaccinations • Manage health records for children and family members • Help caregivers support elderly family members • Provide accurate medical history during emergencies • Reduce repeated tests and paperwork at hospitals • Receive better and faster care from healthcare providers By putting health records directly in the hands of individuals, Ciyex helps people stay informed, prepared, and in control of their health. Why Support Matters Community support helps build and certify a platform that keeps healthcare accessible, secure, and people-focused. Support Build a free health record platform for individuals and families. Empower Give people full access and control over their medical information. Innovate Accelerate secure healthcare technology designed around patient care. About Ciyex Ciyex Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building modern, secure, and interoperable open source electronic health record (EHR) systems. We believe that access to high-quality healthcare technology should not be limited by cost or geography. Our mission is to empower public health initiatives globally by providing a complete, HIPAA-compliant EHR platform that is free to use, self-hostable, and built on open standards like FHIR R4 and HL7 v2. We serve patients, clinics, hospitals, and healthcare organizations of all sizes — from rural community health centers to large hospital networks. By making healthcare technology open source, we aim to reduce barriers to adoption, promote data interoperability, and enable healthcare providers to focus on what matters most — patient care. **Who Is the Company Behind Ciyex EHR?** - **Seller:** [Ciyex](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ciyex) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 9. [Clicktate](https://www.g2.com/products/clicktate/reviews) Meets all requirements necessary for Meaningful Use Stage 2 and has been certified as a Complete EHR for ambulatory practices. **Who Is the Company Behind Clicktate?** - **Seller:** [Cerberus Healthcare](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cerberus-healthcare) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 10. [cliexa](https://www.g2.com/products/cliexa/reviews) cliexa is a fully compliant integrated digital health platform that provides intake, screening and remote patient monitoring services, tailored to any sub-specialty. The platform increases clinical efficiency with customized intake workflows and up-front screening tools, while qualifying patients for reimbursements automatically. cliexa integrates critical patient data between appointments by connecting clinicians to their patients through the remote patient monitoring tools. The goal is to provide actionable data directly to the patient’s chart with robust, automated compliance support. cliexa empowers physicians by giving them opportunities to enhance their workflow, increase reimbursements and improve outcomes. **Who Is the Company Behind cliexa?** - **Seller:** [cliexa](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cliexa) - **Year Founded:** 2016 - **HQ Location:** Denver, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cliexa/ (25 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 11. [CLIN1 Electronic Medical Records](https://www.g2.com/products/clin1-electronic-medical-records/reviews) Electronic medical records (EMR) software that offers your facility the ability to implement your EMR incrementally. **Who Is the Company Behind CLIN1 Electronic Medical Records?** - **Seller:** [Clinical Software Solutions](https://www.g2.com/sellers/clinical-software-solutions) - **Year Founded:** 2000 - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @ClinSoftSol (36 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-software-solutions-ltd (2 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 12. [Clinic Management Software](https://www.g2.com/products/clinic-management-software/reviews) CureCast is an easy-to-use Clinic Management Software that was created by a team of passionate healthcare providers. It has all the features you need to streamline your clinic operations and improve patient care. CureCast is simple to use and easy to navigate. Its user-friendly interface makes it ideal for busy healthcare providers who want to get their work done quickly and efficiently. CureCast offers a wide range of features that will help you manage your clinic more effectively. These include: Online Booking: Schedule appointments and track patient visits easily with CureCast’s online booking feature. Electronic Medical Records: Maintain complete and accurate patient records with CureCast’s EMR feature. prescriptions: Prescribe medications and track patient compliance easily with CureCast’s prescription management feature. Reporting & Analytics: Generate reports and track metrics to help you improve clinic performance. CureCast is a complete solution for anyone who wants to streamline their clinic operations and improve patient care. Try it today! **Who Is the Company Behind Clinic Management Software?** - **Seller:** [Sakshi Deskmukh](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sakshi-deskmukh) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 13. [ClinicTracker](https://www.g2.com/products/clinictracker/reviews) A Behavioral Health EHR to Simplify Every Facet of Your Facility An EHR should make life easier for clinicians and administrators — and with ClinicTracker, it can. Built by clinicians and administrators, our behavioral health EHR software combines EHR, billing, and practice management into a single, fully integrated solution. Paired with an extraordinary degree of flexibility and lightning-fast support, we meet the needs of behavioral health providers in a way that other EHR software vendors can’t. One System To: Automate clinic routines Boost staff productivity Increase billing efficiency Enhance overall management **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 2 **How Do G2 Users Rate ClinicTracker?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **What is your organization's estimated ROI on the product (payback period in months)?:** 10/10 (Category avg: 10/10) **Who Is the Company Behind ClinicTracker?** - **Seller:** [JAG Products](https://www.g2.com/sellers/jag-products) - **Year Founded:** 2000 - **HQ Location:** Fayetteville, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinictracker/ (14 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 50% Small-Business ### 14. [ClinNext](https://www.g2.com/products/clinnext/reviews) CLINNEXT covers Database management software for medical clinicians and administrators to electronically manage and process patient health data. **Who Is the Company Behind ClinNext?** - **Seller:** [SabiaMed](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sabiamed) - **HQ Location:** Caguas, PR - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 15. [CloudMedico](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudmedico/reviews) Discover CloudMedico, the cutting-edge Electronic Health Records (EHR) system designed to revolutionize healthcare management. Experience secure patient data handling, streamlined appointments, and efficient medical record management. Register for out Free Plan and start managing your Practice with no costs. **Who Is the Company Behind CloudMedico?** - **Seller:** [CloudMedico](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cloudmedico) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 16. [CloudPital Practice Management](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudpital-practice-management/reviews) Cloudpital is a leader in Healthcare Technology solutions providers offering a wide range of products including Electronic Medical record ( EMR ) , Hospital Management Solutions, Radiology & Machine Interfacing , Doctor to Patient Communication , Lab Automation and 50+ custom made solutions resulting into smarter business and better patient care. **Who Is the Company Behind CloudPital Practice Management?** - **Seller:** [Bilytica](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bilytica) - **Year Founded:** 2012 - **HQ Location:** Melbourne, AU - **Twitter:** @BilyticapvtLtd (256 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2479555 (455 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 17. [CogHMS (Cognosys Hospital Management System)](https://www.g2.com/products/coghms-cognosys-hospital-management-system/reviews) Cog HMS is an web-based modular hospital management software that offers patient management, business analytics, HR management, and store management. **Who Is the Company Behind CogHMS (Cognosys Hospital Management System)?** - **Seller:** [AlmaLinux OS Foundation](https://www.g2.com/sellers/almalinux-os-foundation-1f01d427-920a-41fb-a834-7951a888d101) - **Year Founded:** 2021 - **HQ Location:** Estero, Florida - **Twitter:** @almalinux (12,253 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/almalinuxos (26 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 18. [ConnectEHR](https://www.g2.com/products/connectehr/reviews) MediRecords is a clinical and practice management cloud software developed as a health service application. **Who Is the Company Behind ConnectEHR?** - **Seller:** [MediRecords](https://www.g2.com/sellers/medirecords) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** North Sydney , AU - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/medirecords (71 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 19. [Core Solutions](https://www.g2.com/products/core-solutions/reviews) Core Solutions offers behavioral health EHR software solution. **Who Is the Company Behind Core Solutions?** - **Seller:** [Core Solutions](https://www.g2.com/sellers/core-solutions) - **Year Founded:** 1999 - **HQ Location:** King of Prussia, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/core-solutions-inc/ (223 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 20. [CR2 Hospital Information System (HIS)](https://www.g2.com/products/cr2-hospital-information-system-his/reviews) HospiERP is an integrated hospital management system e-governance for administration, infrastructure & logistics management. **Who Is the Company Behind CR2 Hospital Information System (HIS)?** - **Seller:** [CR2 Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cr2-technologies-12751fa9-01ba-49e0-9e7a-cabbbba489fc) - **Year Founded:** 2007 - **HQ Location:** Ahmedabad, IN - **Twitter:** @edu_erp (9 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/cr2-technologies-ltd- (29 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 21. [Crescendo by Delta Health Technologies](https://www.g2.com/products/crescendo-by-delta-health-technologies/reviews) Crescendo's easy-to use tools simplify agency workflow, providing a clear, natural path through billing, scheduling, documentation and other time-consuming daily tasks. What's more, it's completely customizable to your agency’s unique needs. And you'll be amazed at how little training it takes to master. **Who Is the Company Behind Crescendo by Delta Health Technologies?** - **Seller:** [Delta Health Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/delta-health-technologies) - **Year Founded:** 1968 - **HQ Location:** Altoona, US - **Twitter:** @DeltaHealthTech (759 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5080169 (20 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 22. [Cynerio](https://www.g2.com/products/cynerio/reviews) Cynerio's tailor made solution for healthcare providers uses industry's 1st technology which combines device behavior learning with medical workflow analysis to provide full visibility into medical device behavior and activity on the network, detect anomalies and stop the threat to ensure patient safety and data protection. **Who Is the Company Behind Cynerio?** - **Seller:** [Cynerio](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cynerio) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** New York, US - **Twitter:** @cynerio (283 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://il.linkedin.com/company/cynerio-cyber (33 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 23. [CyramedX](https://www.g2.com/products/cyramedx/reviews) ASC EHR solution developed specifically for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Market. **Who Is the Company Behind CyramedX?** - **Seller:** [CyramedX](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cyramedx) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @Cyramedx (62 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 24. [Datica](https://www.g2.com/products/datica/reviews) Building compliance into a SaaS applications requires significant security expertise with deep knowledge of compliance frameworks. It also takes significant time to provision, configure, monitor, and maintain AWS accounts and environments, and then gather the evidence to prove to auditors that they meet strict standards. Datica Cloud Compliance (DCC) automates provisioning and management of cloud compliance against major frameworks for AWS accounts, environments, and resources so organizations can focus on their applications. CI/CD pipelines, framework conformance packs mapped to resources, and configuration locks make deployment to AWS simple. Automatically generated policies and cloud logging prove adherence – compliance and security certainty with cloud flexibility. **Who Is the Company Behind Datica?** - **Seller:** [Datica](https://www.g2.com/sellers/datica) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/datica/ (2 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 25. [DaVita CKD EHR](https://www.g2.com/products/davita-ckd-ehr/reviews) Tools focused on CKD can manage the progression to ESRD, or even prevent it, is unaltered. **Who Is the Company Behind DaVita CKD EHR?** - **Seller:** [DaVita](https://www.g2.com/sellers/davita) - **HQ Location:** Denver, Colorado, United States - **Twitter:** @DaVita (14,417 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/davita (38,277 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NYSE: DVA ## What Is EHR Software? [Health Care Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/health-care) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to EHR Software? - [Medical Practice Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/medical-practice-management) - [Telemedicine Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/telemedicine) - [Patient Engagement Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/patient-engagement) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right EHR Software? ### What You Should Know About EHR Software ### What is EHR Software? An EHR promises efficiency within a health care organization. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are already run ragged on a minute-by-minute basis; moving from a paper-based environment to a cloud-based one is a boon. This is especially true if the latter exists within HIPAA-determined parameters that help a hospital, clinic, or practice adhere to industry regulation. Additionally, within the past year and a half, monolith enterprises have been either dipping their toes into or fully diving into the world of EHRs. A quick summary: Amazon has created 1492, a lab dedicated to researching and innovating health care tech. Apple has taken its Health mobile app and turned the volume way up via its Apple Health Records product, which aggregates patient data. Google has released an open-source API that facilitates the sharing of health care data and the interoperability of health care systems. This is all to say that the EHR scene is popping more than ever. It’s no longer a question of “is it worthwhile to implement such a costly system?" and more a question of “which EHR can stand up to and best adapt to disruptive technology?" ### Why Use EHR Software? Without question, hospitals and medical organizations can benefit from implementing an EHR. A few of the advantages of using EHRs include: **Better quality of care for patients –** EHRs provide health care organizations and professionals accurate and complete patient data, which can be updated easily and quickly. EHRs can also reduce medical errors, in direct contrast to manually inputted patient data. That increase in accuracy helps providers more effectively diagnose patients. EHRs also improve patient and physician interaction and communication. **Centralization of patient data –** The data within and purpose of EHRs go beyond so-called "standard" clinical data. EHRs provide hospitals and clinics with dynamic, comprehensive patient-centered records that help health care professionals avoid a siloed, one-appointment-at-a-time overview of their patients. Those records allow more in-depth evaluation, which in turn facilitates more accurate diagnoses. **Reduction of paperwork –** Paperless EHR platforms significantly reduce the time and energy spent on manually filling out and processing forms. EHRs streamline and automate routine administrative duties, which in turn translates to increased efficiency and more focused patient care. **Secure sharing –** EHRs equip hospitals and practices with the ability to securely share patient information, data, and history with patients, other clinicians, and potentially other health care organizations. The strength of an EHR lies in its ability to integrate patient information from multiple sources, allowing better and more timely decision-making, particularly in critical situations. **Coordination —** An EHR’s digital records enables the coordination and collaboration of clinicians across specialties, disciplines, and facilities. Multiple care providers can access a patient’s records, regardless of location. Those records have the capacity to be updated in real time. **Improved charting and documentation practices —** Unlike the stereotypical "doctor’s handwriting" joke, EHRs promote legible and complete documentation. They also streamline coding and billing practices so doctors and physicians can better and more easily follow up with patients. Utilizing an EHR can result in reduce **Improved patient/population health –** Most, if not all, EHRs come equipped with patient portals and patient comms. With those two elements, EHRs naturally increase patient interaction, cooperation, and transparency with their physician and health care organization. An EHR helps health care professionals spend less time filling out forms, and more time on actually providing patient-focused care. **Efficiency throughout the organization —** EHRs reduce redundancy and lower administrative costs by streamlining and optimizing internal workflows. Features such as integrated scheduling (to progress notes and insurance claims) can result in decreased paperwork, quick access to patient data, and a way to identify and address any operational problems. ### Who Uses EHR Software? Medical professionals—doctors, physicians, primary care physicians, solo practitioners, clinicians, and nurses—utilize EHR software to automate manual processes and improve patient care. The main benefits of medical staff and institutions leveraging EHRs are outlined above. Enterprise hospitals experience the most value from EHRs, because they have the resources and finances to ensure the deployment and organization-wide implementation of such a system. However, while smaller-sized clinics and practices may struggle with either the cost of an EHR or the capability to get the most out of an EHR, they’re not completely out of the running as users. ### Kinds of EHR Software EHRs can be split up between on-premise, cloud, and (rarely) hybrid cloud offerings. Mobile applications, available through iOS and Android, are also becoming more and more regular and expected. Another factor that can contribute to different "kinds" of EHR software is the size of the practice or organization that will deploy the EHR. (Aside from solo practitioner/small clinic and enterprise hospitals, however, right now, there are not more granular determinations of EHRs. The EHR industry has not reached the point where specialty-specific platforms are available for mass purchase and implementation.) However, as defined by G2 Crowd, EHRs are also known as EMRs. As such: **EHR vs. EMR –** While EHR and EMR can be, and are, used interchangeably by vendors, a few nuances do exist between electronic _health_ records and electronic _medical_ records. (Notably, for health care professionals and organizations to participate in Medicare/Medicaid Incentive Programs, they must use certified _EHR_ technology.) Both EHRs and EMRs reduce medical errors, provide instant and real-time access to updated patient information, simplify charting, and increase productivity. Smaller practices’ requirements and needs are usually satisfied by an EMR, especially when it includes familiar EHR components such as billing and e-prescription. In a nutshell, EMRs are digitized paper charts. They contain notes and information, collected by and inputted by health care professionals. Those same professionals will double back to that collected data for patient diagnosis and treatment. Obviously, EMRs are more valuable than paper records because they allow the tracking of patient data over time and a concerted focus on improving a patient’s overall health care quality. EHRs go beyond that collection and analysis of clinical data. EHRs provide a centralized hub of patient data and history that can, ideally, be shared with any and all interested (professional and relevant) parties. For example, once a patient’s records and authorization are nestled into an EHR, it can follow that patient from specialist/clinician to hospital (regardless of location) to acute care to nursing home. **Personal health records –** There is also a new strain of EHRs out there: _personal_ health records. According to EHR Intelligence, personal health records, also known as PHRs, “contain the same types of information as EHRs—diagnoses, medications, immunizations, family medical histories, and provider contact information—but are designed to be set up, accessed, and managed by patients." This goes beyond the patient portal that resides within an EHR. It seems as if PHRs facilitate even more patient engagement, allowing patients to maintain and manage their own health information. Similarly to EHRs, PHRs gather and centralize information from a multitude of sources. ### EHR Software Features **Billing –** An EHR will either offer an in-platform billing solution or the ability to integrate with third-party billing, invoice, or [payment gateway tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/payment-gateway). If your chosen EHR bundles in billing capability, then it should facilitate the creation of bills and invoices that the provider can send to patients. Additionally, some billing modules simplifies the checking of patients’ insurance for coverage. **Charting –** Charting is a vital part of physicians’ and nurses’ day-to-day duties, which EHRs acknowledge. Most, if not all, EHRs facilitate real-time, non-distracting charting that will ensure accurate and the timely completion of charts. Your organization should look for EHRs that either allow for charting on mobile devices and tablets, or come equipped with (customizable) templates. Some solutions feature dictation capabilities. **Documentation –** Documentation is crucial for physicians and doctors to track patient progress and note diagnoses. EHRs help medical professionals easily note exam findings, treatment codes, and other discoveries from a patient appointment. In turn, software that simplifies and streamlines the documentation process—either via templates, dictation and transcription, or plug-and-chug note-taking—helps providers and physicians get access to and leverage patient data and history. **Reporting –** Most EHRs integrate with practice management solutions. However, standalone EHRs themselves can provide health care organizations with real-time clinical and financial data, as well as reports on overall practice performance. **Data sharing –** EHRs go beyond the simple collection and tracking of patient data. EHRs provide organizations with the ability to communicate patient information across internal systems, departments, specialties, and even other clinics and practices. EHRs help eliminate the time manually spent on entering, re-entering, and sharing patient information. **Patient portal –** Effective patient relationship management is a key part of EHRs. That includes streamlining patient communications as well as providing patients with a portal that will help them stay engaged pre- and post- hospital or clinic visit. An effective patient portal gives users access to information such as recent doctor visits, discharge and lab results summaries, medications tracking, patient scheduling, and online payments. #### Additional EHR Software Features **E-prescribing –** Some EHRs come equipped with an e-prescription module. E-prescribing allows physicians to send prescriptions electronically, automate notifications to pharmacies and patients, and track patients’ drug histories. Some e-prescription modules will even provide health care organizations with a database of drug inventory. **Cloud hosting –** Beyond the promise of unwavering security, on-premise EHRs falter when it comes to the convenience of cloud-hosted EHRs. A cloud-hosted EHR provides users with (ideally 24/7) remote access to records, which is crucial to bettering both physician ability to perform and their relationships with patients. Additionally, cloud-based EHRs come equipped with encryption, providing a measure of security for your organization. **Lab integration –** Lab integration is an optional feature of EHRs but important if your practice or clinic is dependent on labs and lab results. Lab integration provides your organization with two-way communication, access to research on lab results, electronic monitoring and analysis of lab results, and alignment between charting notes and laboratories. ### Trends Related to EHR Software **Improved patient engagement —** EHRs generally come equipped with patient portals, which encourage self-service activity. Portals are becoming more and more comprehensive, allowing patients to become fully engaged with hospital services and online physician interaction. The upside of such improved patient engagement translates into a better flow of data and information, improved care coordination on the physicians’ and institutions’ sides of things, and more accurate population health measures. **Blockchain —** [Blockchain](https://www.g2.com/categories/blockchain) technology and its capability to ensure security and an encrypted audit chain is already well known within the finance and cryptocurrency sectors. In the health care industry, blockchain can better store and safely share medical records as well as equip hospitals with the tools to protect themselves from hackers and malware breaches. What EHR architects will need to do now is anticipate and design the platforms to incorporate such technology. **IT talent —** Some EHRs ship consultants and implementers to the hospitals that invest in their platforms. However, that’s only a temporary IT presence. If a hospital or practice wants to reap the full benefits of their EHR systems or handle any technology issues that may arise, then they need to have a qualified IT presence permanently on staff or readily available as an outsource. **Strides in** [**artificial intelligence**](https://learn.g2.com/trends/embedded-ai) **—** In the health care sector, AI goes beyond just automation. AI can be applied to the existing technology and processes for diagnoses, medical imaging, clinical decision-making, population health analytics, and admission and readmission algorithms. Additionally, AI has the potential to thwart claims processing fraud that impacts healthcare costs. **Telehealth —** Telehealth is the result of "digital health," which is the intersection of prevalent mobile device use and health care diagnosis and access. Telehealth takes communications technology such as mobile phones, video conferencing, etc., and works to provide health care services to anyone who can use those platforms. **Wearable devices —** It’s not just health care providers that are taking advantage of the plethora of health data that patients input into their various wearable devices. Those device makers themselves are embracing their ability to impact the medical records industry. ### Potential Issues with EHR Software The biggest and most well-documented issues with EHRs are their usability, interoperability, and risk of cybersecurity breaches. **Usability –** Health care professionals have long complained that EHRs are difficult to grasp and utilize effectively, and that complaint is still a valid issue today. Doctors, physicians, nurses, and therapists are always on the edge of being burned out. EHRs are supposed to make their lives easier, but not if the platforms are clunky, difficult to maneuver, or refuse to play nice with existing workflows. **Interoperability –** However, the more interesting issue with EHRs is their interoperability, or, the ability for health care systems to effectively “talk" to each other. After all, if an EHR is supposed to help practices and hospitals draw a complete picture of their patients, then it has to have a proactive ability to centralize information from a variety of sources. That means that EHRs must be able to communicate and align with other information systems that exist within a health care organization. (This is a major challenge for EHRs.) Additionally, interoperability extends beyond systems; health care professionals are humans, after all, and are subject to their own biases and perceptions of the world. EHRs should provide them with an objective solution that helps transmit and share patient data across an organization. When EHRs generate templates or reports that can be misrepresented or wrongly digested, that’s a problem. **Cybersecurity breaches —** EHRs must be able to withstand and work alongside implemented cybersecurity measures. Regardless of whether the chosen EHR is an on-premise platform or hosted in the cloud, breaches must be proactively dealt with by health care institutions. ### Software and Services Related to EHR Software [**Medical billing**](https://www.g2.com/categories/medical-billing) **—** Billing, invoicing, insurance claims and coverage check-ups, and payment notifications are regular aspects of practices and hospitals. EHRs can either integrate with standalone medical billing solutions, partner with medical billing vendors, or bundle medical billing features into their platforms. [**Practice management**](https://www.g2.com/categories/practice-management) **,** [**Medical practice management**](https://www.g2.com/categories/medical-practice-management) **—** EHRs either integrate with practice management solutions or offer features that help simplify overall practice management and administrative duties. [**Medical scheduling**](https://www.g2.com/categories/medical-scheduling) **—** Patient-facing and internal-facing scheduling solutions help a health care organization stay organized and aware of any gaps in human resources. Additionally, medical scheduling software provides a health care-specific [online appointment scheduling](https://www.g2.com/categories/online-appointment-scheduling) solution for a clinic or practice. [**Pharmacy**](https://www.g2.com/categories/pharmacy) **—** If necessary, a doctor or physician will prescribe patients with medication or drugs. Two-way communication with pharmacies that align both organizations with patient needs, allergies, or drug history, is helpful. [**LIMS**](https://www.g2.com/categories/lims) **—** LIMS manages, tracks, and reports on laboratory data. For health care practices and clinics that are very lab-dependent, they can take advantage of the natural intersection between lab information management systems and health care information management systems. [**Radiology**](https://www.g2.com/categories/radiology) **—** Health care institutions with radiology departments use radiology software to manage medical imaging. Radiology software improves the productivity of radiologists. [**Visitor management**](https://www.g2.com/categories/visitor-management) **—** Many clinics and practices provide kiosks to streamline the process of patient check-ins. Visitor management software can be installed on an existing computer on a receptionist’s desk or in a self-service kiosk. Visitor management software helps make the visitor sign-in process more efficient and accurate, as well as stores visitor information in a database.