Deciding on an Electronic Health Records (EHR) solution for your practice can be quite challenging and overwhelming due to the number of EHR vendors in the market and their difference in terms of functionality, flexibility and overall benefits. The EHR solutions are costly and the practice needs to make an informed decision. In this article, we will compare the two leading EHR vendors Cerner and Epic discussing features, vendor reliability, and costs. Through an unbiased comparison, you will be confident to make the best EHR software decision that will meet the needs of your practice.
About Cerner
Cerner provides Electronic Health Records solutions to long-term facilities, retail pharmacies, and laboratories. Cerner’s EMR system makes it possible to automate clinical operations of daily workflows including documenting diagnosis and charting. The all-inclusive software has robust features of custom templates, E-prescribing (e-Rx), lab integrations and patient portal.
It provides both cloud-based and on-premise solutions. The EHR software is suitable for physician practices of every size. Cerner also offers a Practice Management (PM) system that helps healthcare providers handle scheduling and billing procedures.
About Epic
Epic provides EMR solutions to large hospital systems and healthcare facilities. It is certified for Meaningful Use Stages 1 and 2. Epic provides dedicated modules for various medical specialties such as ENT, oncology, ophthalmology, rehab, surgery, cardiology and etc. Telehealth services are also provided by Epic which is used for patient monitoring and on-going patient care.
The software has smart tools of Artificial Intelligence and analytics which helps to empower the decision-making process. The mobile app helps providers to practice on the go through smartphones and tablets.
Functionality Comparison
Both the EHR software companies offer a similar set of solutions that helps to streamline workflow operations by automating daily procedures. Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services, analytics, and population health management are similar features. Both Cerner and Epic offer cloud-based solutions for acute and ambulatory care.
Services for software implementation and support are offered by both the vendors.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to software purchase the pricing encompasses implementation costs, maintenance cost, and hardware update costs. It should be kept in mind that EHRs are expensive and costly. A price quote is unavailable for both the vendors but on request it can be provided. Pricing information is kept private however Epic is slightly more expensive as compared to Cerner, though this depends upon how well the implementation is planned.
Summary
The table below summarizes the whole comparison.
| Comparison |  |
 |
| User Rating on EMRSystems |
|
|
| User Satisfaction |
86.9% |
85.1% |
| Pricing | ||
| Free Demo | ||
| Practice Size |
S | M | L |
S | M | L |
| Patient Portal |
✓ |
✓ |
| Medical Billing |
✓ |
✓ |
| Practice Management |
✓ |
✓ |
| e-Prescribing (e-Rx) |
✓ |
✓ |
| Hosting |
On-premise & Cloud-based |
On-premise & Cloud-based |
