Running a modern medical practice requires juggling a dizzying number of administrative, clinical and financial tasks. From scheduling appointments to maintaining patient records to tracking insurance claims, the workload can become extremely cumbersome without the right tools. That‘s where an effective practice management system comes in handy.
Practice management software centralizes and automates many of the mission-critical processes required to operate a smooth, productive practice. Choosing the right system tailored to your needs can boost productivity, increase revenue and improve quality of care. As the healthcare industry continues embracing technology, more robust options are emerging to help independent physicians and large health systems alike.
In this comprehensive guide, we evaluate 10 top-rated practice management systems making an impact in 2023.
What to Look for in Practice Management Software
Before diving into the top systems, let‘s overview some key capabilities to look for during your evaluation process:
Core Features
- Patient scheduling
- Electronic health records (EHR)
- Billing and claims management
- Reporting and analytics
Ease of Use
- Intuitive, consistent interfaces
- Flexible for different user types and permission levels
- Easy to learn and train staff
Mobility
- Native iOS and Android apps
- Real-time synchronization across devices
- Support for telehealth and virtual visits
Security
- Encryption protecting patient data
- Robust access controls and permissions
- Regular system audits and backups
Interoperability
- Integration with labs, pharmacies and hospitals
- HL7 and FHIR data standard support
- Custom API for third-party integrations
Customer Support
- Phone, email and chat helpdesk channels
- Online knowledge base and communities
- Regular product updates and maintenance
The exact combination of must-have features will depend largely on your specialty, practice size and existing workflows. But assessing platforms across these elements can help narrow down the top contenders tailored to your needs.
Now let‘s explore 10 top-rated systems making waves in the medical software market this year.
1. NextGen Healthcare
Best For: Mid-size to large practices
Key Features: Robust EHR, integrated telehealth, predictive analytics, ONC certified
Price: Custom quotes
In addition to comprehensive clinical and financial tools, NextGen Healthcare focuses heavily on patient engagement. Their suite includes an automated appointment reminder system, two-way patient messaging and a branded patient portal pulling data directly from the EHR.
Tablet and mobile compatibility makes it easy for physicians to handle tasks on the go or during virtual visits. Users praise NextGen‘s smooth workflows, thorough training resources and stellar 24/7 customer support via phone, chat and forums.
2. drchrono EHR
Best For: Solo providers and small practices
Key Features: Apple Health integration, custom iPad apps, medical speech-to-text
Price: $199/provider/month
This cloud-based platform takes full advantage of the iPad‘s capabilities for charting, billing and medical speech-to-text documentation. It uses Apple‘s CloudKit technology to facilitate real-time data syncing across devices. The system further extends its Apple ecosystem support through Apple Watch connectivity and integration with Apple Health patient data.
While drchrono EHR appeals most to smaller iPad-centric practices, its open API also allows larger hospitals and health systems to tap into its toolset. Patients can access a customizable portal to facilitate self-scheduling, bill pay, prescription refills and messaging with providers.
3. AdvancedMD
Best For: Small to mid-size practices
Key Features: Built-in patient portal, MacPractice conversion tool, cloud-based with offline support
Price: Starts at $449/provider/month
This cloud-hosted call center software delivers enterprise-class capabilities designed for smaller practices. It covers the full range of functionality from scheduling to clinical documentation to analytics reporting. Support options include online chat, phone, email and remote desktop sharing for real-time troubleshooting.
We especially like AdvancedMD‘s MacPractice Transition Tool to help providers migrate data over from that platform. Other standout features include the patient portal, prescription management and the offline usability for added reliability.
4. Kareo
Best For: Independent/small practices
Key Features: Fully integrated PM and EHR, medical billing services, free patient app
Price: Starts at $259/provider/month
Used by over 50,000 providers nationwide, Kareo is purpose-built for smaller independent practices. The system covers the clinical, operational and financial aspects from a single platform. Robust reporting dashboards deliver real-time practice analytics to pinpoint productivity and profitability trends.
The integrated medical billing services ensure you get reimbursed quickly and at the highest percentage. Kareo also provides a free customizable patient app allowing self-scheduling, secure messaging and document sharing. Unique features like the virtual assistant and telehealth further optimize provider efficiency.
5. eClinicalWorks
Best For: Practice networks and ACOs
Key Features: Population health tools, open API, MU and MACRA compliant
Price: Custom quotes
As one of the largest cloud-based EHR/PM solutions, eClinicalWorks focuses on population health management and network interoperability. The system offers robust tools to coordinate care across practice locations, track quality metrics and manage patient outreach.
The HL7-compliant API enables integration with hundreds of popular EMRs and medical devices. eClinicalWorks further facilitates medical data exchange and analytics through partnerships with leading HIEs and ACOs. Supported specialties span over 20 disciplines from primary care to dental to mental health providers.
6. athenahealth
Best For: Hospital-owned practices and health systems
Key Features: Fully managed EHR/PM, integrated patient communication, care coordination workflows
Price: Custom quotes
athenaClinicals delivers cloud-based documentation, billing and population health tools for enterprise hospital networks. Using a single patient record shared across all affiliated providers, the system centralizes clinical data and billing. Customized workflow rules engine enables hospitals to standardize order sets, alerts and guidelines across the continuum of care. Robust interoperability empowered by athenaCommunicator supports care coordination workflows internally and with outside entities.
athenaCoordinator particularly shines allowing hospital administrators to implement consistent policies, monitor KPIs and benchmark performance across owned practices. The platform also handles backend paperwork like consolidating bills and collecting payments on providers‘ behalf.
7. CureMD
Best For: Multi-location practices
Key Features: Branded patient portal, telemedicine, central dashboard
Price: Contact for quote
CureMD stands out for its enterprise-level PM/EHR tools catered to mid-size multi-office practices. The centralized dashboard enables visibility across all locations in real-time. Automated features like scheduling, charting templates, RCM and analytics help optimize workflow efficiency.
Robust support for virtual visits facilitates telehealth consults powered by data from the integrated EHR. The customizable patient portal extends your brand experience while allowing self-check-in, appointment scheduling, bill payment and messaging with providers. Tablet compatibility further mobilizes point-of-care charting and data access.
8. CareCloud
Best For: Busy specialty practices
Key Features: Centralized patient database, template-driven charting, mobile apps
Price: Contact for custom quote
CareCloud consolidates everyday clinical and financial workflows onto one HIPAA-compliant platform. Pre-built document templates minimize repetitive data entry across common forms and charts. Specialty-specific versions are available for mental health, chiropractic, dental and multi-specialty practices tailoring certain modules to your needs.
Robust analytics tools integrate seamlessly with the EHR allowing drill-downs into various clinical and financial performance indicators. Real-time visibility across multiple locations helps senior administrators support high-volume practices. The sleek iPad app accelerates point-of-care charting and scheduling.
9. MDConnection
Best For: Small independent practices
Key Features: Integrated credit card processing, lab integration, cloud and on-premise options
Price: Starts at $359/provider/month
This practice management platform focuses strongly on the revenue cycle side in addition to core workflows. Integrated credit card processing enables seamlessly collecting patient payments at checkout. Automated eligibility checks are built-in along with robust reporting to maximize claim reimbursement. Native lab integration eliminates manual order entry and results importing.
Support options include US-based support via phone, email, chat and screen sharing. We like that MDConnection offers both cloud-hosted and on-premise deployment options to accommodate different practice needs. Unique features like the inventory control module for supplies further optimize office management.
10. NXGN Management
Best For: Enterprise hospital networks and IDNs
Key Features: Unified platform across inpatient, ambulatory and post-acute settings
Price: Contact for custom quote
NXGN delivers a unique spin on practice management tools by providing software unifying clinical, financial and operational data across different care settings. Their suite enhances care transitions between hospitals, affiliated clinics, rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities. All stakeholders pull data from a single platform enabling deeper interoperability and effortless care coordination.
Built-in population health tools allow tracking quality metrics and risk stratification across all patients. Real-time analytics dashboards deliver visibility over workflows, productivity and health outcomes. Robust automation and customization cater to the needs of large regional health networks. NXGN‘s advanced enterprise capabilities earn it a spot as a pioneering unified management system for the modern integrated delivery network (IDN).
Evaluating the Right Platform for Your Practice
As you can see, practice management systems span a wide spectrum – from free EHRs for indie primary care docs to full-scale enterprise platforms supporting large hospital networks. Defining your budget, sizing needs and reporting requirements helps narrow the choices.
Reaching out for custom demos lets you test drive the exact workflows for your speciality before buying. Most vendors offer trial periods or sandbox modes as well to road test the real software with dummy data. If you have a tight budget, explore financing options available to finance the software over several years.
At the end of the day, taking a smart approach involving key stakeholders aligns you to the best-fit system for supporting efficient, profitable practice operations this year and beyond. Choosing the right technology partner ushers in exciting opportunities to deliver better patient experiences that translate to practice growth.
