Epic and athenahealth stand as beacons of innovation and reliability in the realm of independent ambulatory care organizations’ Electronic Health Records (EHR). The latest findings from the 2024 KLAS Ambulatory EHR/PM Mindshare report unveil their unwavering dominance, reflecting a paradigm shift in the industry. From seamless interoperability to user-centric design, these industry leaders continue to redefine the standards of excellence, empowering healthcare providers to deliver unparalleled patient care experiences.
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, the significance of robust Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions cannot be overstated. Within the realm of independent ambulatory care organizations, Epic, and athenahealth emerge as vanguards of innovation, driving positive transformation and fostering operational excellence. The 2024 KLAS Ambulatory EHR/PM Mindshare report provides a compelling narrative of their ascendancy, underscoring the pivotal role played by these industry stalwarts in shaping the future of healthcare delivery. This exploration delves into their unparalleled contributions, shedding light on the myriad ways they empower healthcare providers to navigate complexities and deliver superior patient outcomes.
Unveiling Dominance: Epic and athenahealth at the Forefront
In the landscape of independent ambulatory care organizations, Epic and athenahealth stand tall, reigning supreme in Electronic Health Record (EHR) mindshare, as affirmed by the latest insights from a KLAS report.
Understanding the Mindshare Dynamics
The 2024 KLAS Ambulatory EHR/PM Mindshare report sheds light on the predominant influence of Epic and athenahealth in shaping potential purchasing decisions among independent ambulatory practices. To capture the essence of this mindshare, KLAS engaged with 152 ambulatory practices, probing into their top preferences for core EHR/PM solutions and the underlying rationale. Additionally, insights from 100 ambulatory practices, either on the brink of a purchase decision or recently initiated, further enriched the findings.
Epic’s Ascendancy in Mindshare
Epic emerges as the frontrunner among organizations poised for a purchasing decision, with 22 entities eyeing the Community Connect system and an additional 15 leaning toward it as their preferred choice. Central to this inclination are factors such as interoperability, seamless data sharing, robust functionality, system stability, minimal maintenance requirements, and cost-effectiveness. Notably, organizations contemplating Epic’s direct model accentuate interoperability as a paramount consideration.
The Appeal of athenahealth
Meanwhile, athenahealth garners significant attention for its technological prowess, product excellence, user-friendly interface, and notable market presence. Cloud-based architecture coupled with the vendor’s commitment to continuous enhancement resonates with many practices, positioning athenahealth as a compelling choice.
Exploring Alternatives: NextGen Healthcare and Oracle Health
While NextGen Healthcare garners interest, particularly among smaller practices, owing to its enterprise product offerings, recent trends indicate a preference for NextGen Office, primarily embraced by smaller entities. Decision influencers span specialty functionality and the vendor’s established market presence.
Conversely, Oracle Health attracts attention predominantly from health system-owned facilities seeking comprehensive enterprise-level consolidation. Integration capabilities emerge as a pivotal factor driving consideration, although some practices opt for platforms offering superior integration and functionality.
Divergence from Greenway Health and eClinicalWorks
Greenway Health witnesses a decline in customer satisfaction, attributed to inadequate support, limited specialty functionality, escalating costs, stagnant product development, and regulatory compliance challenges. Similarly, eClinicalWorks, despite boasting broad capabilities, face skepticism stemming from operational disruptions during updates, deficient vendor support, inflated costs sans commensurate value, and interoperability shortcomings.
Insights from Large Practices: Epic’s Dominance
In the realm of large practices boasting over 75 physicians, Epic commands unparalleled mindshare, overshadowing competitors by a significant margin. Clients extol Epic’s reliability, delivering a seamless blend of stability, high functionality, and interoperability, positioning the company as a trusted ally in navigating complex health IT landscapes.
Scaling Ease with athenahealth
Following closely, athenahealth secures substantial mindshare among large practices, with its intuitive interface promising respite from burnout while facilitating scalability, as attested by numerous respondents.
Midsize Practices: The Quest for Integration
Midsize independent ambulatory practices, comprising 11 to 75 physicians, voice a collective desire for enhanced integration and interoperability from their core vendors. Health system-owned counterparts pivot towards enterprise-level solutions offered by industry stalwarts like Epic, MEDITECH, and Oracle Health to fulfill this imperative.
Small Practices’ Affinity for athenahealth
In the domain of small independent practices, with fewer than 11 physicians, athenahealth emerges as the favored choice, resonating with respondents due to its tailored technology solutions and the promise of vendor consolidation.
Epic’s Reach to Small Practices
Despite Epic’s indirect engagement with small independent practices, through offerings like Community Connect facilitated by local hosts, its allure persists. Respondents express willingness to explore this avenue, citing potential benefits in cost reduction and heightened system usability, stability, and functionality.
In the tapestry of modern healthcare, Epic and athenahealth stand tall as catalysts of change, igniting a journey toward enhanced efficiency, interoperability, and patient-centered care. As the curtains draw on the discourse of EHR mindshare within independent ambulatory care organizations, their indelible mark resonates as a testament to relentless innovation and unwavering commitment. The insights gleaned from the 2024 KLAS Ambulatory EHR/PM Mindshare report not only illuminate their dominance but also underscore the transformative potential they hold. Armed with cutting-edge technology and a steadfast dedication to excellence, Epic, and athenahealth continues to inspire confidence, empowering healthcare providers to chart a course toward a brighter, healthier future.
