Epic is often considered among the best EMRs due to its comprehensive features, scalability for large healthcare institutions, and a reputation for facilitating seamless interoperability, making it a preferred choice for many healthcare providers.
Cerner Vs. Epic – A Complete Analysis
Electronic health record (EHR) applications, since their market debut just preceding the dotcom bust, have improved the provision of healthcare services significantly. Today, it is much easier to keep medical records for patients safe thanks to their widespread and interconnected use.
As technology advances, the continuous improvement of software solutions intensifies market competition. Because of this, more and more solutions are being introduced to address the workflow concerns of healthcare organizations. Epic and Cerner software stand out as two of the most prominent EHR solution vendors, boasting the largest market share by consumer penetration. But which is the better option?
To help you narrow down your choice, we’ve conducted a thorough comparison of the two solutions. We’ll start our analysis with a brief overview of what each software is all about – in terms of pricing, features, market share, and more. Subsequently, we’ll go on to compare both applications to come up with a rational basis for our concluding recommendation.
So, let’s dive into the details.
Cerner Vs. Epic: At A Glance
Cerner, now known as Oracle Cerner, is a renowned player in the electronic health record (EHR) industry. Established in 1979, Cerner has been at the forefront of digitizing healthcare operations, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions. It is a cloud-based healthcare tool that helps medical providers streamline day-to-day workflows and provide better care. The software is highly customizable and can be used for serving both inpatient and outpatient care settings across several specialties.
Epic Systems Corporation, founded in 1979, has emerged as a leader in the EHR industry, focusing on creating comprehensive health records and supporting a connected healthcare ecosystem. The software is designed to cater to the needs of over 30 different types of doctors and field specialists, allowing them to deliver a modern standard of care to their patients. It is tailored for larger healthcare systems that need to store and organize large amounts of patient data.
Epic EHR system and Cerner provide essential features like user-friendly patient interfaces, mobile charting tools, and telehealth options, to simplify daily healthcare operations. Both EHR systems prioritize interoperability, ensuring smooth data exchange between different healthcare systems and providers.
The choice between Epic vs. Cerner goes beyond features and functionalities; it’s about aligning a healthcare organization with the software that best meets its unique needs. The right EHR can significantly impact patient care, operational efficiency, and overall organizational success.
A Quick Scoop On Cerner
Cerner EMR or Oracle Health, offers a centralized dashboard that lets you create, monitor, and update patient medical records in real-time. The platform also integrates imaging solutions for specialties like cardiology, pain management, and radiology into its services framework. These help doctors provide better diagnoses and treatments for their patients.
Cerner EHR reviews, by way of aggregate sentiment, state that the software makes it easier for clinicians and their reporting medical administrations to see more patients, which means more revenue without compromising the quality of care. In addition, using the program, you can digitally store, record, and retrieve patient information at the point of care.
To give you an accurate picture of what else lies in store with a Cerner subscription, we’ve laid out some of the key features of the application below.
Integration And Interoperability
Cerner EHR improves patient care by optimizing communication and collaboration across various healthcare components. Furthermore, it facilitates financial efficiency by seamlessly integrating with billing, claims, and contract management technology. As a result, the platform ensures efficient communication between different healthcare systems, providing a comprehensive view of patient data and enhancing collaboration across the healthcare continuum.
Revenue Cycle Management
Cerner EMR empowers providers to optimize their revenue cycle efficiency. It equips users with the tools to improve their day-to-day financial workflows. From patient registration to claims processing and reimbursement, Cerner ensures accuracy and timeliness at every stage.
Patient Portal
The software includes a dedicated, two-way patient portal that actively engages patients in their healthcare journey. As attested by numerous users, this feature, among the many offered by the system, ‘totally justifies’ the software subscription price set by Cerner. Through this portal, patients can request online prescription refills, access lab test results, schedule appointments, access health information, and communicate with their healthcare provider.
Population Health Management
Cerner places a strong emphasis on population health management through advanced analytics. The platform allows healthcare providers to analyze and manage the health of patient populations effectively. This proactive approach supports preventive care measures and enhances overall health outcomes.
The vendor also offers a HIPAA-compliant messaging application, artificial intelligence, online scheduling, and several other useful features to optimize the day-to-day workflows for medical providers.
Schedule a free demo for a quick visual walkthrough into the software’s functionalities.
A Quick Scoop On Epic
Epic EMR is a major player in the world of electronic health records (EHR). The software is known for creating detailed patient records and connecting different parts of the healthcare system. Its solutions are ideal for acute care hospitals, medical schools, and centers for specialties looking for intuitive, secure, and efficient methods of creating and storing electronic medical records.
Epic EHR reviews also highlight its positive impact on clinicians, helping them efficiently access patient data, increase patient safety and overall profitability.
In this section, we’ll explore what makes Epic unique, looking at its important features that help healthcare professionals provide better care.
Artificial Intelligence
Epic’s machine learning model automatically scans health records and alerts doctors ahead of time, helping prevent the need for urgent interventions like ICU admissions. The system utilizes AI and ambient listening technology to enhance patient-provider interactions, enabling physicians to generate progress notes and draft responses quickly during conversations with patients in the exam room.
Customer Relationship Management
The software’s CRM tool simplifies interactions between call centers and patients by providing access to patients’ medical histories. This capability streamlines scheduling processes and facilitates more informed responses to health-related inquiries, enhancing efficiency and communication for both call center staff and patients.
Specialty-Specific Content
Epic EHR goes beyond general healthcare needs by catering to the specific workflows of doctors in over 30 different specialties. Whether it’s urgent care, dermatology, behavioral health, or other specialties, the platform provides specialty-specific content, ensuring tailored support for diverse medical practices and specialties. This flexibility allows healthcare professionals to customize their workflows based on the unique requirements of their respective fields.
Patient Portal
This feature allows patients to use their phones to access their registered information. They can also contact their attending physicians through the interface, set up appointments, fill out health-related forms, and do much more. These solutions give patients the opportunity to take charge of their healthcare concerns and act proactively.
In addition to the features mentioned above, the platform is equipped with tools for billing, scheduling, reports, telehealth and e-prescriptions. Healthcare professionals can also integrate the system with external pharmacies to transfer e-prescriptions.
You can also schedule a free demo to see the software in action.
Epic Vs. Cerner Market Share
Both Epic and Cerner are cloud-based software development companies that make EHRs – boasting a large share of the healthcare market.
According to a 2023 KLAS Research report, Epic leads among all EHRs, claiming nearly 36% of the acute care hospitals in the U.S using its platform. Cerner follows closely with 25%, securing the second spot as the most popular EHR. In 2022, Epic EMR gained 47.6% of hospital beds, while Oracle Cerner gained 25.8%.
Many providers prefer Epic, but Cerner is making strides by catering to different healthcare providers and practices.
Cerner Vs. Epic: The Main Differences
Cerner and Epic EHR systems, prominent names in the healthcare industry, contribute significantly to streamline healthcare operations through their products and solutions. While they offer similar features like artificial intelligence, revenue cycle management, interoperability, telehealth, and mobile access, they differ in certain aspects:
- Epic offers a CRM; Cerner doesn’t
- Epic doesn’t offer a consultation service, but Cerner does
Moreover, these healthcare giants cater to businesses of varying sizes.
Type And Size Of Businesses Using Cerner And Epic EHR Solutions
When evaluating EHR solutions, it’s important to consider the type and size of business implementing the software.
Both Epic and Cerner serve hospitals and healthcare centers, providing indispensable tools for patient care. However, their suitability varies based on the size of business.
Epic is commonly preferred by medium to large-scale companies due to its scalability and robust features tailored for extensive healthcare networks. In contrast, Cerner finds its place in small to medium-scale companies, providing customized solutions to meet their specific needs.
Despite these differences, it’s important to note that the benefits of using Cerner and Epic extend across various types of businesses, making them versatile choices in the healthcare industry.
Cerner Vs. Epic – A Joint Pros And Cons Overview
Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of both Cerner and Epic System to help you decide which option might be better suited to your medical practice.
Customer Support
- Cerner provides a support team with a keen focus on helping users understand their technical solutions and addressing their questions. However, some users have found Cerner’s customer service to be slow, often leading to long wait times for query resolution.
- Epic boasts a team of technical experts dedicated to assisting users promptly. They commit to responding to callers within 24 hours of receiving a question. On the downside, Epic may be less open to implementing application changes requested by subscribers.
User Interface
- Cerner PowerChart Ambulatory EHR offers a user-friendly dashboard with secure subscriber access. Its interface is well-suited for mobile devices, ensuring ease of use on the go. However, some users may find it requires a fair amount of training to become fully accustomed.
- Epic’s ecosystem provides numerous options, but users without technical knowledge might find it challenging to navigate. Its user interface is not considered easy to use, potentially requiring assistance from the IT team for setup and issue resolution.
Interoperability
- Cerner’s interoperability is notably driven by the CommonWell Health Alliance, a non-profit trade association formed in collaboration with six competitors. This alliance establishes standards and procedures, facilitating easy access and sharing of patient data among its members.
- Epic uses Carequality as an interoperability framework to integrate with other EHR networks, ensuring seamless interoperability by facilitating data exchange between different health systems. Non-Epic users can access information on Epic’s interface through EpicCare Link, which provides a bridge for information exchange between Epic and external users.
Telehealth Services
- Epic takes telehealth a step further with its innovative digital companion for patients. The app not only offers personalized notifications but also seamlessly integrates with home monitoring devices, providing a holistic and patient-centric approach to virtual care.
- On the Cerner side, the EHR offers convenient video consultations with built-in guest support for appointment scheduling. Patients can also engage through text messages and screen share options, ensuring ease of use without requiring additional app downloads.
Cerner Vs. Epic Pricing
Epic is the go-to choice for many large healthcare organizations, but the vendor has not disclosed the exact pricing for its solutions. Market insights suggest that Epic tends to be relatively more expensive than Cerner.
For Epic’s cloud-based solution, pricing may start from $200 per month, potentially reaching up to $35,000 per month, depending on the number of features included. Additional costs, such as set-up and training, may apply. The pricing for self-hosted Epic EMR system may range from $1,200 to $500,000, accommodating the diverse needs of large hospitals and clinics.
Cerner is recognized for its cost-effectiveness compared to Epic System, with the starting price for its basic solution suggested to be as low as $25. While the specific pricing details from Cerner are not publicly disclosed, it remains an economical option for various healthcare providers.
Neither solution offers transparent pricing, but you can contact us for a personalized pricing quote tailored to your specific requirements.
Cerner Vs. Epic Summary
In conclusion, when comparing Cerner and Epic, each has its own strengths. If you are a small to mid-sized healthcare organization with budget constraints, Oracle Cerner is the EHR most likely to help you deliver better patient care. On the other hand, Epic is best for larger healthcare settings seeking advanced functionality and adaptability.
The choice between Cerner and Epic depends on the size, requirements, and long-term goals of your healthcare organization. For personalized guidance, feel free to contact us at (315) 215-3447, and we will help you pick the right software for your organization.
FAQs
Cerner’s biggest competitor is often considered Epic Systems Corporation, as both companies are major players in the electronic health record (EHR) industry and compete for a significant share of the healthcare IT market.
The choice between Cerner and Epic often depends on the specific needs and preferences of a healthcare organization. Some may prefer Cerner for its reputation of being cost-effective, user-friendly, and having a transparent starting point, making it a practical choice for various healthcare providers.
This functionality also includes:
Cerner is now known as Oracle Cerner, following its acquisition by Oracle in 2022. The rebranding reflects the integration of Cerner into Oracle’s portfolio of healthcare solutions.
Cerner is cost-effective and is easier to install and implement. Epic, however, is known for its comprehensive features and flexibility, making it a preferred choice for larger and more complex healthcare institutions.
Epic or Core Cerner are constantly in a race to one-up each other through the periodic provision of new feature lines. With that said, in 2022, Epic claimed nearly 36% of the acute care hospitals in the U.S using its platform, while Cerner followed closely with 25%, securing the second spot as the most popular EHR.
No – these are two competing EHR/EMR software providers. A major difference between them arises in the size of the medical settings they work for. Further, they offer a different workflow experience.
Yes, Epic and Cerner are big rivals in the healthcare industry. Many large healthcare organizations use electronic health record (EHR) solutions, also interchangeably referred to as EMR solutions.
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Offers great claims management, e-prescribing, EMR/EHR, HIPAA compliant, and insurance eligibility verification.
Offers brilliant invoice processing, purchase order, requisition, and inventory management.
Starts at $25 each with only a single pricing plan for all users.
Epic subscription ranges anywhere from $1200 to $500,000.
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Offers robust invoice processing, purchase order, requisition, and inventory management.
A solid client base backs this robust EMR solution.
$1200 to $500,000. (upfront cost)
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side-by-side overview of all the service features you can expect with a Cerner OR Epic subscription, enter the fields below!
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