HENO EMR Vs athenaOne: Feature Comparison
Staffing shortages are projected to increase across the U.S. healthcare system, putting even more pressure on clinics and care teams. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that there could be a shortage of about 86,000 physicians by 2036, while another report predicts an estimated shortfall of about 73,000 nursing assistants by 2028. As the demand for care continues to outpace the available workforce, it is more important than ever for practices to work efficiently and avoid wasting time on complicated software systems. A reliable electronic medical record (EMR) system can help lighten the workload and allow staff to focus more on patient care.
HENO EMR and athenaOne are two trusted options that many clinics consider when choosing an EMR to support daily operations. However, they differ in usability, pricing, and how well they support different practice sizes and specialties.
In this HENO EMR vs athenaOne comparison guide, we will break down their key features, highlight what sets each one apart, and help you decide which solution best fits your practice’s needs.
Head-On Comparison
HENO is a cloud-based EMR software for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology clinics. It combines a range of features, such as AI-powered notes, scheduling, billing, marketing, a patient portal, and a home exercise program (HEP), all in one easy-to-use system. HENO EMR software is designed by practicing therapists and helps clinics of all sizes streamline daily tasks, improve documentation, and reduce administrative workload. Trusted by therapy practices in all 50 states, HENO EMR supports better patient care and more efficient clinic operations.
athenaOne, part of athenahealth EMR, is an AI-powered, cloud-based EMR and practice management solution designed to support independent practices and specialty clinics. It integrates customizable documentation, real-time patient data, medical billing, and patient engagement tools into a single, connected system. Providers can access complete health histories, receive actionable insights at the point of care, and manage financial performance more effectively. Ranked Best in KLAS 2025 for Overall Independent Physician Practice Suite and Practice Management (Independent, 11–75 Physicians), athenaOne helps practices deliver better care and operate more efficiently.
HENO EMR Vs athenaOne: At A Glance
Feature | Heno EMR | AthenaOne |
|---|---|---|
AI-Powered Notes | ✓ | ✓ |
Marketing | ✓ | ✗ |
Mobile Documentation | ✗ | ✓ |
Telehealth | ✓ | ✓ |
Lab Integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
Population Health Support | ✗ | ✓ |
E-Prescribing | ✗ | ✓ |
Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
Pros And Cons
Heno | AthenaHealth |
|---|---|
Pros | Pros |
Time tracking for specific payers | Bundled EHR and practice management |
Integrated home exercise program | High-quality API integration options |
Built-in secure fax function | Supports multi-provider note sharing |
Flexible document customization tools | Regular system upgrades and improvements |
Reliable payment posting and tracking | Secure patient information access tracking |
Cons | Cons |
No integrated referral tracking | Complex initial setup process |
Occasional customer support delays | Inefficient faxing system |
Extra clicks for patient navigation | Difficult prescription denial workflows |
Side-By-Side Comparison
Both HENO EMR and athenaOne are trusted, all-in-one software solutions designed to simplify clinical, billing, and administrative tasks for healthcare practices. This guide compares their key features side by side to help you make an informed choice for your practice.
Medical Billing
HENO offers an all-in-one billing experience by combining billing and clearinghouse tools under a single login. Clinics can submit electronic claims to thousands of payers, automatically post electronic remittance advice (ERA) payments, and handle rejections or denials without leaving the system. Features like ‘Prior Authorizations Work Queue’, ‘Digital Claims Work Lists’, and customizable ‘Biller Templates’ help teams fix issues faster and avoid lost revenue. The system also includes a built-in ‘General Store’ to manage cash-pay patients, visit packages, and retail sales in one place.
athenaOne combines AI-powered automation and expert support to help practices collect more revenue with less effort. The system offers automatic payment posting and uses automated billing rules to proactively identify and correct claim errors. Practices can offload complex claims and denials to expert teams through the ‘Co-Sourcing Model’. It also provides AI-powered insurance package selection to help staff choose the right coverage quickly. Moreover, athenaOne supports powerful revenue reporting and continuous network insights to help practices maintain claim accuracy and speed up collections.
Winner: athenaOne edges ahead with its combination of AI-driven automation, dedicated billing support teams, and network-based insights that take on more manual work for practices.
Clinical Documentation
HENO EMR offers an AI-powered documentation experience designed specifically for physical therapy and related specialties. Its unique ‘AI Scribe’ automatically turns patient conversations into complete SOAP notes. Therapists can automate subjective notes, assessments, goals, and home exercise programs while using flexible custom templates. The system also includes built-in standard templates for multiple therapy areas, Copy Forward notes, and exercise shortcut bundles to further speed up charting and reduce repetitive work.
athenaOne supports versatile, specialty-focused documentation with flexible web, mobile, and voice-enabled workflows. Clinicians can use best-practice templates, macros, and pre-encounter prep tools to streamline notetaking. The system also includes integrated voice-driven tools like ‘athenaOne Dictation’ and ‘athenaOne Voice Assistant Powered by Nuance®’ to help capture details quickly and speed up encounter documentation. In addition, it supports mobile documentation to help providers complete notes and orders on the go.
Winner: athenaOne stands out for its flexibility across multiple specialties, strong mobile documentation, and advanced voice tools that help care teams document quickly.
Patient Portal
HENO EMR provides a powerful patient portal software solution that goes beyond basic health record access. Patients can self-register, complete digital intake forms, purchase products and packages, book appointments, and securely upload documents online. The portal supports ‘Two-Way Texting’ and automated reminders for incomplete forms, enhancing engagement and reducing front-desk workload. It also allows patients to make quick online payments and manage card-on-file billing through the portal.
athenaOne offers the ‘athenaPatient™’ portal and mobile app, providing patients with secure access to their health records, appointment details, test results, billing information, and direct messaging with their care teams. It includes self-scheduling and mobile check-in for added convenience but does not currently support online retail purchases or product ordering within the portal.
Winner: HENO EMR wins due to its more comprehensive self-service tool and advanced features that go beyond athenaOne’s standard portal functions.
AI-Powered Tools
HENO EMR offers a single AI-powered tool called ‘AI Scribe’ that transforms live patient conversations into structured SOAP notes in real time. This feature helps therapists save significant time on evaluations, daily notes, progress notes, and discharge summaries, reducing typing and improving charting speed for therapy-specific workflows.
athenaOne, on the other hand, provides a broader set of AI-powered tools that automate tasks across multiple practice areas. It uses machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI to simplify day-to-day workflows. The system supports clinical note generation with ‘Ambient Notes’, automatically scans and files incoming faxes, and enables hands-free charting through the ‘athenaOne® Voice Assistant’. It also includes ‘Provider Action Prediction’ to anticipate a clinician’s next step and streamline inbox tasks.
Winner: athenaOne is the clear winner here due to its wider range of AI-powered tools that help practices automate documentation, manage clinical tasks, and boost overall efficiency.
Telehealth
HENO EMR offers basic telehealth functionality through a free Doxy.me integration. Providers can schedule virtual appointments, launch video sessions directly from the HENO calendar, and automatically send secure video links with appointment reminders. This setup covers essential telehealth needs without extra fees or complicated setups
athenaOne provides a fully embedded ‘athenaTelehealth’ solution that works seamlessly within its existing workflows. Providers can handle scheduling, video visits, and billing without leaving the platform. It supports group video calls, features an adjustable video window for enhanced patient interaction, and provides automated reminders via email and text channels. Additionally, patients can securely join sessions from any device without having to download extra software.
Winner: athenaOne stands out with its fully integrated telehealth workflows, advanced video options, and seamless patient experience.
Pricing Comparison
HENO EMR offers four transparent pricing options to fit different clinic sizes and budgets. The ‘Growth’ plan starts at $149/provider/month, the ‘Established’ plan is priced at $225/month/provider, and the ‘Unlimited’ plan costs $299/provider/month. For practices looking to outsource billing, HENO also offers a managed billing service, ‘RCM’, priced at 4–8% of collections, which can be combined with any subscription tier.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
athenaOne’s pricing typically starts at around $140/provider/month. Rather than a fixed monthly fee, the cost is usually based on a percentage of the practice’s collections, so it adjusts with patient volume. There are no hidden fees, minimal upfront costs, and no long-term contracts, giving practices the flexibility to scale at their own pace.
Disclaimer: The pricing has been sourced from third-party websites and is subject to change.
Overall, HENO EMR provides straightforward flat-rate plans, while athenaOne uses a revenue-based pricing model that scales with your practice’s earnings.
What Users Have To Say?
We analyzed verified user reviews for both HENO EMR and athenaOne to see what healthcare practices appreciate and where they face challenges. Here’s a quick overview:
HENO EMR is often praised for its all-in-one design that keeps scheduling, therapy notes, billing, and reporting on a single platform. Users like the customizable intake forms, robust reporting tools, and built-in fax and messaging features. Many mention that the billing and clearinghouse integration saves time and makes claims tracking simple. Additionally, customer support is frequently highlighted as responsive and helpful.
On the downside, some users wish that secondary insurance would auto-populate correctly in billing, and they find scheduling multiple appointments less convenient due to the lack of a copy-and-paste feature. A few also mention challenges with pulling information from evaluations into progress reports.
athenaOne receives positive feedback for its intuitive interface, comprehensive charting, and reliable scheduling tools. Users appreciate the prescription writing feature and say that the system is easy for all staff to navigate. The customer service team is often described as supportive and understanding of practice needs.
However, some reviewers report occasional issues with duplicate allergy entries and note that the process for transferring medical records in bulk could be improved.
Final Thoughts: Which EMR Is Right For You
Both HENO EMR and athenaOne deliver strong EMR solutions that help clinics run smoothly and provide quality care.
HENO EMR is a great option for practices that want straightforward pricing, quick setup, and easy-to-use tools designed specifically for physical therapy workflows. In contrast, athenaOne is better suited for growing practices and multi-specialty clinics that need advanced automation, integrated billing, and robust support across departments.
The best choice comes down to your practice’s size, budget, and specific needs. Still deciding? Check out our guide to EMR for small practices to get practical tips and make a confident choice.
