eClinicalWorks Review (Jan 2023)

About eClinicalWorks

eClinicalWorks is a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system that is designed to streamline the healthcare delivery process and improve patient care. It was developed to help healthcare providers, including doctors, hospitals, and clinics, manage patient records, schedule appointments, and communicate with other members of the healthcare team.

eClinicalWorks was founded in 1999 in Westborough, Massachusetts. The company has since grown significantly, with over 1,500 employees and over 130,000 healthcare providers using its EHR system.

One key feature of eClinicalWorks is its patient portal, which allows patients to access their medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with their healthcare providers online. This can be particularly useful for patients who have busy schedules or live in remote areas, as it allows them to access healthcare services from the comfort of their own homes.

Another feature of eClinicalWorks is its robust reporting capabilities, which allow healthcare providers to track patient progress and outcomes over time. This can be particularly useful for monitoring chronic conditions and identifying potential issues early on.

In addition to these features, eClinicalWorks also offers a number of tools to help healthcare providers manage their practices more efficiently. These include appointment scheduling, billing and coding, and population health management tools.

Overall, eClinicalWorks is an important tool for healthcare providers looking to improve patient care and streamline their practice management processes. Its patient portal, reporting capabilities, and practice management tools can help providers save time and resources and ultimately provide better care to their patients.

Who Uses it?

eClinicalWorks serves a wide range of healthcare providers, including primary care physicians, hospitals, clinics, and specialty practices. The company’s EHR system is used by over 130,000 healthcare providers across the United States, making it one of the most widely-used EHR systems in the country.

Examples of eClinicalWorks customers include:

1. Northwell Health, a large health system in New York, implemented eClinicalWorks in order to improve patient care and streamline its practice management processes.
2. The West Virginia Primary Care Association, which represents over 120 primary care health centers in the state, implemented eClinicalWorks to help its member clinics improve patient care and reduce administrative burdens.
3. The Indian Health Service, a federal agency that provides healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives, implemented eClinicalWorks at several of its facilities in order to improve patient care and streamline its practice management processes.
4. The Arkansas Department of Health, which provides healthcare services to over 3 million residents in the state, implemented eClinicalWorks in order to improve patient care and streamline its practice management processes.
5. The Community Health Center of Cape Cod, a non-profit healthcare organization that provides primary care and behavioral health services to underserved communities in Massachusetts, implemented eClinicalWorks in order to improve patient care and streamline its practice management processes.

Overall, eClinicalWorks is used by a wide range of healthcare providers across the United States, including large health systems, primary care clinics, and specialty practices. Its comprehensive EHR system is designed to help these providers improve patient care and streamline their practice management processes.

How it can help your practice?

If you are a healthcare provider, eClinicalWorks can help your business in several ways.

First and foremost, eClinicalWorks is a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system that can help you manage patient records, schedule appointments, and communicate with other members of the healthcare team. By using an EHR system like eClinicalWorks, you can reduce the time and resources you spend on administrative tasks, allowing you to focus on providing the best possible care to your patients.

Another way that eClinicalWorks can help your business is by providing robust reporting capabilities, which allow you to track patient progress and outcomes over time. This can be particularly useful for monitoring chronic conditions and identifying potential issues early on.

In addition to these features, eClinicalWorks also offers a number of tools to help you manage your practice more efficiently. These include appointment scheduling, billing and coding, and population health management tools. By using these tools, you can streamline your practice management processes and save time and resources.

Finally, eClinicalWorks also offers a patient portal, which allows patients to access their medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with their healthcare providers online. This can be particularly useful for patients who have busy schedules or live in remote areas, as it allows them to access healthcare services from the comfort of their own homes.

Overall, eClinicalWorks can help your business by providing a comprehensive EHR system that streamlines the healthcare delivery process, improves patient care, and helps you manage your practice more efficiently.

eClinicalWorks Vs Competitors

Here is a comparison of eClinicalWorks with five other EHR systems:

1. Epic: Epic is a large, comprehensive EHR system that is often used by large hospitals and health systems. It offers a range of features, including a patient portal, population health management tools, and advanced reporting capabilities. One key difference between Epic and eClinicalWorks is that Epic is typically more expensive and has a longer implementation process.
2. Cerner: Cerner is another large, comprehensive EHR system that is commonly used by hospitals and other healthcare organizations. It offers a range of features, including a patient portal, population health management tools, and advanced reporting capabilities. One key difference between Cerner and eClinicalWorks is that Cerner is typically more expensive and has a longer implementation process.
3. AthenaHealth: AthenaHealth is a cloud-based EHR system that is designed to be user-friendly and easy to implement. It offers a range of features, including a patient portal, appointment scheduling tools, and population health management capabilities. One key difference between AthenaHealth and eClinicalWorks is that AthenaHealth is primarily targeted at smaller practices and may not have all the advanced features of a more comprehensive EHR system like eClinicalWorks.
4. Meditech: Meditech is a comprehensive EHR system that is commonly used by hospitals and other healthcare organizations. It offers a range of features, including a patient portal, population health management tools, and advanced reporting capabilities. One key difference between Meditech and eClinicalWorks is that Meditech is typically more expensive and has a longer implementation process.
5. NextGen: NextGen is a comprehensive EHR system that is designed to be user-friendly and easy to implement. It offers a range of features, including a patient portal, appointment scheduling tools, and population health management capabilities. One key difference between NextGen and eClinicalWorks is that NextGen is primarily targeted at smaller practices and may not have all the advanced features of a more comprehensive EHR system like eClinicalWorks.

Overall, eClinicalWorks is a comprehensive EHR system that offers a range of features to help healthcare providers streamline the healthcare delivery process and improve patient care. It is similar to other comprehensive EHR systems like Epic and Cerner, but may be more affordable and have a shorter implementation process. It is also similar to cloud-based EHR systems like AthenaHealth and NextGen but may offer more advanced features.

what is the cost to implement eClinicalWorks

The license fee for the software can range from a few thousand dollars for a small practice to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a large organization. Additionally, you may need to purchase additional hardware and software, such as servers and database software, which can add to the cost of implementation.

eClinicalWorks Pros

1. Customizable: eClinicalWorks EHR software is highly customizable, allowing practices to tailor the system to their specific needs and workflow.
2. Scalable: The software is designed to accommodate the needs of practices of all sizes, from small solo practices to large multi-specialty groups.
3. Comprehensive: eClinicalWorks offers a wide range of features and modules, including electronic prescribing, patient portal access, and revenue cycle management, providing practices with a comprehensive solution for managing patient records and streamlining their workflow.

eClinicalWorks Cons

1. User interface: Some users have reported that the user interface of eClinicalWorks can be difficult to navigate and may require a learning curve to become proficient with the system.
2. Data migration: Migrating data from an existing EHR system to eClinicalWorks can be a complex and time-consuming process, and some users have reported difficulties with data migration.
3. Technical support: Some users have reported that technical support from eClinicalWorks can be slow to respond to issues or requests for assistance.

How To Use eClinicalWorks

eClinicalWorks is a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system that is used by many healthcare providers to manage patient information and streamline their clinical workflow. In this tutorial, I will go over some of the key features of eClinicalWorks and explain how to use them.

1. Patient Demographics: The Patient Demographics module allows you to enter and update patient information, including demographic details, insurance information, and next of kin contact information. You can access this module by clicking on the “Patient Demographics” button in the main menu. To add a new patient, click on the “New” button and fill out the required fields. To update an existing patient’s information, search for the patient using the search bar and then click on the “Edit” button.
2. Appointments: The Appointments module allows you to schedule and manage patient appointments. You can access this module by clicking on the “Appointments” button in the main menu. To schedule a new appointment, click on the “New” button and fill out the required fields. To view or update an existing appointment, click on the “View” button and make any necessary changes.
3. Clinical Summary: The Clinical Summary module provides a comprehensive view of a patient’s health history, including past medical history, medications, allergies, and lab results. You can access this module by clicking on the “Clinical Summary” button in the main menu. To add new information to a patient’s clinical summary, click on the “Edit” button and enter the relevant data.
4. Medication Management: The Medication Management module allows you to manage a patient’s medication list and track any changes to their prescriptions. You can access this module by clicking on the “Medication Management” button in the main menu. To add a new medication to a patient’s list, click on the “New” button and enter the medication details. To update or discontinue an existing medication, search for the medication using the search bar and then click on the “Edit” button.
5. Document Management: The Document Management module allows you to store and manage patient documents, such as lab results and radiology reports. You can access this module by clicking on the “Document Management” button in the main menu. To upload a new document, click on the “New” button and select the document from your computer. To view or update an existing document, search for the document using the search bar and then click on the “View” button.
6. Reports: The Reports module allows you to generate various reports, such as patient lists and financial reports. You can access this module by clicking on the “Reports” button in the main menu. To generate a new report, click on the “New” button and select the report type you want to generate.

Please note that the above feature list may vary based on the eClinicalWorks package you subscribed to and may not have all the features mentioned here. And the exact user interface might be different based on your version. If you have any doubts please refer to the eClinicalWorks manual or reach out to their customer support.

How it Integrates with Other Software

eClinicalWorks is designed to integrate with other healthcare technologies to facilitate the exchange of information and streamline workflow. Some of the ways in which eClinicalWorks can integrate with other technologies include:

• Electronic health records (EHRs): eClinicalWorks can exchange patient information with other EHR systems through various methods, such as direct messaging, integration with a health information exchange (HIE), or through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs).
• Practice management systems: eClinicalWorks can integrate with practice management systems to automate tasks such as scheduling, billing, and revenue cycle management.
• Medical devices: eClinicalWorks can integrate with various medical devices, such as blood pressure monitors and glucose meters, to automatically capture and record data in the patient’s electronic health record.
• Patient portals: eClinicalWorks offers a patient portal that allows patients to access their health information, communicate with their care team, and manage appointments online. The portal can also integrate with other patient engagement technologies, such as telemedicine platforms.
• Electronic prescribing: eClinicalWorks can integrate with electronic prescribing systems to facilitate the electronic transmission of prescription orders to pharmacies.

Free Alternatives to eClinicalWorks

One potential free alternative to eClinicalWorks is OpenMRS, an open-source electronic health record (EHR) system that is designed to be customizable and scalable to meet the needs of a wide range of healthcare settings.

One of the key features of OpenMRS is its modular design, which allows users to select and configure the specific features and functionality that they need. The system includes modules for managing patient records, scheduling appointments, electronic prescribing, and more.

One advantage of OpenMRS is that it is open source, which means that users have access to the source code and can modify or extend the software to meet their specific needs. This can be a valuable resource for organizations that want to tailor their EHR system to their specific workflow or requirements.

In terms of usability, OpenMRS is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with a straightforward interface and comprehensive documentation to support users in learning how to use the system.

One potential limitation of OpenMRS is that, as an open-source system, it may require more technical expertise to set up and maintain compared to a commercial EHR system like eClinicalWorks. Additionally, while OpenMRS is free to use, organizations may need to invest in resources such as training and support to ensure that their staff is able to effectively use the system.

Overall, OpenMRS is a viable free alternative to eClinicalWorks for organizations that are looking for an open-source EHR system that is highly customizable and scalable. While it may require more technical expertise and resources to set up and maintain compared to a commercial EHR, it offers a range of features and functionality that can support the needs of many types of healthcare organizations.

Alternative for Small Practice

One alternative to eClinicalWorks for small businesses is athenahealth. athenahealth is a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) and practice management system designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized medical practices.

One of the main differences between eClinicalWorks and athenahealth is that athenahealth is delivered as a service, meaning that it is hosted and maintained by the vendor rather than being installed on-site. This can be a significant advantage for small businesses that may not have the resources or technical expertise to maintain an on-premises EHR system.

athenahealth offers a range of features and functionality that are specifically designed to meet the needs of small medical practices, including appointment scheduling, electronic prescribing, revenue cycle management, and patient portal access. The system is also highly customizable, allowing practices to tailor the interface and workflow to their specific needs.

One potential advantage of athenahealth for small businesses is its focus on automation and streamlining workflow. The system includes features such as automated billing and electronic prior authorizations that can help small practices save time and reduce administrative burden.

Overall, athenahealth is a strong alternative to eClinicalWorks for small businesses that are looking for a cloud-based EHR and practice management system that is tailored to their specific needs. Its focus on automation and streamlined workflow can be particularly beneficial for small practices that may have limited resources and staff.

Alternative for Large Practice

One alternative to eClinicalWorks for large businesses is Cerner. Cerner is a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system that is designed to support the needs of large healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, and multi-specialty medical practices.

One of the main differences between eClinicalWorks and Cerner is that Cerner is a much larger and more comprehensive EHR system, with a wide range of features and functionality that are designed to support the needs of large healthcare organizations. This includes support for multiple specialties, integration with medical devices and other healthcare technologies, and advanced analytics and reporting capabilities.

Cerner is also highly scalable, with the ability to support a large number of users and patients. This can be a significant advantage for large businesses that need an EHR system that can accommodate a high volume of data and users.

One potential disadvantage of Cerner for large businesses is its cost, as it is a more expensive EHR system compared to some alternatives. Additionally, the system can be complex to implement and maintain, requiring significant resources and technical expertise.

Overall, Cerner is a strong alternative to eClinicalWorks for large businesses that are looking for a comprehensive and scalable EHR system that can support the needs of multiple specialties and a large number of users. Its advanced features and functionality may come at a higher cost, but can be well worth the investment for organizations that require a robust and sophisticated EHR system.