Integrated EHR and practice management solutions: could they work for you?

Unlike EHRs whose function focuses primarily on clinical tasks, a practice management system helps practices streamline administrative workflows and enhance patient care.

By combining practice management and EHR functions in one platform, you reduce duplicate data entry, simplify staff training, and improve overall efficiency.

Just like an EHR, a standalone practice management system does not cover every facet of a practice’s needs. Although requirements vary, common practice management features include provider scheduling, medical billing, an online patient portal, e-prescribing, patient check-in, and financial reporting and benchmarking.

A truly integrated practice management and electronic health records solution brings all these features into a single solution. While some offices manage with separate platforms, there are compelling reasons to choose a combined EHR/PM platform.

One vendor, one solution - not many vendors, many problems

Perhaps the simplest advantage of an integrated EHR and practice management system is that you only dial into one vendor for support and updates. Juggling multiple platforms means:

• Multiple trainings for staff
• Fragmented data across systems
• Extra administrative overhead to reconcile information

Selecting a fully integrated healthcare solution eliminates the drain on administrative resources that comes with coordinating separate EHR integrations and multiple billing, scheduling, or reporting tools.

Find integrated EHR and practice management solutions to suit your needs with our interactive EHR comparison tool  

Interoperability and the ability to oversee all areas of a practice

Beyond reducing vendor management, integrated practice management removes barriers to data sharing and analysis.

An integrated EHR allows administrators and clinical staff to monitor performance across every department. Practices with complex structures or multiple locations gain even more: seamless coordination of staffing, billing, and inventory management without exporting and importing data between siloed systems.

Many EHR and practice management platforms include dashboards for real-time reporting on metrics such as revenue, patient volume, workflow bottlenecks, and provider productivity. With this insight, you can pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, make data-driven decisions, and continuously improve both clinical and financial performance.

Do offices need both EHR and practice management software?

If you’ve ever wondered "EHR or practice management system?", the answer often lies in your practice’s size and complexity.

Smaller practices may start with separate tools, but as you grow, the administrative burden of maintaining multiple systems can outweigh any initial savings. A combination of practice management and electronic health records in one platform scales with you, no matter how large or specialized your practice becomes.

As reimbursement constraints tighten and operating costs rise, integrated practice management solutions become not just an option but a strategic advantage when you upgrade or revamp your software. Consider building your practice on a fully integrated EHR/PM foundation for smoother workflows, better patient experiences, and stronger financial outcomes.