In the field of EHR, you will hear both Epic and Cerner as they play significant roles in varied ways. Both are platforms that offer seamless cloud-based solutions to enhance communication and customer experiences.

It can be hard to compare the two cloud-based solutions, especially because of the wide range of available features for both Cerner and Epic. However, if you are trying to distinguish the two solutions to get the best option that will suit your requirements, keep reading this guide.

Overview of Cerner vs Epic EHR  

Both Epic and Cerner dominate the healthcare industry by playing varied roles. They offer different functionalities that make the processes simple and transparent. For instance, improved communication and revenue cycle management, among many other functionalities. Since they are both large, effective, and reliable solutions, it can be hard to select the best option that will suit your organization’s needs. However, at the end of this guide, you will be able to make a viable decision when choosing between the two.

Understanding the Cerner EHR System

Apparently, Cerner is known for its significance in promoting a seamless healthcare operation and enhancing interoperability. It is simply a cloud-based solution in the EHR field that helps stakeholders achieve diverse healthcare settings to meet the needs of patients. It bridges the healthcare facility and the healthcare systems to enhance data exchange processes.

By participating in the CommonWell Health Alliance initiative, it is evident that Cerner is a powerful interoperability solution for EHR. Besides, it extends the services to both outpatients and inpatients.

Understanding Epic EHR System

Epic, on the other hand, is known for its effectiveness in enhancing seamless collaboration and managing medical reports through best healthcare practices. Epic, therefore, is a cloud-based EMR- electronic medical record software that enhances most processes in a healthcare facility.

Through its capability, Epic enhances data sharing, improves communication, and simplifies healthcare operations. Healthcare service providers, therefore, experience flexible and secure processes when accessing patients and reviewing reports of individual patients.

Comparing Cerner vs Epic

Under this section, you will learn a detailed comparison between Cerner and Epic based on their functionalities and capabilities under different settings. Let’s review these differences below:

Comparison by types and size of healthcare organizations

Apparently, both solutions are highly scalable and can operate in healthcare establishments of all sizes and types.

While Cerner is serving over 330 organizations worldwide, Epic is a top priority for HIMSS level seven hospitals and clinics. Among the medic specialists relying heavily on Epic include mental healthcare experts, physicians, and oncologists. Other healthcare units embracing the use of Epic include retail clinics, hospice care, transitional care, rehab centers, and multi-specialty groups.

Comparison by functionalities

Ideally, both Epic and Cerner offer basic functionalities, including mobile charting, a solid patient-centered platform, and telehealth. All these functionalities play a key role in shaping and enhancing healthcare operations and services.

Comparison by Ease of Use

The reality is that both Epic and Cerner are complex solutions to use. They have complex elements that will make users spend a lot of time training to comprehend them better.

However, based on what different users have to say, Epic is quite appealing to the eye, but it has the most complex features and interface that makes it hard to manage. Users find it challenging to navigate easily, especially if they haven’t received adequate training. Epic, on the other hand, is known to provide an easy-to-navigate user portal without the need to put in place training facilities.

While the interface may look unappealing, the detailed and fast portal is what makes Epic stand out.

Comparison by revenue cycle management

One feature that makes both Epic and Cerner viable solutions in the EHR sector is the seamless revenue cycle management processes.

Cerner revenue cycle management focuses mainly on patients with automated work processes. The system has patient counting features, including contract management, charge capture, and billing, to streamline the workflow of the back office.

The management tools play a big role in providing a seamless environment for the healthcare teams to collaborate and plan the processes effectively.

What’s more, the healthcare management systems integrate clinical data with third-party tech teams to ensure that all the billing is done promptly.

Similarly, Epic revenue cycle management operates exactly in a similar manner. What’s more, in Epic, you can schedule processes beforehand to streamline the operations and make work easier.

In fact, when using Epic software solution, patients can create a customized service plan and set up all the required payments from the platform. This reduces paperwork and helps save a good amount of time.

Comparison by Patient Portal

A patient portal helps connect healthcare service providers with patients, ensuring a seamless operation. With a reliable patient portal, you can respond to all patient’s questions and concerns.

Both Epic and Cerner patient portals have similar features, offering access to medical reports & records, bill payment processes, and scheduling of appointments, among other useful services.

Integrated with features like HealtheLife, patients are encouraged to participate in the program to evaluate their health statuses to avoid any risky conditions, especially checking weight since it is the riskiest element affecting many clients.

Another crucial feature is that MyChart helps patients evaluate payment and insurance plans. This feature enables patients to set up payment plans and request assistance right from the platform. They can also send messages seeking help from the billing staff.

Equipped with electronic insurance coverage verification, Epic helps reduce paperwork and save a good amount of time. You can check and verify customer insurance claims at a glance and process the requirements faster.

Comparison by Interoperability

Apparently, Epic doesn’t have the option for third-party integration, and this is one major pitfall of Epic. If you want third-party integrations, you must build for yourself, and this means spending more resources and time on the processes.

On the other hand, Cerner allows third-party integration with over fifty applications, hence making work easier and the process seamless. Therefore, with Cerner, it is easy to share data and information with patients in varied ways without having to find other professionals and experts to streamline the processes.

Nonetheless, both Cerner and Epic service providers can integrate with EHR networks in the following ways:

Cerner – connects with CommonWell Health Alliance and Epic with Carequality to enable the sharing of data and crucial information from the platform.

While Carequality collaborates with over 35 EHR service providers, CommonWell Health partners with more than 30 EHR service providers. What’s more, Carequality and CommonWell Health Alliance can connect to enhance their functionalities and processes.

Epic also has EpicCare Link, which allows non-interoperable EHR users access to data and performs different functionalities on the platform.

What’s more, organizations that are using Epic can share their software with others. This means that medical practitioners can access Epic services as long as they are collaborating with organizations that are using Epic software in their operations.

Comparison by Telehealth Services

The future of healthcare service providers focuses more on remote care services. Both Epic and Cerner are on the move to integrate virtual services to reach wide patient coverage. EHR hosts their details remotely. Therefore, users can access and update information remotely from anywhere in the world.

Among the common telehealth services for both EHR solutions include digital front-door access, online scheduling, and virtual visits. However, Epic enhances its services by providing a comparison plan for patients to make informed decisions. Besides, notifications are top-notch. It is easy for users to monitor the progress from varied devices in the comfort of their homes with Epic.

With Cerner, users enjoy video visits, which is an effective strategy, especially when a patient wants support and understanding of their health status. Besides, patients can enjoy video visits through the screen or text when going to their appointments without having to download applications, which makes the whole process easy and seamless.

Here is a summary overview of what distinguishes Epic from Cerner in terms of patient portal, telehealth services, and third-party integrations:

Conclusion

If you’ve been struggling to choose between Epic and Cerner, you now have a detailed overview of how both solutions function. While they share some common features and functionalities, there are some differences that put them apart. You only need to evaluate the nature of the business and then select a viable solution.

Connect with healthcare software solutions company : Aalpha information systems.