What EHR software supports telehealth and remote patient visits?

Most modern EHR (Electronic Health Record) software now supports telehealth and remote patient visits to varying degrees, especially given the rapid adoption during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of integration and features can differ, but many offer robust solutions.

Here are some of the prominent EHR systems known for their telehealth capabilities:

**Major Enterprise & Hospital Systems:**

1. **Epic:**

* **Features:** Highly comprehensive. Integrates video visits directly into MyChart (patient portal), secure messaging, e-visits (asynchronous communication), remote patient monitoring (RPM) integration, and robust scheduling. Widely used in large health systems.

* **Strengths:** Deep integration, excellent patient experience through MyChart, highly customizable.

2. **Oracle Health (formerly Cerner):**

* **Features:** Offers virtual care solutions that integrate with their EHR. Includes video visits, secure messaging, patient portal access, and tools for remote monitoring.

* **Strengths:** Strong for large hospitals and health systems, comprehensive clinical workflows.

3. **Meditech:**

* **Features:** Provides virtual care solutions that allow providers to conduct video visits, manage appointments, and document encounters within the EHR.

* **Strengths:** Focus on hospital and acute care settings, good for integrated health systems.

**Ambulatory & Mid-Sized Practice Systems:**

4. **athenahealth:**

* **Features:** Cloud-based with integrated telehealth capabilities. Offers video visits, online scheduling, secure patient portal for communication, and digital intake forms. Known for its practice management and revenue cycle management (RCM) services.

* **Strengths:** User-friendly, strong RCM integration, good for smaller to mid-sized practices.

5. **NextGen Healthcare:**

* **Features:** Provides an integrated virtual visit solution that allows providers to conduct secure video consultations, manage appointments, and document directly within the EHR.

* **Strengths:** Comprehensive solution for mid-sized practices, good for various specialties.

6. **eClinicalWorks:**

* **Features:** Offers "healow TeleVisits" which is a fully integrated telehealth solution. Includes video visits, secure messaging, online scheduling, and patient portal access (healow app).

* **Strengths:** Popular among smaller to mid-sized practices, cost-effective, strong patient engagement tools.

7. **ModMed (Modernizing Medicine):**

* **Features:** Specialty-specific EHRs (e.g., dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics) with integrated telehealth. Tailored workflows for virtual visits within specific specialties.

* **Strengths:** Highly specialized, intuitive for specific medical fields.

8. **Allscripts (now Veradigm):**

* **Features:** Offers various solutions with telehealth capabilities, including video visits, secure messaging, and patient portal integration.

* **Strengths:** Diverse product lines catering to different practice sizes and needs.

9. **Practice Fusion:**

* **Features:** Cloud-based EHR that integrates with telehealth platforms (or has basic built-in capabilities) for video visits, secure messaging, and online scheduling.

* **Strengths:** Good for smaller practices, often more affordable.

**Key Telehealth Features to Look For in an EHR:**

* **Integrated Video Conferencing:** Direct launch of video calls from the EHR.

* **Secure Patient Portal:** For scheduling, communication, sharing documents, and pre-visit intake.

* **Online Scheduling:** Allows patients to book virtual appointments themselves.

* **E-Prescribing:** Essential for remote care.

* **Digital Intake Forms & Consent:** Streamlines the pre-visit process.

* **Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Integration:** For chronic disease management.

* **Telehealth-Specific Documentation Templates:** To efficiently chart virtual encounters.

* **Billing & Coding Support:** Ensures proper reimbursement for telehealth services.

* **Secure Messaging:** For asynchronous communication between patient and provider.

* **Device Compatibility:** Works across various devices (desktop, tablet, smartphone).

* **HIPAA Compliance:** Crucial for patient data security.

When choosing an EHR for telehealth, consider your practice size, specialty, budget, and the specific features most important to your workflow and patient population. Many EHR vendors offer demos, so it's worth exploring a few options.