Websites using Athenahealth

Okay, let s break down athenahealth, a major player in the healthcare technology space.

What is athenahealth?

athenahealth is a cloud-based healthcare technology company providing electronic health record (EHR), practice management, revenue cycle management, and patient engagement solutions to medical groups and health systems. Their core philosophy is to provide a connected network and streamlined workflow to improve clinical and financial outcomes for healthcare providers.

Key Features & Functionality:

• athenaEHR (Electronic Health Record): Helps providers document patient encounters, manage medications, order tests, and access clinical decision support tools.
• athenaClinicals (EHR for Large Groups): A comprehensive, cloud-based EHR designed for larger healthcare organizations to improve care coordination and reduce administrative burden.
• athenaCollector (Practice Management): Automates billing, scheduling, and other administrative tasks to optimize revenue cycle.
• athenaCommunicator (Patient Engagement): Facilitates patient communication through appointment reminders, secure messaging, and online portals.
• athenaIDX (Analytics and Reporting): Provides data-driven insights into practice performance to help providers make informed decisions.

Revenue:

• athenahealth is a privately held company after being acquired by Veritas Capital and Evergreen Coast Capital in 2019. Therefore, precise, publicly accessible revenue figures are not readily available. However, it s estimated that athenahealth generates several billion dollars in annual revenue.

Alternatives:

The EHR and practice management market is competitive. Here are some notable alternatives to athenahealth:

• Epic: A dominant player, especially in larger hospitals and health systems. Known for its comprehensive functionality and interoperability. (Generally more expensive than athenahealth).
• Cerner (now Oracle Health): Another major enterprise-level EHR provider. Similar scale and functionality to Epic.
• Allscripts: Offers a range of EHR and practice management solutions for different size practices.
• NextGen Healthcare: Caters to a variety of specialties and practice sizes. A good option for practices looking for customizable solutions.
• eClinicalWorks: A popular choice for smaller and medium-sized practices. Offers integrated EHR and practice management.
• Practice Fusion: A web-based EHR designed for smaller practices. Known for its relatively lower cost (though features may be limited compared to others).
• Kareo: Another option for smaller practices, offering a focus on ease of use and affordability.
• AdvancedMD: A cloud-based solution with EHR, practice management, and billing capabilities.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Alternative:

• Practice Size: Some EHRs are better suited for small practices, while others are designed for larger organizations.
• Specialty: Some EHRs offer specialty-specific templates and workflows.
• Budget: EHR costs vary significantly.
• Integration Needs: How well does the EHR integrate with other systems (e.g., billing, lab, imaging)?
• Usability: Is the EHR easy to learn and use?
• Customer Support: What kind of support is available?
• Interoperability: Can the EHR exchange data with other healthcare providers and systems?
• Regulatory Compliance: Does the EHR meet all relevant regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA, Meaningful Use)?

Pricing:

• athenahealth uses a subscription-based pricing model. This means you pay a recurring fee (usually monthly) to use their software.
• Pricing is not transparently published and is typically customized based on:
  • The size of your practice (number of providers)
  • The specific modules you need (EHR, practice management, revenue cycle management, etc.)
  • The level of service and support included.
• You ll need to contact athenahealth directly for a quote.
• Generally, athenahealth can be considered to be in the mid-to-upper tier in terms of pricing, but the exact cost is very specific to your organization s needs.

Customer Care Details:

• Support Channels: athenahealth offers customer support through various channels, including:

  • Phone Support: Typically available during business hours.
  • Online Portal/Knowledge Base: Provides access to self-service resources, documentation, and FAQs.
  • Community Forums: Allows users to connect with each other and share best practices.
  • Dedicated Account Managers: Larger clients may have assigned account managers to provide personalized support.

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs): athenahealth usually has SLAs that define the level of support they provide and the response times you can expect. Be sure to review the SLA carefully.

• Customer Satisfaction: athenahealth s customer satisfaction ratings can vary. It s a good idea to research independent reviews and testimonials from other users before making a decision. Look at sources like:

  • G2: A popular software review site.
  • Capterra: Another software review site.
  • KLAS Research: Provides in-depth reports on healthcare technology vendors (often requires a subscription to access full reports).

Key Considerations Before Choosing athenahealth:

• Network Effect: athenahealth emphasizes its network. The more providers on their network, the more potential for data sharing and improved care coordination.
• Cloud-Based: Being cloud-based offers advantages in terms of accessibility and reduced IT infrastructure costs, but you re reliant on a stable internet connection.
• Customization: While athenahealth offers some customization options, it may not be as flexible as some other EHRs.
• Implementation: EHR implementation can be complex and time-consuming. Understand the implementation process and the level of support athenahealth provides.
• Long-Term Commitment: Switching EHRs is a major undertaking. Choose a solution that meets your needs now and in the future.

In summary, athenahealth is a leading cloud-based healthcare technology provider offering a suite of solutions. Evaluate your specific requirements, compare alternatives, and carefully consider customer reviews and pricing before making a decision. Talking to current athenahealth users in similar practices can provide valuable insights.