If you’re a healthcare provider weighing EHR options, you’ve probably heard of Eclinicalworks. It’s one of the big names in electronic health records, billing, and practice management software. But does it actually make life easier for clinics? Does it save you time, or just create more work? Here’s a straight-shooting look at what Eclinicalworks gets right, where it stumbles, and things nobody mentions until it’s too late.
Who This Review Is For
- Small to mid-sized practices tired of juggling paper charts and clunky software
- Clinics looking for a complete EHR/PM solution that won’t break the bank (at least, in theory)
- Admins and doctors who want honest feedback, not just shiny marketing
If you’re looking for a no-fluff, real-world assessment, you’re in the right place.
What Eclinicalworks Claims To Do
Eclinicalworks pitches itself as a “comprehensive, cloud-based EHR and practice management platform” for healthcare providers of all sizes. In plain English, that means:
- Electronic Health Records (EHR): Patient charts, notes, orders, e-prescribing, and documentation
- Practice Management (PM): Scheduling, billing, insurance claims, and revenue cycle stuff
- Population Health: Reporting, analytics, care coordination
- Patient Engagement: Portals, reminders, telehealth
- Mobile Apps: Charting, messaging, and access on the go
It’s supposed to handle everything from your front desk to your back office, without you needing a tech degree.
Key Features: What Actually Matters
1. EHR (Electronic Health Records)
Pros: - Templates for most specialties (family med, pediatrics, OB/GYN, etc.) - Customizable forms and workflows - Built-in e-prescribing and lab integration
Cons: - The interface is busy and can feel overwhelming, especially for new users - Customization is powerful but confusing. You can tweak almost anything, but you’ll need patience (or paid help) - Some legacy design touches linger — it’s not as slick as newer, smaller platforms
Pro Tip:
If you’re coming from paper or a bare-bones EHR, expect a learning curve. Budget time for real training, not just a quick demo.
2. Practice Management (Scheduling & Billing)
Pros: - Handles appointment scheduling, eligibility checks, claims, and payment posting - Decent automation for claim scrubbing and denials management - Built-in reporting tools for tracking revenue and productivity
Cons: - Billing module is functional, but not exactly intuitive. Your billing team will need training. - Integrating with outside billing services can get messy. - Some users report slowdowns during peak hours, especially with big databases.
3. Telehealth & Patient Engagement
- Secure messaging, appointment reminders, and a patient portal are included (not always the case with competitors)
- Telehealth is built-in, but don’t expect Zoom-level polish. Video quality is fine, but setup isn’t seamless for everyone.
- The patient portal is basic — works, but feels dated compared to modern consumer apps.
4. Mobile Apps
- There’s an iOS/Android app for charting and messaging, which is handy for quick lookups.
- Don’t expect to do all your charting from a phone — it’s better for reviewing info than entering lots of data.
- Reliability is hit-or-miss, especially after OS updates.
5. Integrations & Interoperability
- Connects with labs, pharmacies, and some health information exchanges.
- Direct messaging and some FHIR support, but not the best for “plug and play” with other systems.
- If you’re hoping for seamless integration with every outside system, temper your expectations — it’s possible, but rarely painless.
Pricing: What You’ll Actually Pay
Here’s where things get murky. Eclinicalworks doesn’t publish standard pricing, and what you pay depends on your practice size, specialty, and the modules you need.
As of 2024, typical pricing looks like: - EHR only: $449–$599 per provider/month (cloud-based, including support) - EHR + PM: $599–$799 per provider/month - Implementation fees: One-time setup and training fees, often $2,500–$10,000+ depending on complexity - Extras: Add-ons for population health, telehealth, and analytics can raise costs fast
What to watch out for: - Long-term contracts (often 1–3 years) - Price bumps after your first term - Extra fees for data migration, custom reports, or advanced integrations
Pro Tip:
Negotiate everything. There’s wiggle room, especially if you’re a larger practice or willing to sign a longer contract. Always get quotes in writing.
User Experience: The Good, The Bad, and the Frustrating
The Good
- Feature-rich: If you need it, it’s probably in there somewhere.
- Configurability: You can tailor workflows, forms, and reports to your needs (with effort).
- All-in-one: Scheduling, billing, outreach, telehealth — no need for a patchwork of apps.
The Bad
- Steep learning curve: New users often feel lost. “Intuitive” isn’t the first word that comes to mind.
- Cluttered interface: Too many buttons, tabs, and screens. Easy to get click fatigue.
- Support is a mixed bag: Some users get quick help; others report slow, script-driven responses.
The Frustrating
- Updates can break things: New releases sometimes introduce bugs or change workflows without warning.
- Customizations can backfire: It’s powerful, but too much tinkering can make upgrades or support trickier.
- Mobile app is just OK: Good for reference, not for serious charting.
Real-World Feedback: What Users Say
It’s not hard to find passionate opinions about Eclinicalworks online — for better or worse. Here’s the gist from providers, admins, and billers:
What users like: - Stable, reliable (most of the time) - Handles a high volume of patients/encounters - Flexible for different specialties
What users dislike: - Training takes longer than promised - Interface feels old-school and cluttered - Customer support can be slow to resolve complex issues
Ignore the hype about “AI-powered” features and fancy dashboards. Most clinics use the basics: charting, scheduling, billing. Advanced tools are there, but adoption is low unless you have IT resources to burn.
Migration, Setup, and Training: What’s the Real Lift?
Don’t underestimate the time and effort to get up and running.
- Data migration: Moving records from another EHR? It’s possible, but usually a headache. Expect manual data checks and some cleanup.
- Implementation: Eclinicalworks offers onboarding support, but you’ll want a champion in-house to keep things on track.
- Training: Plan for real, hands-on training — not just videos. Power users are made, not born.
Pro Tip:
Stagger your go-live. Start with a few providers or a single location before rolling out to everyone.
Security & Compliance
Eclinicalworks meets HIPAA and ONC certification requirements. That’s table stakes for any EHR, but still worth checking if you have unique security needs (like behavioral health or substance use clinics). Make sure your own policies match up — EHRs aren’t a magic shield against breaches.
When Eclinicalworks Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)
Good fit if: - You want a mature, all-in-one EHR/PM with lots of features - Your practice is large enough to dedicate time and people to setup and training - You’re OK with a busier interface if it means more configurability
Not ideal if: - You need a plug-and-play, minimalist EHR - Your staff is tech-averse or expects consumer-grade design - You have a very limited budget or hate long-term contracts
The Bottom Line
Eclinicalworks isn’t the prettiest or easiest EHR out there, but it’s a workhorse. If you’re willing to invest in training and process tweaks, it can run most medical offices efficiently — but don’t expect it to magically fix bad workflows or staff bottlenecks.
Keep it simple: Start with core features. Ignore the bells and whistles until you’re comfortable. Don’t buy into the hype (or the sales pitch) that it’ll solve every problem overnight. Iterate, get feedback from your team, and make changes as you go.
If you need an EHR that does a lot, and you’re ready for a learning curve, Eclinicalworks is still in the running. Just go in with your eyes open.