Best Cardiology EMR Software Buyer's Guide 2025
Emiley Parker
Oct 14, 2025
142
Emiley Parker
Keeping track of patient records can be a stressful task for a practice of any size, but for specialties, records keeping is another matter. Cardiology is a complicated field requiring constant checks and balances. It requires a lot of imaging tests and relies heavily on electronic medical devices such as ECG, ECHO, and Spirometers to monitor and detect abnormalities.
Patient’s records are more complicated and require special tests that also need to be recorded. Paper records are not only tedious to compile and update they are prone to getting misplaced or completely lost.
Since all medical practices are making the change to electronic recording, the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software for cardiology needs to incorporate all of these features to make the transition smooth.
To have a good understanding of how the software works, it is advisable to learn about the different features and functionalities of the software. Before choosing a Cardiology EMR software, you should check if the software has the following key features:
Specific Templates – Certain tests and procedures are intrinsic to the cardiology field and need to be part of Cardiology Specific EMR software. Templates include:
Medical Device Integration – Because cardiology relies heavily on medical devices to monitor and examine patient conditions the EMR software integrates with the devices generating results automatically to save time and effort.
PQRI Reporting – Procedures in cardiology generate a high percentage of PQRI. Because of this most electronic medical records software are equipped with reporting functions for these as well as other pay-for-performance measures which are important for any practice's payment structure.
Workflow Management - If you work in a Cardiology EHR practice, you need to deal with recording and storing large volumes of data. The EMR software should be able to manage, document and maintain all the cardiology-related workflows. This helps the physicians have a better understanding of the condition of the patient and helps them make the right decisions at the right times.
Cardiology Dashboard - The top Cardiology EHR software must feature a real-time dashboard that will help physicians clearly view patient charts, profiles, billing processes, scheduling, etc. all in one place. The dashboard also saves the time that is taken in opening multiple tabs.
Coding and Billing – The cardiology- specific electronic medical records provide coding to verify ICD-10 and CPT codes that are associated with the diagnosis. This allows for direct connectivity with billing software ensuring faster payments that are accurate.
Urgent Alerts – Cardiology is a time-sensitive field and results and reports that might indicate an emergency health crisis that needs immediate notification. Urgent alerts in the system take the physical analysis of the doctor out of the equation giving the reports agency, highlighting them automatically.
Data Analysis – Integration with medical devices allows for immediate result generation, but Cardiology Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software takes it further by adding an analytical tool that takes the data and provides support in diagnosis and tracking progress.
Now that you have narrowed down all the vendors that provide cardiology EMR software you need to narrow the selection down to those that fill your requirements as a specialty as well as a medical practice.
Size – Some vendors cater better to large practices while some are best suited to smaller ones. EMR systems are designed keeping a certain number of users, scalability, and support required in mind. When selecting a vendor keep in mind the size of your practice.
Certification – It makes sense to make sure the software you’re going to purchase is certified. For cardiology, the certification you should be looking out for is by the ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (“ONC-ATCB”). They are responsible for making sure your vendor meets Meaningful Use objectives and is HIPAA compliant.
System Design – The choice, essentially, is between the installation of the software in your on-site computer server, or cloud-based software that's available anywhere via the Internet. Which system a practice goes for depends on their personal choice and comfort level. Some doctors feel more comfortable having the system on their computer server because they feel this is more compliant with HIPAA requirements, while others need to have access to their database wherever they are. You’ll need to shortlist vendors who fulfill your needs in this department.
Electronic Medical Records Software or commonly referred to as EMR Software represents the electronic method of storing medical records for patients. Using specially designed software, physicians and other medical professionals can store anything ranging from patient demographics to extensive clinical information about patients, such as medical history, social history, lab reports and more.
Since all medical providers (MDs, DOs, PAs, NPs, LCSW, OT, etc.) work in a distinct manner based on their background and medical specialty, EMR Software or EHR Software must accommodate the unique style and documentation requirements. Examples of such specialty-specific features include the ability to annotate images or the capability to store before/after photos for Pain Management specialists and Dermatology specialists respectively. Similarly, other specialties such as Pediatrics, Oncology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Nephrology, Dialysis Centers, Rheumatology and Chiropractic Care require their unique set of specialty-specific features to simplify adoption.
Since the introduction of the HITECH Act, healthcare IT has undergone a massive transition starting from the widely recognized Meaningful Use program to what is now known as MACRA, the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. The Meaningful Use program has transformed and now formed part of the four components of the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), which itself is a fundamental part of MACRA.
For some medical practices, the transition from paper-based records to EMR Software (Electronic Medical Records Software) has not been a simple one. Regardless, realizing that the benefits of utilizing ONC Certified EHR Software far outweigh the hassle and challenges associated with it - ensuring a viable future, most practices today have successfully transformed their clinical and administrative operations to EMR Software.
Aside from ensuring tangible financial incentives and profitability, practices converting to EMR / EHR Software have seen the following benefits:
Just like a medical specialty, EHR Software requirements also depend on the size of the medical practice. From solo provider clinics to large multi-provider, multi-specialty clinics, every practice has unique inherent challenges that must be addressed by the EMR Software vendor.
These practices usually consist of 5 to 10 medical providers often belonging to the same medical specialty. Their requirements are more stringent, while their budget is also considerably large. Aside from specialty-focused requirements (EHR Software by Specialty), these practices also require unique features such as interoperability, dedicated customer support, multi-device support as well as extensive reporting functionality to keep an eye on the overall performance of the practice.
A small doctor’s office not only has a limited number of staff members but their EHR Software budgets are also extremely low compared to a large enterprise such as a hospital. Due to these budgetary constraints, many providers simply choose to employ Free EMR Software or choose an affordable EHR Software vendor with a low fixed monthly fee. Cloud-based access is one such important requirement so that these providers can access patient charts even from home when needed.
Larger group practices generally comprise more fifteen or often twenty medical providers. These practices usually provide medical services that fall under various medical specialties (Orthopedics, Pain Management, Surgery, Chiropractic Medicine, Family Medicine, etc.). Therefore, these practices require support for multiple users to access the system simultaneously, as well as for the Scheduling software to accommodate multiple locations, providers and resources such as Dialysis Chairs, procedure room allocation etc. These practices also keep replacing or adding staff members and need a scalable solution.
EHR software companies such as Epic, Cerner, Allscripts, NextGen, Athenahealth, IMS by Meditab, eClinicalWorks, Meditech, McKesson, MEDHOST, etc. usually target and provide solutions for larger corporations like Hospitals, ACOs, PCMH, IPAs, CINs (Clinically Integrated Networks), Public Health Departments, etc.
These customers have the most elaborate list of requirements, which are usually documented in the form of an RFI or RFP to assess and shortlist vendors that can meet them. The requirements consist of features like inventory management modules, interface with local labs (LIS), machines and diagnostic equipment along with drug dispensing (pharmacy management software) and electronic medication administration records (EMAR) etc.
These entities also require the EHR software also need to integrate with multiple other software and medical devices.
Since the introduction of Meaningful Use, most healthcare practices simply have little or no choice but to convert their practice operations to EMR software. However, most providers today select the EHR software of their choice that best suits their specific needs and must perform an extensive search to evaluate all available options before they find one that's suitable. Most potential EMR Software buyers in the market today have the following in common:
Although #3 is ideal, every provider and practice workflows are unique and therefore what works for one provider may not suit the other. “One size fits all” simply does not apply in the world of healthcare IT. Software experts and industry specialists are an ideal source of information, advice and ultimately ensuring that the right decision is made.
EMR software includes several types of software based on specific applications or functionalities:
Small doctor offices benefit the most from Cloud-based EMR Software technology since minimum to no upfront cost or maintenance is required and accessing the EHR Software is possible from any location given the availability of internet access. This type of EMR software is also device dependent in most cases and can be accessed using devices such as Smartphones (Android & iOS), iPhones, iPads, laptops, and desktop computers. The move to the public cloud for healthcare is vital in the current changing landscape. For practices that do not adopt new cloud services, the old inferior feature-set coupled with the higher prices will hinder the business dramatically. This gulf between the old software and the new cloud-based software will only grow more exponentially as time goes on.
Apple dominates the digital device and computer market in the US today, so it is no surprise that many providers are specifically looking for their EMR Software vendor to support the Mac operating system (Mac EMR Software). Not all Vendors today work on a Mac device, so looking for a vendor with native support for Mac devices is essential to ensure that the software performs on existing hardware at the practice and does not require more investment in computer systems.
This is the most significant requirement for most software buyers today as the software must comply with the standards and guidelines set by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC). Online repository details all software vendors and details related to their respective compliance with the measures set by the ONC (Click here). Software that complies with these standards have undergone rigorous testing and confirmed at a benchmark level defined by the federal body. The software testing done during this exercise checks all areas of the EMR Software system from Patient Portal access to the way the EHR Software communicates with other programs and entities like labs, Pharmacies (via e-Rx), hospitals, HIEs, etc.
Electronic health records software (EHR) for certain specialties such as Cardiology and Vascular Surgery must provide unique tools to document the clinical workflow of those specialists such as specifying the area of concern. Pain Management specialists, for example, must be able to specify joint pain through a method other than the mere capture of text data.
With competition rising in healthcare IT, EMR software providing integrated Practice Management software as part of their overall software package easily outperforms rivals with standalone EHR Software including those that may offer a specialty-specific EHR software. EMR Software companies with integrated Practice Management solutions often provide extensive reporting capabilities to track practice performance and manage business operations better.
Medical practice has several needs of software systems to streamline operations across the board. One such important area is billing for services rendered and communications with insurance companies. Medical Billing Software, therefore, works best when integrated with the Electronic Health Records software. All clinical documentation seamlessly conforms to the required standard and forms a financial document that can be electronically sent to payers (insurance carriers) to verify and process at their end. This simplifies the operations and ensures all parties are on the same page when it comes to the financial health of the enterprise. Medical billing software helps practices and medical billing managers generate claims, patient statements, verify patient eligibility and more. This software is ideal for practices that want to handle billing in-house and can integrate with EMRs.
An EMR Software must ensure the security and safety of patient records while ensuring privacy and HIPAA compliance for patient/doctor communication (Patient Portal). This is a paramount concern for physicians and HIPAA compliance should be guaranteed at all times by the EHR Vendor. Most Vendors today (Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, AdvancedMD, PrognoCIS, Modernizing Medicine, eClincalWorks, etc.) are aware of the importance of HIPAA compliance and have taken steps to ensure the safety of patient records security in every section of the EHR Software using advanced tools like data encryption technologies to enhance the security of the EMR software.
One of the decisions your practice will have to make is whether you want just EMR software or one with integrated Practice Management for billing and scheduling. There are advantages to having both together but there have been cases where some practices only go for one if they had unique requirements that a vendor could not fulfill or they had already paid a hefty amount for PM software and were not looking to replace it yet.
Doctors are not IT professionals, and though some might be tech savvy, it would be egregious to expect them all to be experts on the EMR software. Ease of use is essential to make the transition from paper to electronic smooth, as well as day to day practice to go along without a hitch. If the software is too complicated and hard to understand, it is a waste of precious time and needlessly aggravating. Some vendors offer free training while others don't; make sure you ask for training if your practice needs it.
Not all specialties are created equal, so why must their software be generic? Basic EHR software works well and good for general practice and most specialties, but doctors have complained about specialty specific not being available in the market. The specialty software's have inbuilt recording systems that make specialty practices functioned efficiently. Only a few vendors provide specialty-specific software, so there are not many to choose from. But the more vendors are cottoning on to the demand and there should be more options in the near future.
Support is a major issue most practices have with their current vendors. A good support team can make small glitches to major roadblocks easy to maneuver while a bad one will just make things worse. Some vendors provide support as part of the plan you're already paying for, while others charge extra for support. Scout the market, read reviews or just ask point blank if there will be a special support team assigned to each practitioner and whether you will be charged for the service.
There are varying price lists out there; some offer free services, while others charge an arm and a leg for specialty services. Either way, there will be hidden costs that you might get to know about later. Fix your budget and talk to vendors you interview about hidden costs within the contract and whether services such as training and support are free.
Smartphones have changed the dynamics of mobile usage. Handheld devices are easy to carry around and can be used for any number of uses. Most people are ditching the cumbersome PC for a handheld device. Doctors mostly use iPads or Tablets in the examination room to take down patient symptoms, check the history and note down the prescription, so it is imperative that the vendor has a mobile application that's synced with all the mobile devices being used in the practice.
Like anything else, the EMR software industry is also subject to constant changes. From new technology to legalities and governing bodies, everything is constantly changing. Here are some of the changes I think it would do well for you to keep track of.
At a recent health care conference Andy Slavitt, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services declared that Meaningful Use was over, and would be replaced by the end of this year with something better. But a deeper look into the claims revealed that meaningful use would very much still be there, only much improved.
The new measures aim to make the reporting and benchmark for reaching the required reports much easier and laxer than under Meaningful Use, along with other changes.
It was revealed in previous research how only 25% of practitioners were interested in a web-based model and only 50% were willing to have it as an initial model that eventually transitioned to cloud-based. But it's established now that cloud-based EMR software cuts down on steep upfront costs for client-servers and can be hosted on any device that has a web-browser. It's no surprise how more and more vendors are transitioning to cloud-based software also because the industry demands are changing.
In 2025, the demand for EMR software solutions for healthcare practices has continued to rise, with market growth estimated at around 6-7% year-over-year as healthcare providers increasingly prioritize digital transformation and interoperability. This increase is largely driven by the adoption of advanced technologies like AI and cloud computing within these systems, which enhance clinical workflows and patient care. Epic Systems has expanded its dominance, now capturing over 35% of the market, particularly among large multi-specialty organizations. Meanwhile, Oracle Health (formerly Cerner) has faced challenges, especially in retaining smaller hospitals, contributing to a slight decline in its market share. Together, major players like Epic, Oracle Health, Meditech and Allscripts account for a significant portion of the current EHR market.
EMR software is quickly widening their range of practice types in order to become more accessible to healthcare services. The amount of people who lack the time and knowledge, who are in health IT, is increasing each year. This makes optimizing these software solutions more difficult as they must now cater to different needs. Douglas W. Bowerman, MD, predicts we will see a “continued trend towards accessibility” in EHRs, both in terms of how we access them – on mobile, for instance – and who can access the software.
In recent years, advancements in AI and machine learning have dramatically changed the healthcare industry. As these technologies continue to evolve, they are likely to have a significant impact on the future of EHR (Electronic Health Record) and EMR software. By leveraging AI and machine learning algorithms, EMR systems can become more intuitive and efficient, streamlining clinical workflows and improving patient outcomes. The application of AI and machine learning will also enable EMR systems to provide more personalized and proactive care, by analyzing patient data and identifying potential health issues early on. Additionally, these technologies have the potential to revolutionize clinical research and drug development by providing access to vast amounts of patient data and insights.
The trend in EMR (Electronic Medical Record) software is gravitating towards increased customization and modular design. This shift is driven by the diverse and evolving needs of healthcare providers across various specialties. Customizable EHR systems will allow medical professionals to tailor interfaces and functionalities to their specific workflows, enhancing efficiency and reducing cognitive load. Modular EMR systems will offer flexibility, enabling healthcare facilities to integrate only the modules they need, such as tele-medicine, billing, or patient engagement tools, thereby avoiding the complexities of one-size-fits-all solutions. This approach not only improves user satisfaction but also facilitates better patient care by providing clinicians with tools that are more aligned with their practice needs. Ultimately, this evolution will lead to more adaptable, efficient, and user-friendly EHR systems in the healthcare industry.
Cardiology-focused EMR software has seen significant enhancements to support the specialized needs of cardiovascular care. Integration with diagnostic devices, such as ECG machines and echocardiograms, allows for seamless importation of test results into patient records. Advanced imaging viewers enable cardiologists to analyze high-resolution images directly within the EMR, facilitating accurate diagnoses. Risk assessment calculators and decision support tools assist in evaluating patients' cardiovascular risk factors and planning appropriate interventions. Patient portals with tailored educational materials empower patients to manage their heart health effectively. Tele-cardiology features have also been incorporated, enabling remote monitoring of patients with chronic heart conditions, thereby reducing hospital re-admissions.
Cardiology EHRs are incorporating AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient care. AI algorithms analyze medical images such as ECGs and echocardiograms, assisting in the early detection of cardiac conditions. Predictive analytics evaluate patient data to forecast potential cardiac events, enabling preventive measures. These AI-driven tools support cardiologists in making informed decisions and improving patient outcomes.
dicardiology.com has listed out the most important features to look for in an EMR Software. Defined as key trends this article talks about how this new world of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics is going to bring about revolutionary changes in the healthcare IT industry and how top EMR Systems are focusing on these trends to improve practice management.
Apple Watch Series 7 continues to expand medical features with new and updated ECG appApple continues to develop their line of Apple Watches in the medical field with their brand-new Series 7 Watches. This new update has brought several improvements to the ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor, previously introduced with their Series 4 launched in 2018.The healthline.com article outlines its viability for cardiology practices, following Apple’s claims of it being comparable to a single lead ECG and it even receiving clearance from the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration).
Dr. Henry Borkowski, Clinical Cardiologist, and Chief Medical Officer at OmniMD, one of the leading Cardiology EMRs, said in an interview that, the next generation Apple Watch will have a huge impact on cardiology practices. The watch has the ability to provide a single lead electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm strip with an algorithm for detecting heart rate as well as whether the rate is too fast, too slow, regular or irregular. The feature will revolutionize cardiology practices, save a lot of time, and improve the point of care.
