Best Podiatry EMR Software Buyer's Guide 2025
Emiley Parker
Oct 16, 2025
174
Emiley Parker
Specific Templates – Because there are certain characteristics exclusive to podiatry, the electronic medical records system already has templates for them in the software to make every case easier to navigate:
ICD/CPT Coding – The nature of diseases is changing with new diseases rearing their heads more often than not. Specialty-specific software needs to stay up-to-date with these codes because it makes diagnosis and billing much easier. Podiatry-specific EHR Software eliminates the need to scroll through unnecessary codes and only uploads codes specific to podiatry.
Image Support – Podiatry relies heavily on X-ray, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound equipment, and other visual reports. The EMR software must be integrated with those devices for quicker image sharing and compatibility to house image data that can be analyzed to help monitor and detect abnormalities.
Diagrams and Graphing – The podiatry electronic medical software is also equipped with graph note-taking, where a digital pen can be used to chart fractures in the foot or any other details the specialist can’t find in the templates. These are then stored within patient files for immediate referencing.
Compensation Management – To help with compensation claims for disabilities through accidents or work sites for patients, podiatrists need to manage charts and files and share them with attorneys or relevant parties. The Electronic Health Records Software (EHR) software not only makes these easy to share it also helps organize and store them in a way that will be acceptable to attorneys.
Workflow Management - Podiatry practices need to deal with recording and storing large volumes of data. The EHR software should be able to manage, document, and maintain all the podiatry-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 time.
Podiatry Dashboard - The Top Podiatry Electronic Medical Records software must feature a real-time dashboard that will help physicians view patient charts, profiles, billing processes, scheduling, etc., all in one place. The dashboard also saves the time that is taken to open multiple tabs.
Once a list of podiatry EHR software vendors is narrowed down, podiatry healthcare providers need to narrow the selection down to those that meet their 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 software is designed keeping a certain number of users, scalability, and support requirements in mind. When selecting a vendor, keep in mind the size of your practice.
System Design – The choice, essentially, is between the installation of the software in your on-site computer server or cloud-based software that is available anywhere via the Internet. Which system a practice chooses depends on its personal choice and comfort level. Some doctors feel more comfortable having the system on their computer server because they believe 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.
Certification – It makes sense to make sure the software you’re going to purchase is certified. For podiatry, the certification you should be looking 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.
Selecting EMR software can be stressful and exhausting, but with our detailed guide, it can become, if not a little easier, much more focused on making the right choice.
Electronic Medical Records Software (EMR Software) represents the electronic method of storing medical records for patients. Using specially designed software, physicians and other medical professionals can store a wide range of information, from patient demographics to detailed clinical records, including medical history, social history, lab reports, and more.
Since all medical providers (MDs, DOs, PAs, NPs, LCSW, OT, etc.) work distinctly 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 ability to store before/after photos for Pain Management specialists and Dermatology specialists, respectively. Similarly, specialties such as Pediatrics, Oncology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Nephrology, Dialysis Centers, Rheumatology, and Chiropractic Care require their unique 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 EMR Incentive Program. The Meaningful Use program has transformed and now forms part of the four components of the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), which 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 EMR 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.
A small doctor’s office not only has a limited number of staff members, but its EMR Software budgets are also meager 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.
These practices usually consist of 5 to 10 medical providers, often belonging to the same medical specialty. Their requirements are more stringent, and their budget is also considerably larger. 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 an extensive reporting functionality to keep an eye on the overall performance of the practice.
Larger group practices generally comprise more than 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 and for the Scheduling software to accommodate multiple locations, providers, and resources, such as dialysis chairs and procedure room allocation. 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, and MEDHOST, typically target and provide solutions for larger corporations, including hospitals, ACOs, PCMHs, IPAs, CINs (Clinically Integrated Networks), and public health departments.
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 to integrate with multiple other software and medical devices.
Since the introduction of Meaningful Use, most healthcare practices have little or no choice but to convert their practice operations to EHR 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 is suitable. Most potential EMR Software buyers in the market today have the following in common:
Although #3 is ideal, every provider and practice workflow is unique, and therefore, what works for one provider may not suit another. “One size fits all” simply doesn’t apply in the world of healthcare IT. Software experts and industry specialists are an ideal source of information and advice, and ultimately ensure 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 minimal 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-independent in most cases and can be accessed using devices like Smartphones (Android & iOS), iPhones, iPads, laptops, and desktop computers.
Apple dominates the digital device and computer market in the US today, so it's no surprise that many providers are specifically looking for their EHR Software vendor to support the Mac operating system (Mac EMR Software). Not all Vendors today support Mac devices, so finding a vendor with native support for Mac devices is essential to ensure that the software performs optimally on existing hardware at the practice and does not require additional 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). The 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 has undergone rigorous testing and is 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 podiatry care, chiropractic care, or pain management must provide unique tools to document the clinical workflow of those specialists such as specifying the area of concern (for example foot fracture) and should provide robust templates and modules rather than being a mere method of capturing text or raw data.
With competition rising in healthcare IT, EMR software providing integrated Practice Management software (PM software) as part of their overall software package easily outperforms rivals with standalone EHR Software including those that may provide specialty-specific EHR software. EMR Software companies with integrated Practice Management solutions often tend to provide extensive reporting capabilities to track practice performance and manage business operations better.
Medical practices require 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 (EHR) 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, and 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, eClinicalWorks, 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 an EMR software or one with an 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 a PM software and weren't 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 EHR 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's 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 is good for general practice and most specialties, but doctors have complained about specialty specific not being available in the market. The specialty software has inbuilt recording systems that make specialty practices function efficiently. Only a few vendors provide specialty-specific software, so there aren't many to choose from. But more vendors are cottoning on to the demand and there should be more options shortly.
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'll 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 the vendor must have a mobile application that is 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.
Whilst better patient access is expected of many EHR software systems, the feature has not been completely integrated yet. According to a study in 2019, only 10% of patients (who had access to their records) viewed them. Additionally, of these patients, 63% were encouraged to do so by their respective providers. Vendors of electronic medical records software (EMR software) are updating their systems to be easier to navigate and to better suit patients’ requirements; this also prepares EMR systems for potential future regulatory changes. More health practices are also providing more guidance and raising awareness to encourage more patients to regularly check their health records before appointments.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have both had major impacts on health IT in recent years. It is likely that as these continue to evolve and change, they will have just as big an impact on EMR software systems. AI and machine learning algorithms can improve Electronic Health Records software by making it more intuitive and efficient, and they can help streamline medical workflows and improve patient outcomes. Applying these technologies to EHR software systems can also enable physicians to provide much more personalized and proactive care by identifying any potential health issues early through analysis of patient data. By providing access and insights into large amounts of patient data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning algorithms have the potential to revolutionize clinical research and drug development.
