Compare Epic EHR and Cerner Millennium - Feb 2023

Shlomi LaviShlomi Lavi / Feb 21, 2023

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Bottom Line: Which is Better - Epic EHR or Cerner Millennium?

Cerner and Epic are two of the largest electronic health record (EHR) systems in the healthcare industry. Both systems have a wide range of functionality and are used by hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers to manage patient information, billing, and other administrative tasks.

Functionality:

Both Cerner and Epic offer a comprehensive set of features, including electronic prescribing, clinical documentation, and patient scheduling. Both systems also offer revenue cycle management and population health management tools. Cerner has a strong focus on patient engagement and offers a patient portal that allows patients to access their medical information and communicate with their healthcare providers. Epic is known for its robust clinical decision support capabilities and offers a wide range of clinical content and order sets. Cerner also offers a comprehensive range of clinical and financial analytics and reporting tools, while Epic is known for its customizability and flexibility. Both systems also offer support for care coordination and population health management.

Pros and Cons:

Cerner Pros: Comprehensive clinical and financial analytics and reporting, Strong patient engagement features, Robust clinical decision support. 

Cerner Cons: Can be expensive to implement and maintain, Some users find the system complex to navigate.

Epic Pros: Customizability and flexibility, Robust clinical decision support and clinical content, Strong care coordination and population health management features. 

Epic Cons: Can be expensive to implement and maintain, some users find the system to be complex.

Pricing:

Both Cerner and Epic are considered to be expensive and the pricing can vary depending on the specific implementation and the number of users. Cerner's pricing is generally based on the number of users and the modules implemented, while Epic's pricing is based on a combination of factors including the number of users, the modules implemented, and the complexity of the implementation. It is difficult to provide an estimate for the total cost of implementation for each software for 1 user, 10 users and 100 users without more information on the specific implementation.

User Interface:

Both Cerner and Epic have user-friendly interfaces, but the look and feel can vary depending on the specific implementation. Cerner has a more modern, intuitive interface, while Epic has a more complex interface with more options and customizability. Both systems offer desktop and mobile interfaces, with Cerner's mobile interface being more user-friendly.

Integration:

Both Cerner and Epic offer a wide range of integration options, including integration with other EHR systems, lab systems, imaging systems, and other healthcare applications. Cerner's architecture is more centralized, while Epic's is more decentralized, with a focus on interoperability. Both systems offer standard HL7 interfaces and APIs for integration.

Scalability:

Both Cerner and Epic are highly scalable and can serve a large number of users. Cerner's centralized architecture allows for easier scalability, while Epic's decentralized architecture can make scalability more complex.

Security:

Both Cerner and Epic have strong security features, including encryption, access controls, and audit trails. Cerner has received certifications such as HITRUST and SOC 2, while Epic has received certifications such as HITRUST and SOC 2. Both systems have a good reputation in the industry for security.

Reporting and Analytics:

Cerner offers a wide range of clinical and financial analytics and reporting tools, while Epic is known for its customizability and flexibility in reporting. Both systems offer a wide range of standard reports, and also allow for custom report development.

Support and Maintenance:

Both Cerner and Epic offer support and maintenance services, including software updates, bug fixes, and technical support. Cerner offers a variety of support options, including phone, email, and chat support, while Epic offers support primarily through phone and email. Both systems have good reputation in the industry for their support and maintenance services.

Training and Implementation:

Both Cerner and Epic require significant training for users, and the length of training can vary depending on the specific implementation and the number of users. Both systems offer training options, including in-person, online, and self-paced training. The implementation timeline for both systems can vary depending on the specific implementation and the number of users. Cerner's implementation timeline is generally shorter, while Epic's can take longer due to the complexity of the system.

Flexibility:

Both Cerner and Epic offer a high level of flexibility to support growth, and there is no limit to the number of users. Cerner's centralized architecture allows for easier scalability, while Epic's decentralized architecture can make scalability more complex.

Data Migration:

Both Cerner and Epic offer data migration assistance and tools to help with the process of transferring data from existing systems. The data migration process can vary in complexity depending on the specific implementation and the amount of data that needs to be transferred.

Mobile Access:

Both Cerner and Epic offer mobile access, with Cerner's mobile interface being more user-friendly. Both systems offer mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, with features such as appointment scheduling, prescription refills, and access to patient information.

Cloud-Based or On-Premise:

Both Cerner and Epic offer both cloud-based and on-premise deployment options. Cerner's cloud-based deployment is called Cerner Millennium on Demand, while Epic's cloud-based deployment is called Epic Cloud. Both systems also offer on-premise deployment options, where the software is installed and run on the customer's own servers.

Vendor Reputation:

Cerner was founded in 1979, and currently has over 27,000 employees worldwide. The company serves over 190 countries and has over 350,000 users. Cerner has a good reputation in the industry for its EHR systems. Epic was founded in 1979, and currently has over 9,000 employees worldwide. The company serves over 250 organizations in the US and has over 300,000 users. Epic has a good reputation in the industry for its EHR systems and for its customer support.

Industry Certifications:

Cerner has received certifications such as HITRUST and SOC 2, while Epic has received certifications such as HITRUST and SOC 2. Both systems have a good reputation in the industry for security.

User Reviews:

The online sentiment for both Cerner and Epic is generally positive, with users praising the systems for their functionality and user-friendliness. However, some users have also reported that the systems can be complex to navigate and that implementation and training can be time-consuming. It's difficult to give a score between 1 to 100 about users sentiment as it can vary depending on the specific implementation and the number of users.

Technical Requirements:

Both Cerner and Epic have specific technical requirements to run the system, including servers and other infrastructure. Both systems also require a certain number of IT personnel to manage the system. Cerner's system may require more IT resources as it is more centralized.

Implementation Timeline:

The implementation timeline for both systems can vary depending on the specific implementation and the number of users. Cerner's implementation timeline is generally shorter, while Epic's can take longer due to the complexity of the system. Both systems offer a variety of support options during the implementation process, including consulting and training services.

Vendor Stability and Compliance:

Both Cerner and Epic have a good reputation in the industry for their stability and compliance. Both systems have received industry certifications such as HITRUST and SOC 2, and have a strong track record of compliance with healthcare regulations such as HIPAA.

Epic EHR

ITQlick rating
(4.3/5)

starts at $1,200 per year

EpicCare EMR is a cloud-based electronic medical record (EMR) solution that is developed, implemented, and supported by an in-house team. With EpicCare EMR, healthcare facilities can streamline healthcare recor...

Categories: Medical, Electronic Medical Records, Medical, Patient Portal.

Cerner Millennium

ITQlick rating
(4/5)

starts at $25 per user/month

Cerner Millennium is a cloud-based as well as an on-premise medical practices management that is developed both for medical experts in the field of behavioral health and the hospital and clinics that are offeri...

Categories: Chiropractic, Cloud Based EMR, E-Prescribing, Family Practice EMR, Mac EMR and Medical Billing.

Compare specifications

Compare features

Epic EHR: 4 Features

Appointment Management
HIPAA Compliant
Patient portal
Voice Recognition

Cerner Millennium: 0 Features

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ITQlick rating ITQlick Rating is based on the software score (below) and aggregated online reviews
ITQlick score ITQlick Score is a 1 to 100, the calculation is based on pricing, and functionality Vs. alternative solutions
Pricing score pricing Score is a 1 to 10 (10 is high cost), based on the TCO (cost of licences, customizations, training, hardware when relevant) Vs. alternative solutions
License pricing license pricing (if provided by the software vendor)
Functionality score
Software review
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Review

Auditor - Shlomi Lavi

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Shlomi Lavi is an entrepreneur and founder of ITQlick.com. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Information Systems Engineering from Ben Gurion University in Israel. Shlomi brings 17 years of global IT and IS management experience as a consultant and implementation expert for small, medium and large-sized (global) companies. Shlomi’s goal is to share the best knowledge and news about information systems so you can make smarter buying decisions for your business.