A comprehensive EHR evaluation checklist
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The 8 best EHR systems for therapists
Learn more about the best options for mental health providers so you can make an informed decision for your practice.
Whether you work in a private or group therapy practice, you’re regularly faced with plenty of important decisions — including choosing the best EHR system. Electronic health record software, or EHRs, can make your practice more efficient and secure. But with so many options available, it may be challenging to determine which one you should choose.
Clarifying the features you need in an EHR, along with identifying your budget, will help you narrow down your options. Read on to learn more about the best EHR systems for therapists so you can make an informed decision for your practice.
What is an EHR?
An electronic health record (EHR) is a type of software that helps medical providers — including therapists — manage client records, documentation, scheduling, billing, and communication. These systems streamline administrative tasks while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA.
EHR functions can vary from software to software. Some EHR systems for therapists only include basic communication and documentation tools, while others have additional features like telehealth, appointment scheduling and reminders, and billing and coding integration.
Choosing the best EHR system ultimately depends on your unique needs. Below are some of the most popular EHR systems among therapists, along with their features and benefits.
Use Headway’s EHR features — at no cost to you.
Along with taking care of billing and ensuring you get paid on time, Headway offers EHR features that help streamline your practice, including built-in documentation templates and assessments. Consolidating to one system for billing and documentation can save you valuable time and energy, so you can focus more on what matters most: supporting your clients on their mental health journeys.
Learn more about all Headway has to offer here.
EHR systems for mental health providers
Carepatron
Carepatron is a comprehensive EHR system designed specifically for mental health practitioners. It offers features like client management, appointment scheduling, secure documentation, billing integration, telehealth capabilities, and client portals. Carepatron emphasizes security, compliance with healthcare regulations, and an intuitive user interface to streamline administrative tasks so mental health professionals can focus more on patient care.
SimplePractice
SimplePractice is a popular EHR designed to simplify mental health practices. The features are comprehensive, ranging from scheduling and billing to documentation and treatment planning, plus extras like telehealth, marketing support, and a website builder. Given its many features, SimplePractice is a bit more expensive compared to other, simpler platforms.
TheraNest
Another popular EHR software for mental health providers, TheraNest offers all the standard features you can expect in an EHR, such as scheduling, billing, documentation, and a Wiley Treatment Planner integration. It may not be ideal for large enterprise practices, because it lacks some of the advanced features of other platforms.
Therapy Notes
TherapyNotes is an affordable option compared to other platforms, yet it still boasts all the important features of an EHR, including billing, scheduling, documentation, and a built-in telehealth platform. Users share positive reviews of Therapy Notes’ customer support. That said, some therapists may not appreciate that the notes templates aren’t very customizable and that clients can’t book appointments themselves using this platform.
My Best Practice
A budget-friendly option ideal for smaller practices, My Best Practice is a straightforward EHR offering billing, scheduling, documentation, and a client portal. Pre-set note templates may not be customizable enough for some therapists, and the platform lacks the advanced features (like in-depth reporting or integrations) of larger platforms.
Sessions Health
Sessions Health is an easy-to-use EHR that offers benefits like billing, scheduling, treatment planning, and documentation. It’s a bit simpler than other EHRs, without many advanced feature options. It’s also a newer platform compared to other popular options, so available features may evolve over time.
Valant
Valant is known for its excellent customer support. Along with basic features like scheduling, billing, and documentation, Valant has a library of rating scales and measures to make measurement-based care easier. Some users may find it expensive, especially small practices, and given the extra features, it may be more difficult to learn.
Tebra
Tebra, formerly Kareo, is a user-friendly EHR that’s priced competitively compared to larger EHR solutions. It includes all the basic features of popular EHRs, like scheduling, billing, and documentation. Telehealth is included in the platform. The software may not be ideal for larger practices because it doesn’t include advanced features. Users report mixed experiences with customer service response times.
Headway makes it easier and more profitable for therapists and psychiatrists to accept insurance.
Starting a practice
A comprehensive EHR evaluation checklist
Here’s how to obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certification
Read our guide covering what you need to know about DEA licenses.
Headway vs. BetterHelp: Which is best for your practice?
Whether you’re a seasoned provider or just starting your practice, our analysis provides transparency so you can make the decision that works best for you.