Amazing Charts

Pros

Updates were easy to install just time consuming.
Runs on your local server, so that makes thing a little easier to manage.
Doesn't require a massive amount of processing power, but you'll still want server grade equipment to host it.

Cons

The database tuner can take forever to run depending on how big the database is. Im talking hours.
Java updates break the clients frequently.

Pros

Cost. Simplicity. Easy to train new employees on it. Ability to run it off of a local server. Chart flow is smooth.

Cons

Nothing Negative to say about the software. But the gaurdian angel support has lost its touch since being bought out. We don't need the support unless issue with licences occur,but the support lacks.

Pros

I had a previous physicians practice records that was really the only reason since is a very basic system.

Cons

The cloud-based system is really complete joke, placed on a very anxious database and essentially useless forcing me to change. They also continue to charge you for unnecessary connections but you are forced to do so if you have more than 1 or 2 people trying to access my contract at the same time.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing Amazing Charts

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to Amazing Charts

Pros

It gets the job done, it is pretty easy for users to use, tech support is generally knowledgeable. It is easy to install. There is high-quality tech support available on the weekend for emergency issues (I have had to use this service a couple of times over the past decade.)

Cons

As the company has been bought out, the customer support is not as responsive as it used to be. It is nearly impossible to reach them via phone, and chat is only available first thing in the morning. However, they usually call back pretty quickly, and tech support always speaks and understands good English! I dislike that the billing portion of the software is only cloud-based, and that it uses Java. The built in back up program makes a once a day complete backup -- but it doesn't cull old backups, and periodically I have to access it and delete old backups manually to free up space. New server installations require a generated key, requiring a call to tech support, which can be very inconvenient if server hardware fails. (This happened to me.)

Pros

The ability to color code appointments types for scheduling. The verification of appointments is wonderful, also.

Cons

The messages portion. It would be nice if you could switch screens and have the message stay intact until you are finished sending.

Pros

The online virtual version is very slow and freezes all the time
The support is not good as well

Cons

I have been Amazing charts for many years but recently moved to the virtual server versions. Its very slow and now the whole experience is bad, The support
is not good either. They keep giving false promises , its will speed up
The problems occurs when you are searching Diagnostic codes, Signing the chart, very poor spell check, prescription writing is a nightmare.

Pros

It is a simple program, simple charting, which if it actually worked correctly with advertised functionality could be very decent. Compared to other EHRs they are initially very affordable.

Cons

Top three outline would be: -Software not only lacks real development and improvement, it is fundamentally broken in some areas and missing advertised functionality. It is deceptive.-Live customer service is practically nonexistent. A chat queue with a handful of people with varying levels of expertise is is the best you can hope for. Typical answer is "We are aware. No timeline on when or if that's even going to be repaired. It is low priority. Try to ignore it or find a work around."- They do not honor your negotiated contracts. A sales person will "audit" you and add charges they say you should have paid, with rules they seemingly added later or never even discussed.

Pros

Fairly user friendly.
Like the chart layout.

Cons

Cost has become an issue for a small practice. We pay (1) for the certificate, (2) for the customer service, (3) for patients portal, (4) for narcotics e- prescriptions. We pay annually per provider whether they work 1 day a month or 30 days a month, for service, support, and upgrades. Now they are tagging on taxes for these services. Nine times out of ten we can not reach support (worse since Pri-Med took over) and usually have to leave a message, it takes several days to receive a response and if the caller is not available, support leaves a message with no direct call back line and so when calling back, we start the process again. Customer support is slow and not adequate for people who do not have in house IT support. WHY should support be MANDATORY??? In messaging if you switch screens you lose what was typed why can't the message stay intact until you are finished sending. System frequently freezes when in a chart causing you to need to reboot.

Pros

Simplicity is key and speed. Fast EHR that allows great functionality and efficiency within practice.

Cons

Templates were not quite as functional as I had hoped. Flow is a bit tricky to learn at first.

Pros

I like the templates that are available. I also like that I can write my own templates for things I commonly see and write.

Cons

Takes some getting used to. Can be tough to learn where al the features are unless someone teaches you the ins and outs.

Pros

Compared to other EMR software programs the price is affordable.

Cons

Once you purchase the software and get transferred from their onboarding representative to the "white glove" support then your on your own. When you call support they have a voicemail where you leave a message. If someone calls you back it ranges from a day or two to sometimes a week or two. When someone calls back if you are unavailable they will leave a message, but they don't have extensions so the number they leave is the same one where you have to leave a message and the process starts over. My account was deactivated because I couldn't get ahold of support to update my credit card on file. If it takes over two week to update your credit card good luck with real software problems.

Pros

I have been using Amazing Charts since 2007. The best aspect of this EMR is that it closely follows the documentation process learned in medical training with minimal clicks to complete the note. The entire process can be displayed in a single window. There is a downloadable trial with free use for several weeks. There is excellent support by the vendor with one-on-one assistance by phone or online chat by US based techs. The pricing is very reasonable for both purchase and support that includes updates. The user board is run by the user community and open to prospective users for pre-purchase impressions about what users like and don't like, as well as a fast way to answer questions. Although there is a cloud version available, the software runs on standard office computers, the database stays in your office and can be networked peer to peer or domain, and most IT issues can be solved by a user with average software troubleshooting skills. It has a software wizard for implementing Meaningful Use.

Cons

New versions are often buggy for several revisions. There is no electronic billing module yet, although interfaces are available with other programs for extra cost. Some frustrating features of the software frequently discussed on the users board are slow to be addressed. New changes are introduced with little user input. The software training is entirely web-based.

Pros

It is easy to learn to use. It is easy to print prescriptions. They can set up off site back-up. You pay for guardian support but be aware that they will not help with printers. We could not scan into the program for months and we ere on our own to figure it out.

Cons

shuts off frequently, notes sometimes don't save, never know when I come in in the morning if it will bve working. Very few days where everything works.

Pros

Ease of use. Intuitive style. Progress notes that i can actually see all the fields on ONE SCREEN unlike most other products that require tons of tabbing.
Reports that print out just like the progress notes we learned in medical school (unlike the 5-7 page reports printed from those other over-priced clunky programs like Centricity). Great office messaging system. AFFORDABLE PRICE TAG ! SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT....you can actually get live people on the telephone !

Cons

Sorry I'm a loyal A.C. user since 2008. I don't have anything negative to say about the software or the company.

Pros

very moldable and overall simple interface. Easy to add users. Prescription management overall is good though interactions and warnings based on heath problems that make a med contraindicated are pretty poor.

Cons

Customer support has significant eroded over the last year. MIPPS support is very poor. With the help of a government contractor, I still wasn't able to get the reporting submitted despite working on it for two months!!!

Pros

Like the templates and letters, low cost as long as we keep the basic plan, practice management and meaningful use: we don't use them though

Cons

Not appropriate for a college health clinic, scheduler is limited, good price disappears when you start adding necessary features

Pros

problem-oriented medical record
self-sourcing
membership management
great project manager and team

Pros

Ease of use and intuitiveness of the system. Your engineers are remarkable. Each update went amazingly smoothly.

Cons

That I have to leave it in my retirement! Still helping others in nearby practices with Amazing Charts hone their skills.

Pros

Simplicity less clicking- also you can use the simple basic format or get fancier if you want

Cons

as upgrades happen there is more and more clicking required

Pros

I like that I can see how many times I have prescribed a medication to a patient.

Cons

There are too many bugs in the system which get fixed in one version which then causes other bugs to be created.

Pros

I like the way it get things done and it is interesting

Cons

It provides electronic health/medical record software and services

Pros

I like the way encounters are laid out. It makes it easy to document in a timely manner and is easy to read past encounters.

Cons

There are some flaws that are not very clinically appropriate. For instance, trying to add an addendum makes an entire new past encounter, you have to manually remove diagnosis from the summary sheet, and you can't make diagnostic templates.

Pros

Easy to use, being improved regularly, can do all kinds of things. Prompts for governmental requirements,

Pros

The intuitive options. After I have used an option a few times, my ususal choices appear at the top of my window.

Cons

Our office is small, so we do not use alot of the features offered in the software. Sometimes it is confusing for our providers to find the pieces that we do use.

Pros

User will be able to schedule activities

Cons

Gantt charts can be done easily but full project management scheduling some times will be complicated

Pros

This emr has a few very nice selling points. By far, the first is the price. We are a solo practice and I spent a year listening to emr presentations before settling on AC. That was in 2009. There were no emrs that could even come close to AC's cost and still provide the same features and support. I occasionally provide training at other offices in our area that have AC. All of my feedback in the last 5 years has been that these AC offices are able to just about anything those as those that forked out 10 or 20 times more for an emr.

The Decision Support feature is fantastic. It is an editable tracking area that we use for all our HEIDIS, PCMH, and meaningful use needs. It was great to finally get rid of the huge ticker files for the yearly physicals, etc. Creating call lists for overdue screenings like colonoscopies and wellness visits can be done in minutes. Not only that, but they can be produced as an Excel spreadsheet instead of printed.

AC also connects to an online fax service, Updox. Updox offers a basic patient portal and makes filing faxes easier. Incoming faxes can be sent directly to the patient's chart from the Updox program. It provides HIPPA compliant email, options to send documents to patients, and an option to allow patients to schedule their own appointments.

The feature that sold us on this emr in the end is access to it's database. This topic doesn't often come up during emr sales pitches. I have heard several stories from other offices needing to switch emrs and finding out that their files wouldn't transfer or there would be some new fee to make it happen. We have been able to create custom lists with this access for anything that we couldn't do within the emr program itself.

Cons

The customer support typically responds within minutes if we contact them through online chat at their website. I have never been able to call and have their support phone answered though. They will often log into whichever computer is having a problem and fix it on the spot. It is probably best to have someone in the office that has some experience with computers. That isn't always a common employee skill which makes paying more for onsite support sound more comforting.

Pros

It is cheap to start with but the expenses climb up pretty quick.

Cons

There is absolutely no support. Even if you aren't a user of their system, I dare you to try to call ANYONE there. I have been trying for over 5 months to get support for my clients. Can't get a hold of online chat, phone support or anyone even in sales or HR. It's almost like they have closed their company down and just left the users to rot. Stay away from this software unless you know someone who can actually access the database (password locked by amazing charts and only they have the passwords) or any of the advanced tech tools (also locked). I have about 15 clients wanting to dump this software into the trash where it belongs.

Pros

easy to use

Cons

very expensive

Pros

Having all these on one screen in separate boxes is great: CC, HPI, ROS, PMH, SOC Hx, Meds, VS, PE/MSE, Dx, Plan and buttons to write Rx or order labs. E-prescribing easy, all pharmacies listed. Make your own templates easily from any screen. Very little clicking and radio buttons which is good if you can type, not so great if you type slowly (can use 3rd party dictation software). Fax, lab integration is good, being able to scan and import as docs, pdf is good.

Cons

NewCrops electronic prescribing of controlled substance is cumbersome due to Verizon but they are discontinuing at the end of February and the new vendor Exostar is supposed to be better and reduced clicks. Report generation and letter writer could be improved. Font sizing would be nice feature. Portal integrated with Updox is not particularly helpful or user-friendly and I don't even use it.

Pros

When the EHR was produced many years ago it was simple, fast, and would run on any computer no matter how basic. Not now.

Cons

I have been an AC user since 2003. The EHR has steadily gotten more complex, buggy, and difficult to maintain. The customer service is pathetic. When a problem develops their watchword is, "blame the customer." They do not respond to service requests in a timely manner. Sometimes they don't respond at all. Our most recent problems have been going on for weeks, but no resolution.

Pros

Easy to see entire note in progress at once. Software is theoretically simple and therefore easy to use. Easy to teach new staff.

Cons

Bugs bugs bugs. The software is unstable, worse after the last update. It is very hard to get through an hour without having a technical problem for each user. Support is virtually nonexistent. I am the doctor and IT professional in our small office (which is who AC markets to). When I call tech support, they force you to leave a message. When they call back, they will not answer the question to my staff nor wait for me to come to the phone (I am usually in a patient room). So I end up in constant phone tag with them and give up. Probably an intentional model to reduce calls. Horrible service.

Pros

Documenting a visit on a patient is easy for the providers. I like that it is connected the Immunization Registry and Updocs.

Cons

I don't like the customer service/technical support. When you call then for help you never get a live person. You have to leave a message and they don't get back with you for a couple days. The same goes for email. They are suppose to have "live" support but they don't have live support after 2 pm MST. If they do, I never get ahold of anyone. I also don't like the Practice Management side of the software. Not easy to use and you still have to "batch" charges to send claims, which I think is very old-fashioned. My Medical Assistants don't like the immunization documenting because it's hard to find and not easy to print.

Pros

Ease of use and ability to use out of the box are the best features. They remain as the best features

Cons

Sadly rather than improve the program the new owners have spent their development money on figuring out new ways to bleed owners for money features they were promised to have in the past. The current version doesn't meet the ability to meet MIPS without paying thousands of dollars in support and purchasing additional modules that should have been provided in updates. Support takes between three and five days to answer questions and the new billing department deactivates key features if you stop paying them their annual support fees. Support that used to be if you desired it is now mandatory and services are removed if you don't heed their demands for extortion. It remain cheap and affordable to start but now expect to be bled two or three times a year. Thuis used to be a great choice for small practices and now is sadly one that should be avoided

Pros

easy to use

Cons

Support after our Doctor died!!!!! NO SUPPORT

Pros

Amazing charts is intuitive and most things are found on the main screen.

Cons

If you DO need help, forget about it. Live Chat is completely unmanned. Email support ticket opens automatically and nobody gets back to you. (I've been waiting 3 weeks now). Also, due to their own problems failures, they require urgent upgrades. They're nearly impossible to schedule, you have to pay hundreds of extra dollars and the upgrade invariably introduces new problems.

Pros

We did a 30 day free trial period with Amazing Charts while searching for a new EMR system last year. Their EMR was more user friendly than the previous one we had been using (Practice Partner) but still required more clicking around in a patient's chart than what we were looking for. Overall, seemed very user friendly but we wanted an EMR with everything in the patient's chart accessible on one page which it did not seem to have.

Cons

very expensive

Overall: I have been using AC for more than 3 years, It made my life beautiful.
The problem is that any functionality you need to use (Like patient portal, electronic labs requests, e-prescriptions) is an additional cost to your subscription. I pay for the certificate but I have to pay for the customer service another, now , for patients portal per month , for narcotics e- prescriptions, for lab corp , for Quest, lately they called me trying to sell me CCM (chronic care management) , usually we collect on average per patient per month, AC wants to charge me $ per patient per month. My nurse practitioner have to subscribe as a FULL user which double the price.
As for online access, they charge per user per month for our staff, so I have 2 front desk, 1 back desk, 1 MA , 1 manager , 1 Biller, 1 doctor and 1 ARNP , total users of 8 equal to $$$ per month
THIS IS A RIP OFF
I love it but I can't keep up with their greed. time to change

Pros

I reviewed our options back in 2004 when we implemented the EMR at the time I had 3 practices and installed AC at all 3 locations. I am now down to 1 practice with 4 providers, still love it with all the changes in the environment ( meaningful use) and all the interfaces. Just wish it was easier to send letters from AC to patients. the schedule is versatile and user friendly, I once thought of switching for the convenience of my billing company and almost had a mutiny amongst the staff. I have used other ehr's at hospitals and other sites, nothing is as user friendly for pediatricians.
The total cost is still reasonable and the reports are good.

Cons

needs to have some changes to make patient emailing better.

Pros

Nothing currently. Interfaces wont connect, including to my billing dept. I haven't received disbursement from my payers in 2 weeks.

Cons

IT support can fix a problem about 50% of the time. Cloud based product is slow and unreliable and will halt my practice daily when it's not connecting. So, I'm sitying here writing a review instead of documenting on my patients, waiting for someone from IT to get back to me. I've had my other vendors from Open PM, quest, ACM look at the interface issues and all have told me that it is an issue Amazing Charts needs to correct, which they have been unable to.

Pros

It started out in 2007 to be about family physician practices being able to afford and use a product that you were part of a team of users. Their service of having a product to support the solo physician practice feels like as if it is getting minimized each year.

Cons

Additional fees for support that is NOT always available. Even if you have urgent needs there is a voicemail system and you do not know if or when your call will be returned. Reoccurring problems with software when not using their integrated platform.

Pros

price

Cons

ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE PRODUCT SUPPORT!

Pros

Ease of use when it works! It was affordable.

Cons

There is essentially no customer service even though we pay extra for it. We are unable to prescribe narcotics and have left multiple messages over a 2 week period with out a response till yesterday when we heard back but the person was through his own admission not trained to help us. We were promised a phone call back to day at 2pm and did not hear from anyone. There is no way to call and talk to someone. You leave a message and hope some one calls you back. In this case it took weeks. The chat room is never available.

Pros

Simplicity, ease of use and technical support.. I have used several hospital based EMR's which are all cumbersome and seem aimed away from patient care. Amazing charts allows me to focus on that, my profession.

Cons

I have no complaints at all. Any problems I had were easily sorted out, and quickly by support. I have used several hospital based EMR's which are all cumbersome and seem aimed away from patient care. Amazing charts allows me to focus on that, my profession.

Pros

The best part of Amazing Charts is the name, and the little stick figure and its daily message when you are opening the program every morning.

Cons

When you are sending another team member a message on a patient, if for any reason you do not send it because you are interrupted, the entire message disappears and you have to restart it. Our office brought this up at the last convention here in Chicago, and nothing has been done to address or improve this feature, despite the numerous complaints from all the attendees of the conference.

Pros

Easy to use, reasonably priced per provider, tech support knows how to fix a problem, you can add additional features that fit your practice (at a price), latest version is MIPS certified

Cons

MIPS system is somewhat complicated to use and sometimes requires retraining staff, upgrading to newest version no longer has free tech support, tech support takes about 24 hours to get back to you, the more you add to the system the more it costs, when using non cloud based version updates must be done on server and each work station individually

Pros

Low-cost. Helped us achieve meaningful use payments.

Cons

Charge the same for part-time practitioners versus full-time. Most charge less for part time.
Major software glitch several years ago which vendor refused to fix. We were able to get this problem corrected free of charge from computer experts working under a grant in the state of Hawaii. It took them about 100 hours to recapture the data which was lost.

Pros

Based on my original needs I did like the license and support pricing; and the progress note visual at the time, when my Direct Primary Care practice was young and small. Also liked HPI/ PMH/FH templates which are not necessarily available in other EMRs but which I can live without.
Ability to connect with Updox, but too many steps to have patient communications in their files

Cons

Poor service- must start a ticket which takes forever to be answered. Immediate Chat is not necessarily available when you need it the most. Customer reps service and courtesy varies, depending on the person on the phone (feels as if company did not have a mission, vision and core values to live by).

Cloud service- It is not a real Cloud access, but logging in to their server via remote; making process very slow and inefficient.

Usability: Platform crashes constantly. Can not open more than one patient at a time. Can't copy and paste from a note unless it is signed off. There is no problem list to go by. Many others

Pros

Simple, best for a small practice, just very intuitive. I like the referral module, the communication options. I tried another slick EMR and was dismayed to see that 'confidential ' PMI, is in a frame on the opening page, this allows all staff to see it. AC puts it behind a file tag. Also like the reminder feature,

Cons

I dont like the graphic format/ font is UGLY, needs an update.
Would prefer an integrated fax, not UPDOX.