EMR Vendor Directory for DPC Practices¶

Quick Summary: Choosing the right EMR is critical for DPC efficiency. Unlike traditional practices buried in billing codes, DPC EMRs should optimize for patient relationships, communication, and simplicity.

What DPC Practices Need¶

DPC-Specific Requirements¶

Essential: - Simple, intuitive interface - Secure messaging integration - Telehealth capability (or integration) - Patient portal - Flexible documentation - Reasonable pricing for small practice

Nice to have: - Membership management built-in - Payment processing - Lab integration (Quest, Labcorp) - E-prescribing + EPCS - Task management - Inventory tracking

Don't need (for most DPC): - Complex billing modules - Insurance verification - Prior authorization tools - Denial management - Coding optimization

DPC-Focused EMRs¶

Atlas.md¶

Built specifically for DPC

Pros: - Purpose-built for DPC workflow - All-in-one platform - Strong DPC community - Responsive to DPC needs - Clean interface

Cons: - Limited to DPC use case - Smaller company (support considerations) - Less customizable than larger platforms

Best for: DPC practices wanting turnkey solution

Website: atlas.md

Hint Health¶

DPC practice management platform

Pros: - Industry leader in DPC billing - Strong payment automation - Employer contract management - Integrates with various EMRs

Cons: - Not a full EMR - Pricing can add up - May need separate EMR

Best for: Practices wanting best-in-class membership/billing

Website: hint.com

Elation Health¶

Primary care EMR with DPC-friendly features

Pros: - Clinically excellent design - Built by physicians - Works for DPC and traditional - Strong lab integration - Good patient portal

Cons: - Higher price point - More features than some DPC needs - Not DPC-exclusive

Best for: Clinically-focused physicians who want excellent charting

Website: elationhealth.com

Cerbo¶

Direct care and concierge medicine focus

Pros: - Designed for membership medicine - Supplement/inventory tracking - Functional medicine friendly - Good direct care features

Cons: - Less mainstream - Smaller user community - Learning curve

Best for: Functional medicine DPC, practices selling supplements

Website: cerbo.io

General EMRs Used by DPC¶

Practice Fusion¶

Free/low-cost option

Pros: - Free tier available - Low barrier to entry - Basic functionality works

Cons: - Ad-supported (free version) - Not DPC-specific - Basic features - Acquired by Veradigm (changes possible)

Best for: Ultra-bootstrap, testing the waters

SimplePractice¶

Originally mental health, expanding

Pros: - Very affordable - Clean interface - Good telehealth - Simple to learn

Cons: - Not medical-focused originally - Limited clinical features - May outgrow it

Best for: Very simple practices, mental health integrated with DPC

Jane App¶

Canadian origin, growing in US

Pros: - Beautiful interface - Good patient experience - Flexible - Growing feature set

Cons: - Not US-focused originally - E-prescribing limitations - Smaller US presence

Best for: Practices valuing modern interface

Comparison Matrix¶

Bootstrap Score: Based on cost-to-value ratio for starting practices

Selection Criteria¶

Questions to Ask¶

1. What's included in the base price?
2. E-prescribing
3. EPCS (controlled substances)
4. Telehealth
5. Patient portal

6. Messaging

7. What integrations are available?

8. Labs (Quest, Labcorp, regional)
9. Pharmacy networks

10. Billing/payment systems

11. What's the contract term?

12. Monthly preferred for bootstrap

13. Avoid annual commitments initially

14. How's the support?

15. Response time
16. Training included

17. Ongoing help

18. Can I export my data?

19. Critical for switching
20. HIPAA requires patient access

Red Flags¶

• Long-term contracts required
• Hidden fees (eFax, EPCS, etc.)
• No data export
• Poor reviews on support
• Company instability

Bootstrap Recommendation¶

For most bootstrap DPC practices:

1. Start with Atlas.md - Purpose-built, all-in-one, reasonable price
2. Alternative: Practice Fusion - Free tier to test, upgrade later
3. If tight budget: SimplePractice - $29/month is hard to beat

Add Hint later if you need advanced membership management.

Implementation Tips¶

Before You Sign¶

• Get a demo (all of them offer this)
• Ask about DPC-specific workflows
• Verify lab integrations work in your area
• Check e-prescribing pharmacy network
• Understand total cost (including add-ons)
• Read recent reviews (things change)

After You Choose¶

• Complete all training
• Set up templates before launch
• Test all integrations
• Practice with test patients
• Import/create your forms
• Configure secure messaging

Common Mistakes¶

1. Choosing based on demo only - Get hands-on trial
2. Over-building before launch - Start simple, customize later
3. Skipping training - Invest the time upfront
4. Not testing integrations - Lab orders must work before patients
5. Annual contract too early - Monthly until you're sure

DIY / Minimal EMR Options¶

The Heretical Question: Do You Need an EMR to Start?¶

Honest answer: Not immediately.

Physicians practiced medicine for decades with paper charts, phone calls, and appointment books. Your first 20-30 patients don't require enterprise software.

What's Actually Required¶

Legally required: - Medical records (paper counts) - Prescription documentation - HIPAA compliance for communication

NOT required: - EMR software - Patient portal - Automated scheduling - Integrated billing

The Low-Tech Launch¶

For your first 30 patients:

Total: $0-6/month

When This Makes Sense¶

• You have zero patients and need to prove the concept
• Every dollar matters
• You're starting part-time while employed
• You want to focus on patients, not software
• You learn better by doing, then systematizing

When to Graduate to EMR¶

Signs you're ready: - Volume makes paper inefficient (usually 40-50+ patients) - You're making errors from manual tracking - Patients are requesting portal access - You have predictable revenue to cover the cost - Lab integration would save significant time

Not a sign you're ready: - A vendor gave a good demo - Other DPC docs use it - You feel like you "should"

The Hybrid Approach¶

Many bootstrap docs do this: 1. Launch with paper/simple tools 2. Track everything carefully 3. Add EMR at month 3-6 when cash flowing 4. Migrate records gradually

This gives you: - Real experience with your workflow before choosing software - Money in the bank before recurring expenses - Urgency to get patients (no expensive system to "set up")

Google Workspace as Proto-EMR¶

With HIPAA BAA ($6/user/month): - Google Docs: Patient notes (one doc per patient) - Google Sheets: Patient roster, tracking, billing - Google Calendar: Scheduling - Google Meet: Telehealth - Gmail: Secure communication

Not elegant. But functional.

Paper Charts: Still Legal, Still Work¶

What you need: - Manila folders - Lined paper or templates - Secure filing cabinet - Good handwriting (or print templates)

Advantages: - Zero learning curve - Never crashes - No monthly fee - Focuses you on the patient, not the screen

Disadvantages: - No backup (unless you scan) - Can't access remotely - E-prescribing harder - Eventually limiting

Telehealth-Only Platforms¶

If your EMR lacks telehealth: - Doxy.me (free tier) - Zoom for Healthcare (~$200/month) - Google Meet (with Workspace BAA)

Switching EMRs¶

When to Consider Switching¶

• Current EMR not meeting needs
• Better option available
• Price increase unjustified
• Company acquired/changing

How to Switch¶

1. Export all patient data
2. Set up new system completely
3. Import/migrate data
4. Run parallel briefly
5. Train on new system
6. Notify patients of any portal changes

Data Migration¶

Most EMRs offer migration support (sometimes for a fee). Get data in: - CCD/CDA format - CSV exports - PDF charts as backup

Future Considerations¶

Trends to Watch¶

• AI documentation assistance
• Voice charting
• Automated coding (less relevant for DPC)
• Enhanced patient engagement
• Chronic care management tools
• Interoperability improvements

Growth Path¶

As your practice grows: - Feature needs increase - Integration requirements grow - May need more robust solution - Built-in membership management becomes critical

Related Guides¶

• Technology for DPC
• Telehealth Legal Considerations
• Lab Partners
• Bootstrap Startup Guide

[!TIP] Most EMR decisions can be changed later. Don't let analysis paralysis delay your launch. Pick something reasonable, learn it well, and know you can switch if needed.

Your EMR is your clinical home. Choose one that feels natural for how you want to practice. DPC workflows are different—pick a tool that understands that.