Blog Post

Cerner PowerChart Alternative for Small Practices: Top 5 Better Options in 2025

Why Small Practices Need Cerner Alternatives

Cerner PowerChart was built for large health systems, not small practices. Common problems include:

  • Excessive Costs: $50K-$200K+ annually for small practices
  • Complex Setup: 6-18 month implementations
  • Overkill Features: Hospital-focused tools you'll never use
  • Poor ROI: Takes 2-3 years to see positive returns
  • Limited Support: Generic support not tailored to small practice needs

Top 5 Cerner PowerChart Alternatives

1. Enter.Health (Best Overall)

Why It's Better Than Cerner:

  • 90% lower cost: $2-6 per claim vs $50K+ annually
  • 10x faster setup: 2-8 weeks vs 6-18 months
  • Superior performance: 95-98% claim acceptance vs 85-90%
  • Small practice focus: Built specifically for practices like yours
  • No long-term contracts: Month-to-month flexibility

Best For: Any small practice wanting better RCM performance at a lower cost

Pricing: $2-6 per claim processed (no upfront costs)

Implementation: 2-8 weeks

2. NextGen Healthcare

Why It's Better Than Cerner:

  • Lower cost: $300-$500 per provider monthly
  • Faster implementation: 3-6 months
  • Small practice features: Designed for practices under 50 providers
  • Integrated EHR: Combined clinical and billing workflows

Limitations:

  • Still expensive for very small practices
  • Limited customization options
  • Moderate learning curve

Best For: Small practices needing integrated EHR and billing

3. AdvancedMD

Why It's Better Than Cerner:

  • Cloud-based: No server maintenance required
  • Affordable pricing: $300-$400 per provider monthly
  • Quick setup: 2-4 months implementation
  • User-friendly: Intuitive interface for small practice staff

Limitations:

  • Limited advanced automation features
  • Basic reporting capabilities
  • Integration challenges with some EHRs

Best For: Small practices wanting simple, cloud-based solution

4. Kareo

Why It's Better Than Cerner:

  • Very affordable: $200-$300 per provider monthly
  • Easy to use: Minimal training required
  • Quick implementation: 1-2 months
  • Small practice focus: Built for solo and small group practices

Limitations:

  • Basic feature set
  • Limited scalability
  • Fewer integration options

Best For: Solo practitioners and very small practices (1-5 providers)

5. Athenahealth

Why It's Better Than Cerner:

  • Performance-based pricing: Pay based on collections
  • Cloud-native: No IT infrastructure needed
  • Comprehensive platform: EHR, practice management, and billing
  • Strong support: Dedicated account management

Limitations:

  • High total cost (4-8% of collections)
  • Long-term contracts required
  • Complex implementation process

Best For: Mid-size practices with steady revenue streams

Detailed Comparison Chart

Why Enter.Health is the #1 Cerner Alternative

Superior Financial Performance

Dramatically Lower Costs

  • $30K annually for 10-provider practice vs $100K+ with Cerner
  • No upfront costs vs $50K+ implementation fees
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or surprises

Faster, Easier Implementation

  • 6-week average setup vs 12+ months with Cerner
  • Minimal workflow changes - keep your existing processes
  • Quick staff training - intuitive interface requires minimal learning

Built for Small Practices

  • Specialized features designed for practices under 100 providers
  • Personal support with dedicated account managers
  • Flexible contracts with no long-term commitments

Real-World Results: Cerner vs Enter.Health

Case Study: Family Medicine Practice (8 providers)

With Cerner PowerChart:

  • Annual cost: $120K
  • Implementation: 14 months
  • Claim acceptance: 87%
  • Denial rate: 18%
  • ROI timeline: 30 months

After Switching to Enter.Health:

  • Annual cost: $28K (77% savings)
  • Implementation: 5 weeks
  • Claim acceptance: 96%
  • Denial rate: 9%
  • ROI timeline: 4 months

Result: $92K annual savings + 35% better performance

How to Choose the Right Cerner Alternative

Choose Enter.Health If You:

  • Want the best performance at the lowest cost
  • Need rapid implementation (under 2 months)
  • Want to keep your existing EHR system
  • Prefer month-to-month contract flexibility
  • Need specialized small practice features

Choose NextGen If You:

  • Need integrated EHR and billing in one platform
  • Have budget for $300-500 per provider monthly
  • Can wait 3-6 months for implementation
  • Want established brand recognition

Choose AdvancedMD If You:

  • Prefer cloud-based solutions
  • Need simple, easy-to-use interface
  • Have basic billing requirements
  • Want moderate pricing

Choose Kareo If You:

  • Are a solo practitioner or very small practice
  • Need the most affordable option
  • Have simple billing needs
  • Want quick, easy setup

Making the Switch from Cerner

Step 1: Assess Your Current Costs

Calculate your total Cerner costs including:

  • Software licensing fees
  • Implementation costs
  • Training expenses
  • Ongoing support fees
  • IT maintenance costs

Step 2: Compare Alternatives

Use our comparison chart to evaluate:

  • Total cost of ownership
  • Implementation timeline
  • Performance metrics
  • Contract flexibility
  • Support quality

Step 3: Request Demos

Get hands-on experience with:

Step 4: Plan Your Migration

Consider:

Get Started with Enter.Health

Ready to leave Cerner behind? Enter.Health offers:

Most practices are switching from Cerner to Enter.Health see:

Get your free assessment today and discover why thousands of small practices are choosing Enter.Health over expensive, complex systems like Cerner PowerChart.

Enter.Health is the leading revenue cycle management platform for small and medium practices, delivering superior results at a fraction of the cost of traditional EHR systems.

Results

Sources

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