Choosing the Right EHR Can Make or Break Your DPC Workflow

If you’re building or scaling a Direct Primary Care practice, you already know: most EHRs weren’t made for you. Traditional systems focus on billing, coding, and compliance, not on membership models, asynchronous care, or strong doctor-patient relationships.

So what’s the best EHR for direct primary care physicians?

In 2025, DPC-ready platforms are evolving fast. From native billing to lab integrations and AI-powered charting, the top EHRs today do more than store records, they power your practice.

What to Look for in a DPC EHR

DPC runs on a subscription model and patient-centered care. That means your EHR should do more than cover the basics. Here’s what matters most:

Patient Communication & Engagement

Strong relationships need strong communication tools. Your EHR should help patients stay connected outside the exam room.

• Secure Messaging: Enables non-urgent patient chats without phone tag.
  
  
• Patient Portal / App: Lets members view labs, schedule visits, and pay dues online.
  
  
• Virtual Visit Support: Built-in telehealth ensures seamless documentation and device data capture.
  
  

These features improve patient satisfaction and reinforce the DPC experience.

Membership Billing & Financial Integration

DPC practices don’t file claims, they manage memberships. Look for:

• Automated Subscription Invoicing: Bills monthly fees and sends renewal reminders.
  
  
• Enrollment Tracking: Monitors sign-ups, cancellations, and status changes.
  
  
• Financial Reporting: Offers revenue, utilization, and churn insights at a glance.
  
  

An integrated system reduces manual work and improves revenue visibility.

Workflow Efficiency & Usability

In a busy clinic, speed and ease-of-use matter.

• Intuitive Interface: Clean design and mobile access reduce friction.
  
  
• Customizable Templates: Streamlines note-taking and adapts to your workflow.
  
  
• Voice Transcription / Smart Notes: Cuts typing time and reduces burnout.
  
  
• Strong Vendor Support: Live onboarding, responsive helpdesk, and training resources.
  
  

User-friendly tools keep your team productive and patients happy.

Interoperability & Data Portability

Your patients may still need labs, referrals, or specialist care. Your EHR should:

• Support Standard Exports: CCD, FHIR, or C-CDA formats for record sharing.
  
  
• Offer Lab/Pharmacy Interfaces: Smooth data flow reduces duplication and errors.
  
  
• Avoid Vendor Lock-In: Ensure full data extraction is possible if you switch vendors.
  
  

Good interoperability improves continuity and saves future migration headaches.

Scalability & Future-Proofing

Your EHR should grow with your practice.

• Cloud-Based Infrastructure: Lower upfront costs and easy scaling.
  
  
• Modular Add-Ons: Add features like telehealth or lab device integration as needed.
  
  
• Regular Updates & Compliance: Keeps you aligned with HIPAA and interoperability rules.
  
  

Whether you’re launching your first panel or replacing a legacy system that’s slowing you down, here’s a look at five of the best EHRs for direct primary care, each built with primary care needs in mind.

Elation Health

Elation Health stands out for its clinical-first design and intuitive three-panel layout, streamlining charting and minimizing time spent on administrative tasks. Its interface is built to reduce clicks and scrolling, letting providers focus on patient care rather than navigating software. Elation offers robust interoperability, integrating seamlessly with a wide network of labs, imaging centers, and diagnostic facilities, which is particularly valuable for DPC clinics that rely on efficient external partnerships.

Key features include:

• AI-Powered Scribing & Note Assist: Automated scribing and note generation save up to two hours daily, reducing documentation fatigue.
  
  
• Integrated Telehealth: Virtual visits are built into the EHR, powered by Zoom, maintaining continuity of care for remote or homebound patients.
  
  
• Comprehensive ePrescribing: Streamlined medication workflows with decision support at the point of care.
  
  
• Referral Management: Advanced workflows and an integrated provider directory facilitate smooth transitions and coordinated care.
  
  
• Mobile Access: The Elation Go mobile app allows providers to manage ePrescribing, scheduling, and patient care from anywhere, at no extra cost.
  
  
• Regulatory Compliance: HIPAA-compliant and ONC-certified, ensuring data security and regulatory peace of mind.
  
  

Elation is highly scalable, supporting solo practitioners as well as larger group practices, and is recognized for its responsive customer support and training resources.

Hint Clinical

Hint Clinical is purpose-built for direct care practices, offering a unified platform that combines clinical documentation, practice management, and patient engagement. Its customizable dashboard provides a comprehensive view of daily operations, helping clinicians stay organized and focused on patient interactions rather than administrative hurdles.

Key features include:

• Customizable Practice Dashboard: See tasks, notifications, inventory, and schedules at a glance.
  
  
• Automated Charting & Lab Integration: Direct lab integrations automatically sync results to patient charts, reducing manual entry and errors.
  
  
• Patient Onboarding & Self-Scheduling: Streamlined digital forms, self-enrollment, and flexible scheduling options enhance patient experience and reduce staff workload.
  
  
• ePrescribe & Dispense: Manage prescriptions and in-clinic dispensing from a single interface.
  
  
• Integrated Communications: Secure calls, texts, and faxes are centralized within the platform, ensuring no clinical information is lost or siloed.
  
  
• Billing & Membership Management: Automated invoicing, customizable pricing (by employer, family, or service), and robust payment tracking support the DPC subscription model.
  
  
• Reporting & Data Management: Real-time business analytics help practices monitor trends and make informed decisions.

• Regulatory Compliance: Fully HIPAA and HITECH compliant, with additional certifications such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 for data security and integrity.
  
  

Hint Clinical’s cloud-based design ensures accessibility across devices and locations, with role-based permissions for team management and security.

Cerbo

Cerbo is a flexible, highly configurable EHR that caters to DPC, functional medicine, and cash-based clinics. Its modular approach allows practices to tailor workflows, forms, and patient engagement tools to their unique needs.

Key features include:

• Custom Membership Management: Built-in tools for managing DPC memberships, recurring payments, and online invoicing.
  
  
• Configurable Patient Portal: Secure, user-friendly portal with online scheduling, custom questionnaires, and two-way messaging.
  
  
• Powerful Charting Tools: Efficient note templates, “Chart Parts” for rapid documentation, and integrated treatment plan sharing.
  
  
• Inventory Management: Track in-house supplements, prescriptions, and supplies, or integrate with external vendors.
  
  
• Lab Integrations: Over 60 lab and partner integrations streamline result management and patient communication.
  
  
• Practice Management: Automated appointment reminders, billing, and reporting to support business operations.
  
  
• Extensive Integrations: Connect with a wide array of third-party apps, labs, and payment processors.

• Regulatory Compliance: Fully HIPAA-compliant, with encrypted data storage, strong password protocols, and anti-brute-force monitoring.
  
  

Cerbo’s adaptability makes it a strong choice for practices with specialized workflows or those seeking a high degree of customization.

Atlas.md

Atlas.md is widely regarded as a gold standard for DPC practices, designed from the ground up to support membership-based, insurance-free care. Its patient-centric interface is both intuitive and comprehensive, making it easy to manage every aspect of patient care and practice operations.

Key features include:

• Unified Patient Communication: Secure calls, texts, emails, and video chats are logged directly in the patient chart, ensuring a complete communication history.
  
  
• Integrated eFax & Document Management: Send and receive faxes securely, with all documents attached to patient records.
  
  
• Self-Scheduling & Patient Portal: Patients can book appointments, manage billing, and communicate with their provider through a dedicated app.
  
  
• ePrescribing & In-House Dispensing: Integrated with DrFirst Rcopia for seamless eRx, inventory management, and price lookups.
  
  
• Automated Billing & Subscription Management: Supports DPC’s recurring billing model with online payments, itemized invoicing, and robust reporting.
  
  
• Flexible Charting: Easy-to-use, customizable templates and workflows for rapid documentation.
  
  
• Security & Compliance: HIPAA-compliant with advanced encryption and role-based access controls.
  
  

Atlas.md is cloud-based, scalable, and cost-effective, eliminating the need for on-premises servers. Its focus on reducing administrative overhead and supporting the doctor-patient relationship makes it a favorite among DPC pioneers.

Tebra

Tebra’s EHR platform is designed to streamline clinical and administrative workflows for independent and small-to-medium-sized practices, making it a strong contender for DPC clinics seeking efficiency, flexibility, and robust automation.

Key features include:

• Efficient Charting: Tebra offers customizable SOAP note templates, specialty-specific forms, and macros for rapid, repeatable documentation. Its SALT feature allows providers to instantly pull forward past notes, reducing redundant data entry and saving valuable time.
  
  
• Integrated Clinical Workflows: Providers can order prescriptions, lab tests, and imaging directly from the platform, eliminating the need to juggle multiple systems. Secure data sharing supports coordinated care without extra steps or logins.
  
  
• Built-in Telehealth: Virtual visits are seamlessly integrated, so providers can deliver care remotely without separate software or additional logins—an essential feature for modern, patient-centered DPC practices.
  
  
• Automated Patient Intake and Scheduling: Digital intake forms, 24/7 online scheduling, and automated appointment reminders (via text, email, or phone) help reduce no-shows and administrative workload, improving both patient experience and clinic efficiency.
  
  
• Streamlined Billing and Revenue Cycle Management: Claims can be submitted directly from the patient chart, with automated error checking and real-time insurance eligibility verification to minimize denials and speed up reimbursements. Secure digital billing options (text and email) further simplify collections.
  
  
• Compliance and Security: Tebra is ONC-certified, HIPAA and HITECH compliant, and supports 21st Century Cures Act interoperability standards. MIPS-ready reporting tools help practices track performance and maximize Medicare reimbursements.
  
  
• Customizable and Scalable: The platform adapts to various specialties and practice sizes, allowing DPC clinics to tailor workflows, templates, and reporting to their unique needs without IT complexity or hidden fees.
  
  
• Patient Engagement: A secure patient portal, online scheduling, and integrated communication tools foster stronger patient relationships and transparency—key values in DPC care.

Tebra is an all-in-one platform that streamlines clinical and administrative workflows for DPC practices. Its intuitive interface, automation, and interoperability reduce paperwork, while strong compliance and customization support efficient, scalable growth.

Don’t Just Pick the Best, Pick the Best for You



All five EHRs, Elation Health, Hint Clinical, Cerbo, Atlas.md, and Tebra, are robust, DPC-friendly solutions that streamline practice management, enhance patient engagement, and support the unique needs of membership-based clinics. The best choice depends on your clinic’s size, workflow preferences, and desired level of customization. Each system offers strong support for DPC essentials: membership management, integrated billing, patient communication, and secure, cloud-based access.