One of the first practical questions when hiring a virtual medical assistant is: which EHR systems can they actually work in? The good news โ most modern EHR platforms support remote access. Here's what you need to know about the major platforms.
Top EHR Systems and VMA Compatibility
| EHR Platform | Remote Access | VMA Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epic | โ Full | โญโญโญโญโญ | Industry gold standard. Robust remote access. |
| Athenahealth | โ Full | โญโญโญโญโญ | Cloud-based. Ideal for VMAs. No VPN needed. |
| eClinicalWorks | โ Full | โญโญโญโญ | Cloud and hosted versions available. |
| Kareo/Tebra | โ Full | โญโญโญโญโญ | Designed for small practices. Very VMA-friendly. |
| NextGen | โ Full | โญโญโญโญ | Strong for specialty practices. |
| Cerner/Oracle Health | โ Full | โญโญโญโญ | Hospital-focused. Remote access requires setup. |
| Greenway | โ Partial | โญโญโญ | Older architecture, some limitations remotely. |
| Practice Fusion | โ Full | โญโญโญโญ | Cloud-based, good for primary care VMAs. |
Key EHR Features VMAs Need
- Role-based access controls โ So VMAs only see what they need to
- Audit logs โ Tracks all VMA activity for compliance
- Secure messaging โ HIPAA-compliant patient communication
- Remote login capability โ Browser-based or VPN-enabled access
- Task management โ Workflow assignment and tracking
Cloud-Based vs. Server-Based EHR for VMAs
Cloud-based EHRs (Athenahealth, Kareo, Practice Fusion) are the easiest for VMAs โ no VPN, accessible from any secure browser, and typically have better remote collaboration features.
Server-based EHRs (older Epic, NextGen on-premise) require a VPN setup, but still work perfectly well for VMAs once configured. Your IT team or the EHR vendor handles this during onboarding.
๐ก Our Recommendation
If you're building a VMA-friendly practice from scratch, Athenahealth or Kareo/Tebra offer the smoothest remote workflows. If you're already on Epic or eClinicalWorks, don't switch โ our VMAs are trained on both.
Our VMAs Are Trained on Your EHR
Whatever system you use, we'll match you with a VMA who knows it.
Find My VMA Match โ