OpenEMR is an open-source electronic health record (EHR) system that also functions as a medical practice management platform and a patient portal, all integrated with standards-based health data exchange. It stores and manages patient health records, handles clinical workflows, supports scheduling and billing, and provides patients with secure self-service access to their information. Interoperability is built in via FHIR and C-CDA for exchanging records with external systems and Direct protocol for encrypted provider messaging.
The system is designed to be extensible, with a modular plugin architecture that allows installing add-ons for billing, scheduling, and care coordination without modifying core code. Event hooks let custom modules alter behavior at defined workflow points, and a visual form builder creates encounter layouts without programming. Clinical workflow automation includes AI-generated notes from chief complaints and billing code suggestions drawn from encounter documentation. Security features such as role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, audit logging, and patient document encryption help protect sensitive data.
Broader capabilities cover appointment scheduling across facilities with provider availability management, end-to-end medical billing with electronic claim submission and insurance eligibility verification, patient payment collection, and practice accounting. Clinical decision support applies customizable rules for reminders and evidence-based alerts. Telehealth enables real-time video consultations, and patient engagement extends to fax, SMS, and patient-reported data capture. Reporting tools generate clinical and financial reports and manage electronic clinical quality measures.
The software can be deployed on multiple operating systems via Docker, Linux, or Windows, including AWS cloud packages and pre-configured virtual appliances, and updates can be applied incrementally without full reinstalls.