Cerner vs Epic

Cerner, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the most established names in healthcare IT. Over the decades, they built a comprehensive suite of role-oriented solutions that serve providers, patients, employers, government agencies, and researchers. At the center of their platform is a robust electronic health record (EHR) system that connects clinical documentation, scheduling, patient portals, and education resources. They also provide advanced revenue cycle management, population health tools, and analytics powered by their Lights On Network®, which delivers real-time dashboards and benchmarking.
Beyond clinical and financial functions, Cerner has offered managed services through partnerships with AWS, SaaS products like Cerner Millennium® and Soarian®, and tiered customer support that ranges from help desk services to specialized engineering assistance. Their focus on security and compliance, backed by ISO 9001:2000 certification and an A+ Better Business Bureau accreditation, reflects a long-standing commitment to quality.

Epic Systems, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin, is one of the most widely used EHR providers in the United States, with their platform serving over 325 million patients worldwide. Their Epic EHR system is designed for diverse healthcare settings, including large hospitals, small practices, mental health facilities, and specialty clinics. Key features include specialty-specific modules for over 60 areas of medicine, role-based user interfaces, AI-powered clinical documentation, telehealth capabilities, patient engagement tools through MyChart, and strong interoperability with labs, pharmacies, and imaging centers. Epic’s pricing is not publicly listed, as costs depend on factors like organization size, chosen modules, hosting model, and training needs. Setup options include full enterprise deployment, Community Connect for smaller practices, Garden Plot for mid-sized groups, and Epic Sonnet with core features.