DrChrono vs Salesforce Health Cloud

DrChrono vs. Salesforce Health Cloud

Healthcare leaders looking to adopt new medical software need solutions that enhance care coordination, streamline operations, and ensure compliance without adding unnecessary complexity. This comparison examines DrChrono and Salesforce Health Cloud across service scope and customization, compliance and data security, usability and interoperability, and pricing and payment options, providing guidance for different types of healthcare organizations.

Service scope and customization

DrChrono is designed as an all-in-one ambulatory EHR that combines practice management, billing, and revenue cycle management within a single platform. They offer specialty-specific templates for more than 20 disciplines, along with customizable forms that can be adapted to individual workflows. Their mobile-first approach, particularly through iPad and iPhone apps, supports charting, check-in, and telehealth, all from a unified dashboard that integrates clinical and financial operations.

Salesforce Health Cloud functions as a patient and member relationship management platform built on the broader Salesforce ecosystem. They emphasize care management, patient engagement, and a 360-degree view of each individual. Their system is highly configurable through Salesforce’s data models, workflow automation, and AppExchange integrations, making it ideal for organizations that require tailored care coordination processes rather than out-of-the-box clinical documentation.

Compliance and data security

When it comes to compliance, DrChrono supports HIPAA requirements and provides a Business Associate Agreement, with hosting on AWS and data stored in SOC-audited data centers. They implement encryption in transit and at rest, though they do not publicly list their own HITRUST or ISO certifications.

Salesforce Health Cloud offers a more extensive published compliance portfolio, including SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications, and they provide HIPAA-compliant services under a BAA. They offer additional security features such as Shield Platform Encryption and maintain a dedicated Trust site that discloses real-time system performance and incident history.

Usability and interoperability

DrChrono focuses on ease of use for smaller practices and outpatient settings, with a quick setup process and minimal training required for iPad-based documentation. They support FHIR via their ConnectEHR API, enabling secure data sharing and meeting interoperability requirements, while uniting front desk, clinical, and billing operations in one environment.

Salesforce Health Cloud has a steeper learning curve, particularly for teams unfamiliar with the Salesforce interface, but they excel in cross-departmental collaboration and scalability. They align their healthcare data model with FHIR R4 standards and integrate seamlessly with other Salesforce products as well as third-party EHRs, payer systems, and analytics tools, making them well-suited for large organizations managing complex care pathways.

Pricing and payment options

DrChrono uses a quote-based pricing model, with base subscription rates not publicly disclosed. They provide transparency for certain per-use fees, such as those for paper claims or patient statements. Their contracts often require multi-year commitments, and cancellation terms involve written notice. They allow data export during the notice period, though details on potential export fees, grace periods, or month-to-month plans are limited. They also maintain a public status page that shows uptime history.

Salesforce Health Cloud publishes list prices per user per month for their different editions, typically billed annually. Their costs scale with the number of users and selected add-ons, making pricing more predictable for large teams with set budgets. Their contract terms are governed by the Master Subscription Agreement, though details on cancellation penalties, grace periods, or data portability fees are not prominently displayed. They make system uptime and incident history available through the Salesforce Trust site, and their SLAs are addressed in individual customer agreements.

Conclusion

DrChrono is well-suited for ambulatory practices seeking an integrated EHR with ready-to-use specialty templates, strong mobile capabilities, and streamlined billing. They excel in speed of deployment and simplicity, though they offer fewer enterprise-level integrations and less publicly documented security certification than some larger platforms.

Salesforce Health Cloud is a better fit for large healthcare systems, payers, and multi-site networks that need robust care coordination, advanced customization, and deep interoperability. They require a larger investment of time and resources to implement, but their scalability and comprehensive compliance framework make them a strong choice for complex organizational needs.