The Best EMR for Speech-Language Pathologists and 6 Honorable Mentions
Electronic medical records—more commonly known as EMRs—are digital versions of a patient’s medical records. In this article, we’ll share the best EMR for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), along with a list of top speech therapy software. We’ll also explore how an EMR for speech therapy makes it easier for SLPs to manage their practices and patients.
The right EMR can help SLPs digitize patient documentation, and additionally run their practices more efficiently while providing a higher level of patient care.
With so many options on the market, you may be wondering, what’s the best EMR for speech-language pathologists?
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know before choosing an EMR for speech therapy—including the top options on the market and the information you need to choose the best EMR software for your practice.
Why do speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use EMRs?
Before we reveal the best EMR for speech-language pathologists, it’s important to understand why SLPs use EMRs to more effectively manage their patients and their practices.
An EMR for speech therapists has a variety of benefits, including:
Easier access to patients’ medical records
Prior to the arrival of EMRs, SLPs kept patient records on paper—which can be tedious to organize and time-consuming to search through. In contrast, EMRs allow SLPs to keep digital records, which are significantly easier to store and manage. Using an EMR for speech therapy makes it easier for SLPs to access patient information when they need it—without the need to go searching through paper files to find what they’re looking for.
The ability to coordinate with other care providers
Often, SLPs are part of a larger treatment team. Many EMRs allow practitioners to digitally share patient records with other providers (with the patient’s consent). This makes it easier for multiple practitioners to share information—and can lead to better, more comprehensive patient care.
Additional practice management tools
Many EMRs come equipped with additional tools for running a practice, like scheduling, patient portals, and billing options.
HIPAA-compliance
Speech language pathologists are bound by HIPAA regulations. The top EMRs are all HIPAA compliant, allowing SLPs to manage their practice and their patient care safely, securely, and in accordance with all relevant HIPAA regulations.
How to choose the best EMR for speech-language pathologists
When it comes to choosing the best EMR for speech-language pathologists, it’s important to review the different options on the market, compare features, and choose the best EMR for speech-language pathologists that suits your needs.
That being said, some EMRs are a step above the rest.
Here are some of our top picks for the best EMRs for speech-language pathologists:
1. SimplePractice
SimplePractice is considered one of the best EMR for speech-language pathologists because it’s an all-in-one solution that gives you everything you need to manage your practice and serve your clients. Currently, it’s used by over 185,000 practitioners.
SimplePractice can help you provide seamless care and speech therapy whenever—and wherever—your clients need it.
SimplePractice empowers you with tools and features you need to run and manage your practice in one easy-to-navigate platform, which is accessible in-office, at home on a web browser, or on-the-go via mobile app. Simultaneously, SimplePractice makes it easy for clients to schedule appointments, pay bills, and communicate with you and your staff.
Key features of SimplePractice include:
Easy scheduling
Cancellations, no-shows, and late arrivals can interrupt your day and throw off your schedule. SimplePractice makes it easy for clients to schedule sessions with you online, eliminating the need to manually set appointments yourself.
SimplePractice also sends custom appointment reminders via email, text, and phone call to reduce cancellations and no-shows—and allows clients to confirm or cancel appointments via text 24, 48, or 72 hours before a session. You can also automatically sync your SimplePractice calendar with your iCal, Google, or Outlook calendars, so your schedule stays organized and on track.
Simplified billing and insurance
SimplePractice provides fully integrated billing functionality for both clients and insurance companies, with HIPAA-compliant and bank-level security. SLPs can use SimplePractice to set up AutoPay (to quickly and automatically charge clients’ credit cards), add a contact to a minor client’s profile (to bill their parent or guardian), and let clients pay directly online via their client portal.
SimplePractice also saves you time by automatically generating and sending digital invoices, statements, insurance claims, and superbills, as well as other financial documents (such as good faith estimates).
Custom notes and documentation
As an SLP, you need a way to create, organize, and store notes and documentation for each client and session. With options for generating a variety of custom forms and documents, including SOAP notes, intake forms, assessments, and treatment plans, SimplePractice distinguishes itself as one of the best EMRs for speech therapy.
A versatile documentation history panel also enables you to review previous notes without leaving your current note—which is already auto-populated with the client’s previously added diagnoses and billable ICD-10 codes.
Telehealth
SimplePractice makes it easy to host virtual sessions with your clients no matter where you or they are, with a HIPAA-compliant telehealth tool. In just one click, you can switch from an in-person appointment to a telehealth session, then customize the in-session settings to fit your needs. For example, you can add a timer, enable the whiteboard function, change your background, or set your chat notifications on for the session.
Streamlined client portal
The administrative work required with managing a speech-language therapy practice can be difficult. SimplePractice provides a convenient client portal for managing billing, communication, and scheduling—accessible via mobile app and web browsers.
Additional features of the client portal include paperless forms and data-driven measurement-based care tools to help your clients track their progress toward treatment goals. The portal is HIPAA-compliant, keeping your clients’ information safe and secure.
Mobile access
SimplePractice helps SLPs stay on top of their goals with access to its mobile app, available for both iPhone and Android. The SimplePractice app enables you to change appointments, create invoices, process payments, and take notes from anywhere, helping you streamline your daily tasks or work from outside of the office.
Integrated website builder
SimplePractice makes it quick and easy to create, launch, and maintain a website for your SLP practice with a seamlessly integrated website builder. With a number of curated designs and built-in integration with the speech therapy software, you can easily create a website to start marketing your practice and growing your client base.
SimplePractice costs between $29 and $99 per month for solo practices, depending on the plan you choose, and starts at $158 per month for group practices.
SimplePractice pros and cons
Pros of SimplePractice include:
- All-in-one EMR for speech therapy
- Good fit for both solo and group practices
- Fully HIPAA-compliant
- Simplifies client care with a convenient client portal
- Flexible and versatile tools help SLPs reduce time spent on administrative tasks (including scheduling, billing, and reviewing notes)
- User-friendly interface and navigation makes it easy to find what you’re looking for fast
- World-class customer service, including unlimited emails, live chat with specialists, phone support, and virtual classes and webinars
- One-on-one support when starting out to make switching to SimplePractice easy
Potential cons include:
- The large array of features can make SimplePractice seem overwhelming at first (though hands-on support is available to help you make the switch and migrate your data)
2. HelloNote
HelloNote is a web-based practice management software with an integrated EMR for speech therapists. HelloNote provides an all-in-one system for managing a speech therapy practice, with tools designed to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
Built by therapists for therapists, HelloNote prioritizes HIPAA compliance and focuses on helping SLPs maintain comprehensive and defensible client documentation.
HelloNote offers a full suite of tools, including:
Cloud-based access
HelloNote is accessible from most browsers, which means speech therapists can manage their practices from almost anywhere. HelloNote complies with HIPAA regulations, so your data is encrypted and stored securely—giving you access to your records at any time.
Scheduling
HelloNote lets SLPs manage their schedules, plan their workflows, and book appointments with clients. Automated appointment reminders help prevent cancellations, late arrivals, and no-shows to optimize your time.
Billing
Billing and claims management takes time, but HelloNote streamlines that process by offering one-click billing and claim generation. With simplified recording and data sharing, HelloNote helps speech therapists manage and protect their revenue.
Custom reports
Optimize the time you spend managing your practice by creating and generating custom reports in HelloNotes. These reports include patient reports, billing information, internal documentation, and other useful charts, graphs, and reports to help you track your goals and grow your practice.
HelloNote costs $25 per month for practice management and $45 per month to add clinical or therapy facilitating therapist/clinical accounts.
HelloNote pros and cons
Pros include:
- Because HelloNotes is based in the cloud, speech therapists can access the EMR at any time—and from anywhere
- HIPAA compliant
- Works for both cash-based and insurance-based practices
- Encrypts and automatically backs up data
Cons of HelloNote include:
- Servers can be slow and sometimes fail to save information between sessions
- The billing process could benefit from additional streamlining and optimization
3. TheraPlatform
TheraPlatform is an all-in-one practice management software for speech therapists, offering the functionality needed to support your practice as it scales and grows. The TheraPlatform EMR software includes features designed for SLPs, helping them improve client engagement, reduce time spent managing billing and payments, and take extensive notes quickly.
SLPs who use TheraPlatform have access to a wide variety of tools and options, including:
HIPAA-compliant teletherapy
TheraPlatform provides secure video conferencing that abides by HIPAA regulations, for one-on-one or group sessions. The platform also offers resources to help therapists engage with their clients, such as a built-in whiteboard, therapy apps and games, and two-way screen-sharing, as well as support for bookmarked videos and uploaded files.
Availability and scheduling
Therapists can set their availability in a calendar, enabling clients to self-schedule appointments based on that availability. Recurring appointments can be set within the platform, and therapists can send automated email and text reminders ahead of scheduled appointments. If a therapist employs a dedicated scheduler, they can be added to TheraPlatform to manage the schedule at no additional charge.
Flexible note-taking
TheraPlatform includes a library of templates for progress notes, assessments, and treatment plans designed for SLPs, with a searchable ICD-10 library available to auto-populate notes and forms. Therapists can also build new custom templates for forms and documentation.
Client portal
A secure client portal gives clients access to electronic consent, intake, and demographic forms, as well as additional resources and materials (such as homework).
TheraPlatform pricing starts at $39 per month for the Basic package, which doesn’t support additional providers. After that, prices range from $49 to $59 per month, as well as a fee for each additional provider.
TheraPlatform pros and cons
Pros of TheraPlatform include:
- Scheduling is simplified and streamlined for both clients and therapists
- Each package supports unlimited clients
- Telehealth interface is easily accessed directly from the client portal
- Customer support is responsive and helpful
Potential cons include:
- Additional providers increase the monthly cost
- Platform interface isn’t entirely mobile-friendly
4. ClinicSource
ClinicSource is a therapy EMR and practice management system—designed by an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. This software solution is entirely web-based and meets HIPAA compliance standards, with additional ONC certification (issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology).
As an effective solution for SLPs, ClinicSource provides a full range of practice and client management tools that include:
Customizable templates
ClinicSource offers a variety of customizable reporting templates for pediatric and adult clients. SOAP notes can record assistance type, level, percentage achieved and mastery, and interventions, with information flowing seamlessly into progress and discharge summaries—effectively speeding up the note-taking and documentation process.
Time-saving forms and assessments
The ClinicSource platform provides more than 65 SLP-specific assessments and informal checklists for evaluating a client’s abilities, performance, and skills. The platform can then generate easy-to-read tables that demonstrate and document a client’s results, making it easier for clients, families, insurance providers, and other healthcare providers to understand. Therapists can also use this data and the provided templates to create and pre-populate care plans.
Scheduling
The scheduler software by ClinicSource is a cloud-based tool that fully integrates with the rest of the ClinicSource EMR platform, enabling speech therapists to book, set, organize, and track appointments. The tool can send automatic reminders to clients, reducing cancellations and no-shows, and offers calendar connectivity, including options for Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook.
Billing
ClinicSource offers HIPAA-compliant and cloud-based billing functionality, with fields that auto-populate with service data. Customizable invoicing lets therapists automatically generate claims and invoices that can be printed or sent electronically in bulk. The system accepts payments via credit card, e-check, and optional ERAs from insurance companies.
ClinicSource pricing is based on a per-user basis, with an initial cost of $74.95 per month for one user and $38.95 per month for each additional full-time user (or $13.95 per month for each additional part-time user).
ClinicSource pros and cons
Pros of ClinicSource include:
- Easy to track and review client data and progress
- Extensive documentation
- Scheduling is fast and efficient
Cons may include:
- May require training to get familiar with the platform
- User interface is complex and difficult to navigate
5. Ambiki
Ambiki is an EMR designed to support speech therapists and their practices. This EMR for speech therapists is built by therapists and provides tools for a small–to-medium-sized practice to effectively run their business, including patient management and scheduling, documentation, and billing, and—in the future—administrative tools (like audit tools, credentialing, and mileage).
In addition to HIPAA compliance, Ambiki provides SLPs with:
Billing and payments support
Ambiki offers integrated private pay and insurance billing, with automatic claim submission upon completion of a progress note, checks for accuracy and missing information before submitting a claim, and automated ERA posting. The platform can integrate with Stripe to support secure private pay and client credit card payments. Therapists can also check claim statuses, generate invoices, view aging reports, and other metrics.
Scheduling
The Ambiki EMR supports an integrated schedule, giving administrators and therapists the ability to track attendance and sessions, customize schedules, and book different types of events and appointments.
Clinical documentation
Ambiki is custom-tailored for SLPs and therapists, with documentation tools built specifically to assess, evaluate, and track clients’ treatment and progress. The tool allows therapists to create patient profiles for each client that contain all communication between parties, plans of care, notes, attendance, goals, and more.
Ambiki pricing ranges between $0 per month for the Basic plan (with optional premium add-ons) to $59 per month for the Professional plan. Custom quotes are available for a Professional/Enterprise plan for practices that need to give access to multiple users.
Ambiki pros and cons
Pros of Ambiki include:
- Platform continues to add and support additional functionality
- Offers a free pricing plan
- Clean and easy to navigate interface
Potential cons include:
- Some features and functions are still in development
- Tailored to small and medium-sized practices; pricing isn’t available upfront to plan for scaling
6. Practice Perfect
Practice Perfect is a top-to-bottom EMR and practice management platform that provides speech-language pathologists and therapists with the tools needed to manage and grow a practice. The system and its features work together seamlessly to give therapists a single entry point for client data and one point of contact for support and assistance.
The Practice Perfect EMR includes key features that support:
Private and insurance billing
Practice Perfect streamlines the medical billing process with tools that support full charge entry, payment entry, and invoice and statement generation. Therapists can also process debit and credit card payments within the software, with the option to securely keep payment card details for future billing. In addition to accounts receivable and cash flow reporting, Practice Perfect can submit claims to any clearinghouse—saving therapists time and effort on insurance billing.
Task management
As a speech therapist, it’s easy to lose track of time. Practice Perfect keeps SLPs on track with pop-up reminders about upcoming tasks, records of communications with clients and other contacts, and tracking for any tasks set.
Revenue tracking and growth
Practice Perfect helps therapists manage marketing and client retention with tools like automated appointment reminders, which can reduce client fall-off and prevent cancellations and no-shows. Therapists can also analyze productivity, patient load, and other metrics to improve and streamline practice operations—maximizing revenue and reducing cost in the process.
Single- or multi-location scheduling
SLPs and therapists can use Practice Perfect to schedule appointments with unlimited providers, across multiple locations. The scheduling tool provides quick access to client information and balances, appointment and attendance records, and notes and other documentation to ensure consistent treatment across the practice. The platform also enables clients to self-schedule appointments directly from a therapist’s website.
Practice Perfect pricing begins at $180 per month for a single location and up to three concurrent users. Each additional concurrent user costs $15 per month, with additional locations costing another $140 per month for each location.
Practice Perfect pros and cons
Pros of Practice Perfect include:
- Offers convenient access to client accounts and billing records
- Individual access permissions for each user
- Reports are quick and easy to generate and analyze
Cons may include:
- Not cloud-based, difficult to manage remotely
- User interface can seem outdated to certain users
7. Fusion (Therapy Brands)
Fusion is an EMR developed for speech therapists by Therapy Brands, a company that specializes in practice management, EMR, and billing software. Fusion is a full-featured EMR that helps speech therapists manage every aspect of their practice, including scheduling, billing, and operations analytics.
Fusion markets itself as a simple platform with powerful features that support:
Documentation and goal tracking
Fusion offers a client portal that provides quick access to intake paperwork, helping new patients get established with your practice. From there, form templates and built-in quick phrases allow therapists to conveniently fill out notes and evaluations, with the ability to select relevant metrics and track progress toward goals.
Reporting and analytics
Fusion can generate comprehensive reports about a practice’s productivity and efficiency, helping therapists make actionable decisions based on the included information. Available reports include: productivity, billing, missed charges, and information about referring providers.
Scheduling and task management
Fusion supports color-coded appointment types to give at-a-glance information about different sessions (based on location, status, and more). The software also enables client check-in, group session booking, and SMS or email appointment reminders. Therapists can stay on track of important tasks with a built-in task manager, giving them the option to create automated workflows for documentation, authorization, verification, and prescriptions.
Billing, invoicing, and credit card processing
Therapists can use Fusion to send click-to-pay invoices to clients via email, letting clients make immediate online payments that are linked to each invoice. Fusion also supports credit card payments through the online portal, giving clients a convenient way to pay their balance.
Mobile support
Fusion is accessible via smartphones and tablets, letting clients book and manage appointments, and giving therapists access to schedules, client documentation, and other information.
Fusion pricing ranges from $29 per user per month (with a minimum of five users) to $49 per month (with a minimum of five users) for the billing plan. They also offer a basic plan for individual users for $89 per month. Enterprise users must contact the sales team for custom pricing.
Additional add-ons, such as custom intake forms and telehealth, increase the price.
Fusion pros and cons
Pros of Fusion include:
- Helpful and friendly customer service and training; easy to follow video tutorials are also available
- Easy to access, view, and share client data and progress
- Creating documentation improves efficiency and saves time
- Easy to use and navigate the platform
Potential cons include:
- Minor software glitches can be annoying
- Expensive for small or single-therapist practices
- Somewhat complex billing structure
Practice management software for SLPs
Run your entire speech therapy practice from one simple, secure EHR system with SimplePractice.
- Effectively manage scheduling, billing, documentation, and more
- Stay secure with a HIPAA-compliant solution you can trust
- Take your practice on-the-go with a convenient mobile app
Try SimplePractice free for 30 days. No credit card needed.