Must-Have Advanced Features in Custom EHR Software for 2026

Some problems in the healthcare industry, and especially with the healthcare software systems, are persistent. And this is taking a toll on healthcare providers. A survey stated that 93% of the physicians reported feeling burned out on a regular basis.

This statistic did not surprise me, as we all know that healthcare professionals are often overworked. However, after digging deeper into the survey, I came across an interesting stat that stated 60% of physicians said their EHR system does not contribute to reducing their time spent on administrative tasks.

And this is something that you should be worrying about, because the whole purpose of EHRs was to reduce administrative tasks and give providers more time with their patients.

Upon investigating further to find a common thread between all these systems, I realized that the features and functionalities of the EHR software systems simply seem to be mismatched. Recent data shows that 70% of the hospitals have implemented some kind of AI or predictive modeling in their system.

But let’s be honest, is AI the solution to everything?

While providers have realized that a generic EHR system cannot meet their unique needs and requirements, they are slowly turning their heads towards customizable EHR solutions.

Now, while they’ve realized the best possible way to develop their EHR system, something where many providers fail is recognizing the right features and functionalities for their custom EHR software.

And with AI being a dominant factor in development, I have decided to pen down this blog to help you choose the must-have and must-have advanced features in a custom EHR.

On that note, let’s get started!

Core Features Every Custom EHR Should Have

There are certain features of EHR systems that every EHR software must have; they are like the core features or functionalities of an EHR software. For instance, it should act like a digital system to create, store, manage, and access patient health information that the document should contain, such as histories, diagnoses, meds, and lab results. Along with that, moving away from the core of EMR software, it should provide a comprehensive real-time overview of a patient’s entire medical history.

By this, you can say that every EMR software is an EHR software, but every EHR software is not an EMR software, right? And this is where they differ in their functionalities due to their limited scope. Some of the features that I have mentioned above might give you an idea about what features you must have if you’re having an EMR software.

However, here is an in detailed checklist or blog about the key features to have in Custom EMR software. Read this in-depth guide for a better understanding.

Having said that, as a healthcare provider that is navigating the landscape of healthcare technology, understanding this difference is important. An EHR software should also provide a comprehensive real-time overview of the patient’s history. Due to this, some features and functionalities of your software will differ.

If you have read this, or even scanned it, then you must have got an idea about the features. But this, the 7 key features to have in custom EHR software for 2025, guide can help you understand the features better and can also act like a guide to develop the right features and functionalities.

Advanced Interoperability & Care Collaboration

One of the reasons for making EHR systems popular was their ability to share information with other healthcare software systems. And this is where interoperability comes into the picture. While most of you are familiar with the term, it’s always beneficial to revisit the core. So, interoperability is the ability of the system to connect, communicate, and share information with other disparate healthcare software systems.

The fact that making your system interoperable makes it even more advanced and flexible. Moreover, it also expands the functionality of your software, and as we know, features define the functionality of the software; it will be responsible for some of the most important features of the EHR system.

To list some of the features in these are:

• FHIR API: To connect seamlessly with disparate healthcare systems

• Real-Time Data Exchange: By following HL7 FHIR standards, the connection between your system and the other disparate systems can be established. This is crucial for real-time data exchange between systems.

• Device Integration: Since the healthcare industry is moving slowly towards a digital landscape, you will definitely require device integration for remote patient monitoring and collecting vitals. This can only be done when your system is interoperable, and for digital healthcare practices, it can prove to be a threat that enables collaborative care.

• Unified Care Flow: Interoperability can empower complete care journeys with uninterrupted data and care flow. Interoperability and integration unify care flow, which helps in better planning, diagnosis, data collection, and care delivery.

To read what is hiding in between the lines of collaboration in care, read our detailed blog—Collaboration in Care: Custom EHR Features — for a better understanding.

Communication is another aspect that can be enhanced with advanced interoperability, and it can bring in some of the advanced EHR features into your system. For instance, here are some tools that improve communication across teams:

AI & Automation in Modern EHRs

When the world is talking about AI, how can the healthcare industry be behind?

As discussed in the introduction, almost 70% of the hospitals have implemented some or the other kind of AI into their systems. You see, with the inclusion of AI, the standard features can be turned into advanced features in custom EHR software. To give you an idea, here are some of the use cases of AI in your customizable EHR.

• AI-Driven Documentation: The inclusion of AI functionalities can empower providers to speed up their documentation. You see, with natural language processing, automation, and synchronization, the margin of errors can be reduced, if not eliminated, and documentation can be done easily and almost instantly.

• Predictive Alerts: One of the most anticipated or most sought-after features of AI in the EHR system is predictive alerts. AI has been really good at analyzing data and making sense of it. Due to this, it can draw conclusions that can enable you to provide better predictive care by analyzing patient data in real-time and reporting any fluctuations to the providers.

• Automated Task Workflows: AI can also be used to automate the task workflows, through which better care and communication can be achieved. Meaning, the repetitive tasks like documentation or data entry can be streamlined. One of the best examples of this can be seen in its contribution to bringing the entire care team together, working towards the same goal.

The introduction of AI can give you future-ready EHR software features. Here are smart features that you can prioritize that use AI:

Patient Empowerment & Engagement Tools

Many providers consider that patient engagement is one of the core aspects of value-based care delivery. And with healthcare practices slowly turning to value-based care models, patient engagement features are becoming more evident than ever. Here are some of the features that empower patients and improve their engagement with their care journey, leading to better patient participation.

• Patient Portal: This is one of the most important and in-demand features of EHR systems. It not only allows patients to take control of their health by conveniently accessing their health information or scheduling appointments, but also serves as the first point of contact for accessing care services.

• Mobile Access: With mobile phones being used for care delivery, bringing EHR to patients for access to care services, and information can further bridge the connection or communication gaps between patients and care services.

• Secure Messaging: Another feature that can prove to be crucial for your system is that of secure messaging. You see, this feature alone can bridge the care gaps, with instant messaging and other features to resolve any doubts that the patient might have about their care journey.

• Personalized Education: Most EHRs include the patient education tab as one of the advanced software features for EHR. This alone can empower them to be well-informed and take self-care measures to take charge of their health.

Now, these tools cover most of the communication gaps that are generally seen in the traditional model of care delivery. For instance, a patient portal gives them instant access to care, and they can easily text the provider with any concerns. This way, they can get personalized consultation over text from the provider and even suggest additional precautions.

Moving ahead, they can even access the available education material to understand their health better and can take control of their health. While this is just one of the use cases of patient engagement features, it can go beyond normal functioning and can prove to be life-saving in some instances.

To know more about the custom EHR and the advanced features in custom EHR software that can empower your patients and help you in successfully transitioning to value-based care delivery options, read this blog – Patient Empowerment through Custom EHR.

Specialty-Specific Customization

A problem that has given rise to this increased demand for customizable EHRs is that of specialty-specific customization needs. Most specialty-specific practices have been in desperate need of specialty-specific workflows customization, etc. This is because generic EHRs often come with set features, functionalities, and workflows.

In such cases, the EHR system does not align with the specific workflows that specialty practices need. And this is the reason why generic EHRs fail. To give you an example, here is a table showing how EHR is customized based on the specialty:

If you want to know how custom EMR solutions for specialized practices can change their practice, read our blog – Custom EMR Solutions for Specialized Practices.

Workflow Automation & Unified Platform Capabilities

Earlier, we talked about workflow automation and creating a unified platform for your practice, right? Well, let’s talk about some of the features of custom EHR that are involved in workflow automation.

• Automated Intake: Once the patient fills out the intake form, the next procedures can be streamlined. Meaning, the system will automatically fetch data from other systems till the boarding is confirmed.

• Scheduling: Also, once the patient is onboarding, and the patient schedules the appointment, the next processes will be set in action, so that everyone in the care is on the same page, and the care journey of the patients is smooth.

• Coding: For medical coding, etc., the system will sense all the data that is being entered into the system. This way, the administrators will be able to assign codes much more easily and with greater accuracy.

• Billing: The exact mechanism that is used for coding can be implemented here for billing aspects as well.

Talking about instilling the capabilities of a unified platform, it can be easily observed in the demands of healthcare providers looking for custom EHR software. For instance, every healthcare practice wants its EHR software to be a practice management software with billing and telehealth capabilities.

Now, combining these next-generation custom EHR features can literally transform your practice. Also, this is one of the tried and tested ways for having just one software rather than four different software systems. And these are advanced EHR capabilities for modern healthcare that most of the providers are demanding.

Security, Privacy & Compliance Essentials

Other than all the important features of EHR systems we have discussed, some of the core features that we’ve missed are security, privacy, and compliance features. In this, here is what you have to keep in mind:

• HIPAA Safeguards: Align and make your custom EHR software compliant with HIPAA regulations. For instance, it will require you to have encryption, role-based access controls, and other things to avoid any legal or regulatory troubles.

• Audit Logs: Conduct regular audits to keep a track of every activity that happens in your system. This way, all the security loops and loopholes can be covered, and necessary action can be taken before disaster strikes.

• Consent Management: Also, getting and managing consent from patients to provide them with digital healthcare services. Sending consent forms and getting their digital consents can also be done from your EHR software.

• Role-Based Access Control: Since your practice consists of providers, healthcare staff, and other healthcare professionals, not everyone needs to access every piece of information about every patient.

Analytics & Reporting for Better Care Outcomes

Another example of advanced EHR features that you can add to your EHR for analytics and reporting to enhance your care outcomes. Here are some features that you can include:

• Real-Time Dashboards: The applications of real-time dashboards have come in handy for many healthcare providers. These dashboards not only provide them with instant access to data, but also cut short the usual gap between care delivery. Along with that, a more comprehensive view of the patient’s health can be easily accessed.

• Population Health Insights: Since the EHR system will have all the data of your patients, it becomes easier for you to analyze and report the trends that are dominating in your patient population. This can give you a good idea about the health management and allows your practice to be better prepared for any foreseen health-related issues.

And if you’re still wondering how EHR software can help improve care, then read our blog – How Does EHR Software Help Improve Patient Care?

Choosing & Prioritizing the Right Features

If you’re reading this, then you must have encountered what 10-15 advanced EHR features? Well, finding the features of a custom EHR is not a big task, but identifying which one is more beneficial for you is something where many providers struggle.

Well, there are two types of features, one quick impact and the other effort approach. Once you define this, then identifying which one is necessary for making your EHR software an MVP product will help you with quick development and continuing development to make improvements in your system.

Also, consulting with your vendor to decide where to use AI can be extremely beneficial. Furthermore, take inputs from all the stakeholders so that you can make better decisions that actually benefit your staff and providers who will actually use the software.

Frequently Asked Questions