Types of EHR Integrations Explained: What Healthcare Practices Need to Know Before Implementing AI

If your practice is considering introducing AI into its processes, a great option will be choosing AI solutions that can be integrated with your EHR. 

The thing is, such integrations have various levels, meaning not all integrations are the same. Some are deep, offering more support, and others are more limited and will potentially not save your team as much time.

In this article, we’ll break down the 3 types of potential EHR integrations you should know about when making the decision to implement AI in your workflows.

Key Takeaways

• Choosing the right integration for your practice is very important, as it will directly affect your daily operations.
• RPA-like integrations (Robotic Process Automation) utilize software that uses the UI of the EHR to perform tasks. This type of integration is slow and requires constant maintenance.
• Third-party connectors are developed independently of the EHR and have limited access. Such integrations are easy to set up, but aren’t stable.
• Native integrations (AKA: deep integrations) are built with the EHR vendor, meaning they are supported by the EHR. They have access to advanced features.

1. RPA-Like Integrations (Robotic Process Automation)

RPA-style integrations work by having the software ‘pretend to be a person’ using the EHR—clicking buttons, typing information, and navigating screens.

While this approach can technically do many things, it’s fragile: even small changes to the EHR’s layout can cause it to stop working, just like a robot getting confused if the buttons on a control panel are moved.

RPA-like integrations are:

• Brittle. Any small UI update in the EHR interface can render the integration useless.
• Slow. Instead of talking directly to the system, it clicks through the screens like a human would, which takes more time and can break easily.
• High maintenance. Constant upkeep is required to keep the automations functional.

That said, when it works correctly, robotic process automation takes over repetitive tasks, unburdening the employees and allowing them to focus on other tasks that require their attention.

Nevertheless, for clinics that need scalable, reliable automation, RPA is rarely a long-term solution.

2. Third-Party Connectors

These integrations are developed independently of the EHR. For example, a third-party connector might allow your AI to read appointment data from the EHR and automatically send text or email reminders to patients about upcoming visits.

They can still work well—until they stop working. Because they’re outside the EHR’s ecosystem, they often depend on publicly available APIs or reverse-engineering EHR behavior. 

The result?

• Less stable performance. Even small API changes by the EHR vendor can break functionality.
• Limited access. They are usually restricted to basic read/write actions.
• Multi-vendor complexity. Because there is more than one party involved (the EHR and the connector), you run the risk of dealing with finger-pointing when anything goes wrong. That in turn means fixing the issue may take longer.

On the other hand, such integrations are easy to set up and quick for software providers, as they can gain surface-level access to many different EHR systems fast. As the name suggests, third-party connectors don’t require integration with each system individually.

Both the good and the bad have to be considered. After all, making changes in your workflows is a big decision. The solution you’re introducing shouldn’t be an additional source of staff frustration, patient dissatisfaction, and missed opportunities.

3. Native Integrations (AKA: Deep Integrations)

Native integrations are built directly with and supported by the EHR vendor and they are, quite simply, the best option out there.

The AI software provider cooperates with the EHR vendor and has its support. The EHR vendor verifies whether the integration works correctly, and makes sure any changes they make to the EHR don’t interrupt the integration.

Because of this strong connection to the EHR itself, such integrations have:

• Maximum reliability. They are tested against any updates.
• Deeper functionality. They have access to advanced features like appointment types, patient cases, Rx management, or billing.
• Streamlined support. If anything needs fixing or maintenance, there’s just one vendor to contact, which significantly saves time.
• Faster performance. Direct integration allows for quicker data transfer and real-time, synchronized updates, improving overall system speed and responsiveness.

Simply put, when your AI agent is powered by native integration, it can work directly on your data inside your EHR system, without relying on its UI or connectors.

At Talkie.ai, we’ve invested heavily in native integrations—such as our deep partnerships with athenahealth, Elation Health, ModMed EMA, and eMedicalPractice—because they deliver real operational value for our clients.

Why Integration Quality Matters for Your Clinic

In short, the quality of your EHR integration directly affects your daily operations. It will be one of the deciding factors in whether your practice has:

• Faster appointment scheduling,
• Fewer data-entry errors,
• Less stress when something goes wrong.

Better integration means better patient access—and a less overwhelmed staff.

The best integration options also offer customizability, allowing you to tailor the system to your clinic’s specific workflows and needs. This flexibility ensures that the technology works seamlessly for you, not the other way around.

Talkie.ai: Built for Deep, Native Integration

We understand that your EHR is the backbone of your clinical operations. That’s why we prioritize native integrations that:

• Automate complex workflows like scheduling, Rx refills, and patient case creation.
• Sync data directly with your EHR in real time.
• Support 24/7 multilingual service for better patient access.
• Are fully HIPAA compliant and SOC 2 type II certified.

Whether your practice runs on athenaOne, Elation Health, ModMed EMA, or eMedicalPractice, Talkie.ai integrates natively to deliver high-quality voice automation that feels like a true extension of your team.

By focusing on these four EHRs, we’ve built integrations that are deeper than anything else on the market, ensuring your AI agent works exactly the way your team needs it to.