Epic, maxIT win KLAS software and services awards

The customers have spoken, and electronic health-records system developer Epic Systems Corp. and health information technology consultant maxIT Healthcare were named the 2011 overall winners of the Best in KLAS awards for health information software and health IT services, respectively, according to Orem, Utah-based market-research firm KLAS Enterprises.

Epic was customers' top choice among EMR vendors for its inpatient system for large hospitals of more than 200 beds and its ambulatory-care systems for practices of more than 75 physicians, according to the KLAS report.

Amazing Charts ranked highest in the ambulatory EHR category for small practices of 1 to 10 physicians, while Athenahealth was top ranked EMR for mid-sized practices of 11 to 75 physicians, according to KLAS.

McKesson's Paragon Community HIS was named best health information system for community hospitals of 200 or fewer beds.

Cerner Corp. was named the top provider of application hosting services.

"Best in KLAS rankings mark those vendors who best keep their promises in their market segments for offering a combination of superior products, strong service and high customer value," KLAS President Adam Gale said in a news release. "We hope these ratings continue to help providers find transparency from their vendors in making purchasing decisions."