Elation Health is a trusted EHR for primary care and family medicine, particularly for insurance-based and hybrid models. Its clean interface and focus on coding, compliance, and care coordination make it a reliable choice for traditional practices.
But for functional medicine, direct primary care, and specialty practices that operate outside insurance, Elation’s structure can feel restrictive. It’s a system designed for claims and compliance, not for the flexibility and clinical depth independent clinics need. That’s where Cerbo steps in, built to support care that goes beyond standard protocols.
Elation performs well for traditional and hybrid practices that bill insurance or run partial DPC models. It includes e-prescribing, standard lab integrations, and strong care coordination tools.
However, for functional medicine and fully direct-pay practices, its insurance-first structure can feel limiting. Functional and direct-pay providers need configurable charting, advanced lab connectivity, and flexible billing that supports memberships or hybrid care. These workflows simply don’t fit within Elation’s insurance-centric framework.
Cerbo offers that flexibility. It merges clinical precision with adaptable workflows that suit any care model, giving independent clinics room to grow without losing efficiency.
Elation’s charting is efficient for routine visits but relies on structured templates that limit flexibility for complex, evolving cases.
Cerbo’s Chart Parts bring freedom to documentation. Providers can design their own templates, automate recurring chart elements, and track progress over time. From functional assessments to protocol tracking, every note becomes a living document that reflects the depth of care delivered.Cerbo’s flexible charting tools make it ideal for functional medicine and direct-pay workflows.
Elation integrates with major reference labs such as Quest and LabCorp, but lacks built-in connections for specialty and functional testing. Cerbo connects with more than 60 specialty and standard labs, including Genova, Evexia, and Boston Heart.
Beyond labs, Cerbo integrates with supplement platforms such as Fullscript and Wellevate, letting clinicians recommend and manage supplements directly within patient charts. This connection saves time, reduces manual entry, and strengthens the link between clinical care and patient adherence.
Elation’s patient portal enables secure messaging and document sharing, but its functionality is primarily built around visit summaries and messaging rather than interactive care plans. For practices focused on long-term relationships, that level of interaction isn’t enough.
Cerbo’s patient portal transforms communication into ongoing collaboration. Patients can log in anytime to view their labs, treatment plans, or refill requests. They stay informed, empowered, and more committed to their care while clinics save hours on follow-up calls and paperwork.
lation’s quote-based pricing scales with clinic size and modules, which can make budgeting difficult for small or growing independent clinics. That makes it a suitable option for enterprise or insurance-heavy practices but a challenge for independent clinics that need predictable costs.
Cerbo’s pricing is fully transparent, offering full-time and part-time provider options that scale as you do. There are no hidden fees or mandatory add-ons, just clear pricing that supports your growth.
Elation remains a well-established EHR for traditional primary care, but clinics expanding into functional or integrative medicine need more flexibility and connectivity.
Cerbo empowers practices to operate on their own terms, streamlining documentation, expanding lab access, and giving patients a truly connected experience. It’s the platform for clinics that want to grow without compromise.
See how Cerbo transforms patient management into seamless, integrated care. Try the free sandbox demo or talk to our team today to explore what Cerbo can do for your clinic.
