Patient intake forms create a choice for most practices: speed or accuracy. A patient fills out their forms online, then someone on your team types that same information into Elation. Manual data entry between systems costs time, but rushing through it costs precision. The solution? The FormDoctor + Elation integration. When a patient submits their intake form, everything flows straight into Elation automatically. Update a patient’s record in Elation, and those changes sync back to FormDoctor. Both systems stay current without anyone manually updating them.
This gives your staff time back. Instead of retyping information, they can review it and prepare for the patient’s visit. That time adds up quickly across your daily schedule. Here’s how the integration works and what it means for your practice.
What Two-Way Integration Means
Two-way EHR integration means information flows automatically between FormDoctor and Elation without having to transfer it manually. When something changes in one system, it updates in the other. Your practice works with current information across both platforms.
Most EHR integrations only work one way. Patient data goes from forms into your EHR, but that’s where it stops. Two-way integration keeps both systems talking to each other continuously.
From FormDoctor to Chart
When a patient submits their forms through FormDoctor, that information moves directly into their Elation chart. Demographics, insurance details, medical history, and any custom fields you’ve created all flow into the right places. Your team opens Elation and finds the information already there, organized and ready to review.
This happens automatically the moment the patient clicks submit, with no manual trigger required from your staff.
From Chart Back to FormDoctor
This connection works in reverse, too. When adding a new patient record in Elation, that patient gets added into FormDoctor. Update an appointment or demographic information in Elation, and FormDoctor reflects that update.
Consistent Records Across Systems
With information syncing in both directions, you maintain accurate records across each system. Your team doesn’t need to remember which system has the most recent information or check multiple places to verify details. Both FormDoctor and Elation show the same current patient list.
This eliminates the confusion that comes from working across disconnected systems. Your staff can trust that what they see in either platform is up to date.
Before vs. After EHR Integration
The difference between manual data entry and automated integration shows up most clearly in your daily workflow. Here’s what patient intake looks like without EHR integration and how it transforms once the systems connect.
Before: The Manual Workflow
Without integration, patient intake forms create extra steps for your team. A patient completes their forms online, which seems efficient until you realize someone still needs to transfer all that information into Elation manually.
The Data Entry Cycle
Your staff opens the completed form in one window and the patient’s Elation chart in another. Then, they type each piece of information from the form into the corresponding field in Elation. Demographics, insurance details, medical history, and responses to custom questions all require manual entry. This happens for every patient, every appointment.
The Hidden Costs
Each patient’s intake can take 5-10 minutes of data entry time. Manual typing introduces opportunities for typos or missed fields. Your staff spends prep time on transcription instead of reviewing clinical information. Forms pile up during busy periods, delaying when patient information becomes available in your EHR.
Your front desk team becomes a data entry department. The clinical preparation that should happen before a patient arrives is compressed or skipped entirely.
After: The Automated Workflow
The FormDoctor + Elation integration removes every manual step from the process. Your team’s role shifts from data entry to data review.
Patients complete their form online, and information automatically appears in their Elation chart. Your staff opens the chart and sees complete data ready for review, all without toggling between windows or manually typing in patient information.
What Your Team Does Instead
Now that your team has more time, they can focus on what matters. They review patient information and flag anything that needs attention. They prepare for the appointment by noting questions or concerns from the patient’s history. They make sure everything is ready before the patient walks in.
Ongoing Efficiency
Updates made during appointments sync back to FormDoctor automatically. Your staff never manually syncs data between systems.
What Two-Way FormDoctor Elation Integration Means for Your Practice
The FormDoctor + Elation integration changes how your practice operates day to day, giving your team more time and reducing the friction that slows everything down.
- Fewer mistakes in your records. Automatic data transfer reduces typos and transcription errors. Patient information flows accurately from form to chart, so your team works with reliable data they can trust.
- Staff focuses on what matters. Your front desk team prepares for appointments instead of typing forms. More energy goes toward work that requires human attention and care.
- Faster check-in for patients. Information is already in the system when patients arrive, so they spend less time in the waiting room and more time with their provider. Updates sync automatically.
- Better patient engagement from the start. Patients complete forms on any device at their convenience. They receive automated reminders and experience a smooth intake process that sets a positive tone before they even arrive.
- Built-in security and compliance. FormDoctor includes encryption, electronic signatures, and a signed Business Associate Agreement. Patient data stays protected and HIPAA-compliant throughout the entire process.
There’s a common worry that adding digital tools to your practice will create more administrative work. In a three-year study on patient digital engagement by Athenahealth, practices with higher digital engagement scores reported spending less time on after-hours documentation. The right tools reduce your workload, not add to it.
That’s what happens with EHR integration. When systems connect and share information automatically, your team gets time back instead of losing it to manual data entry.
How to Automate Patient Intake with FormDoctor + Elation Integration
Getting the integration up and running is straightforward. Once it’s set up, patient information flows between FormDoctor and Elation without any extra work from your team.
Step 1: Connect Your FormDr and Elation Accounts
Start by linking your FormDoctor and Elation accounts through the Integrations tab in your FormDoctor dashboard. You’ll need active accounts with both platforms and a FormDr Platform plan or higher. The connection process takes just a few minutes and walks you through each step.
Step 2: Configure Field Mapping
FormDoctor comes with default field mapping that works for most practices right out of the box. Patient demographics, contact information, and insurance details automatically match to the corresponding fields in Elation.
If your practice uses custom fields or has specific data requirements, you can adjust the mapping to fit your workflow. Most practices stick with the defaults and start using the integration immediately.
Step 3: Send Intake Forms to Patients as Usual
Nothing changes in how you send forms to patients. Schedule appointments and send intake forms the same way you always have. The integration works in the background without disrupting your current process.
Step 4: Information Flows Automatically Upon Submission
The moment a patient clicks submit on their intake form, their information populates in Elation. Your staff can open the patient’s chart and find everything ready for review.
Ongoing: Updates Sync Continuously in Both Directions
Once the integration is active, it keeps working. Updates made in Elation sync back to FormDoctor automatically.
Start With Smarter Intake
Patient intake shouldn’t mean double work for your team. The FormDoctor + Elation integration removes the manual data entry that slows down your workflow. Information flows automatically between systems, and your team gets time back in their day.
Patient engagement starts the moment someone schedules an appointment. Make that first interaction count with intake that works for your practice.
*Practices must have an active Elation account and FormDoctor plan to utilize the integration.
