Open Source Software: A Primer for Health Care Leaders
Forrester Research
March 2006
As information technology in the health care industry evolves from an
administrative tool for billing and bookkeeping to a clinical tool for
improving the quality and efficiency of health care, the scope of
information sharing is expanding beyond the walls of individual
institutions. Achieving this level of integration will require that
software models overcome a host of technical obstacles, and that they
are accessible, affordable, and widely supported.
This report examines the development and distribution of open source
software, a well-established software development model—and a potential
solution to the looming challenges of integration—characterized by
collaboration among individuals and organizations with common interests,
sharing intellectual property, and a commitment to standards.
It explores open source basics, including the advantages open source
presents, and how it works. The report also offers industry
perspectives, explores the potential impact on EMR systems and regional
health information networks, and compares open source to traditional,
proprietary software.
While not heralding the end of commercial software vendors, the report
concludes that conditions are ripe for open source solutions to take
root in health care, and that it will likely become the standard for
capturing, sharing, and managing patient information to support quality
care. It also notes that health care businesses have the opportunity to
take the lead and drive the shift to this new model.
Document Download (325K)
Open Source Software: A Primer for Health Care Leaders
http://www.chcf.org/topics/download.cfm?pg=ihealth&fn=OpenSourcePrimer%2Epdf&pid=453202&itemid=119091
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