On Dec 12, 2005, at 10:58 AM, Kevin Toppenberg wrote:
I can't remember the guy's name associated with the theory that 1 fax
machine is no use, and the more fax machines that exist in the world,
the better the solution it.
Good one!
But is the lack of systems that could potentially interoperate the
problem here? This is a serious question. I do not say that it is
not. There are other factors that seem to me to be important, such as
a failure to come to terms with the complexity of health information
systems. Yes, of course, there are complex systems like compilers,
operating systems, database management systems and the like, and we
are able to develop robust, reliable software in these application
domains, so why not health information systems. One difference that
comes to mind is that in each of these areas there is a well-
developed theory: you can go to the bookstore and buy a book on
compiler design or operating system internals. In fact, you'll
probably have several to choose from! This means that when we set out
to develop a new system (say a language implementation, or even a new
language) we are not working in an intellectual vacuum, there are
well established principles available to guide us, and others have
isolated key problems that we know we will have to address. This is
not true at all of health information systems. We are at a very early
stage, and don't even have a very clear understanding of the basic
problems of the field. That is why I have posted on various dry
theoretical topics, and troubled you all with messages containing
lambdas and other Greek letters. I think it's an important part of
what is needed to make VistA, and health information systems more
generally, successful.
===
Gregory Woodhouse
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Prediction is difficult, especially of the future."
--Niels Bohr
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