Another way of looking at the same question, I suppose, is: What
obstacles to achieving HIPAA compliance are unique to open source
systems? Off-hand, I think one area that would be need to be addressed
is certification. Open source systems can be very dynamic. If someone
checks in a patch through CVS, the question could be raised as to
whether HIPAA compliance is affected. But following the Linux model of
even-numbered stable releases and and odd-numbered releases, one could
always focus on making the even-numbered releases HIPAA compliant,
perhaps achieving a level playing field with closed source systems. But
then again, would odd-numbered releases ever be excercized in a
meaningful way? Speaking as an engineer (and not a practitioner), I
can't help but wonder if this would imply something like the FDA
approval process, with clinical trials and all.

--- Adrian Midgley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Generically, what would an open source medical system require in 
> order to maintain HIPAA compliance?
> -- 
> From one of the Linux desktops of Dr Adrian Midgley 
> http://www.defoam.net/             
> 


=====

Greg Woodhouse 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

It is better to be complex than complicated.

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