Open source openemr

Overview

Articles to convince users why open source emrs are better than proprietary emrs by:

1) defining open source software

2) describing why open source EMR's are better than proprietary EMR's

3) describing how to find a vendor/support

4) showing examples of OpenEMR working in practices.

Define open source software and describe why open source EMR's are better than proprietary EMR's.

This subject is discussed on the following pages/websites:

• OpenEMR Main Website

• Specifically, the 'What is Open Source' and 'Why use an Open Source EMR' sections.
• This will always be a work in progress. For any input, please post in any of the OpenEMR Forums.

• Article entitled "Advantages of Open Source Software" on the OEMR organization website

• This is a work in progress and is actively discussed in the following OEMR organization forum here: http://www.oemr.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22

• Article entitled "FAQ - Open Source Software" on the OEMR organization website

• This is a work in progress and is actively discussed in the following OEMR organization forum here: http://www.oemr.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22

Discuss how to choose vendor/support

• This subject is discussed on the following wiki page(linked to 'Support' tab):

• OpenEMR Support Guide (Work in progress with goal of simplifying what needs to be done when looking for a professional developer/vendor. Goal is to incorporate all the below concepts.)

• Looking through the Commercial Support web page is an option.

• Main issue is how do new users know which one to choose.

• Asking for recommendations is likely a more effective option. For example, emailing (or even posting on sourceforge to keep open) what a user is looking for, which is then followed by recommendations from the community.

• Main issue is potential for bias and conflict of interest.

• Also the issue of getting the code into the official codebase

• Discuss the merits of this, for example:

• Then the new feature will continue to be supported into the future.
• Then the new feature may be improved by others in the future.
• New features in the future won't break the original feature.
• Giving back to the community that provided you with free EMR software.

• Discuss how this will effect the choice of a vendor.

• Should seek a vendor whom has demonstrated ability to get new features into the codebase.

• Check for their activity on the forums.
• Check their commit activity: http://github.com/openemr/openemr/commits/master
• Ask the vendor how active they are on the forums and how many features/commits they have contributed to the official codebase.
• Ask for recommendations from others in the community.
• Forum discussion of how to streamline this decision for users is here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/openemr/forums/forum/202506/topic/4832281

• Possibility is to give vendors the option of having their own wiki page that describes what features they have contributed to the official OpenEMR codebase.

Show examples of clinics that successfully use OpenEMR

• Place reviews on sourceforge at http://sourceforge.net/projects/openemr/reviews/
• More detailed entries will be placed on the Success Stories wiki page