OpenEMR Wiki Home Page

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The OpenEMR Documentation Wiki

Overview of OpenEMR

OpenEMR is a Free and Open Source electronic health records and medical practice management application. It is ONC Certified and it features fully integrated electronic health records, practice management, scheduling, electronic billing, internationalization, free support, a vibrant community, and a whole lot more. It can run on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and many other platforms.

• OpenEMR Features.
• OpenEMR Reviews (on Sourceforge).
• OpenEMR Articles.
• OpenEMR Success Stories.
• OpenEMR on Wikipedia.
• OpenEMR Website.
• OpenEMR Twitter Feed.
• OpenEMR Facebook Page.
• OpenEMR Google+ Page.
• Have a question to ask?

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
• Ask at the Official OpenEMR Forums.
• Or try the OpenEMR Slack Chat (New User Link).
• Or try the IRC channel at #openemr.

ONC Ambulatory EHR Certification

Learn about our ONC Ambulatory Certifications

Support

• OpenEMR Support Guide: Guide for users on how to take the most advantage of free and professional support for OpenEMR.
• Professional Support: The OpenEMR project has a large number of vendors and individuals who offer their services supporting, installing, hosting and customizing OpenEMR.
• DIY Implementation of OpenEMR: A do-it-yourself guide with encouragements.

Demos

Official Demos

• OpenEMR Version 4.2.2 Demo -- This demo is the current stable release of OpenEMR.
• OpenEMR Version 4.2.1 Demo This demo is of a prior stable release of OpenEMR.
• OpenEMR Version 4.2.0 Demo This demo is of a prior stable release of OpenEMR.
• OpenEMR Version 4.1.2 Demo This demo is of a prior stable release of OpenEMR.

Development Demos

• OpenEMR Version 5.0.1 Development Demo -- This demo is of the newest development version of OpenEMR, and may contain features known not to work yet. The "Up For Grab" demos can also be found here.
• OpenEMR Version 5.0.0 Development Demo -- This demo is of next planned release of OpenEMR with latest patch applied (there is no sample data)
• OpenEMR Version 4.2.2 Development Demo -- This demo is of the current stable release of OpenEMR with latest patch applied (there is no sample data)
• OpenEMR Version 4.2.1 Development Demo -- This demo is of a prior stable release of OpenEMR with latest patch applied (there is no sample data).
• OpenEMR Version 4.2.0 Development Demo -- This demo is of a prior stable release of OpenEMR with latest patch applied (there is no sample data).

Downloads

• OpenEMR Downloads : Main OpenEMR download page.
• Patches : Patches for OpenEMR versions.
• Contributed Forms : A place for sharing contributed forms.
• Tools : A place for sharing contributed tools related to OpenEMR.

Installation Manuals

• OpenEMR Installation Guides.

Upgrade Manuals

• OpenEMR Upgrading Guides.

User Manuals

Main

• OpenEMR 4.2.2 User Manual (Current stable release of OpenEMR).
• OpenEMR 4.2.1 User Manual.
• OpenEMR 4.2.0 User Manual.
• OpenEMR 4.1.2 User Manual.
• OpenEMR 4.1.1 User Manual.
• OpenEMR 4.1.0 User Manual.
• OpenEMR 4.0 User Manual.
• OpenEMR 3.2 Users Manual (PDF).
• OpenEMR 3.1 Users Manual (PDF).
• OpenEMR 3.0 Users Manual (PDF).

Supplementary

• ACL

• Access Control List
• Changing Permissions
• ACL Fine Granular Control

• Backup

Lest you rue the day.

• Linux.
• Windows.

Take note of this Forum thread.

• System Image: Creation and recovery in 32/64 bit devices.

• Billing

• 837P

• X12 837p Reference, Version 4010.
• Version 5010.

• Charges Panel.
• Credit Card Processing.
• Review EDI History Module.
• Fee Sheet Custom Service Categories
• Fee Sheet Review Button and CPT4 Link
• Red Notification, Patient Billing Widget.
• Patient Ledger
• Patient Statement with Dunning Messages.

• Clinical Decision Rules

• CDR User Manual.
• CDR Guide: How to add rules for Clinical Quality Measures.

• Coding

• Configure OpenEMR for ICD-10.

• Communication

• Dated Reminders.
• Direct: Direct Project guide.
• Mercury Mail Configuration in Windows.
• Patient Portal.
• Short Message Service.
• SMS & Email.

• Data Import

• Standard Tables: An ICD9, ICD10, SNOMED & RxNorm import guide.
• RxNorm and SNOMED.
• Other Data Sets - Other Methods.

• Diagnostic Studies

• Procedure configuration & order process.

Step wise explanation of how to configure Procedures:

• Diagnostic Laboratories Orders.
• Laboratory Catalogue Configuration.
• Laboratory Orders & Results.
• Procedures Module Configuration for Manual Result Entry: A pictorial guide.
• Laboratory Exchange User Documentation: Communication with external laboratory facility.

• Sample: Create and Use Procedure Orders 4.1-4.2

• Documents

• Faxing & Scanning.
• Templates for Patient Documents: How to download, modify & upload templates.
• Patient Education: Providing preprinted materials to patients.

• Efficiency Tools

• Patient Flow Board.
• Random Drug Screening.
• Review: EDI History Module.

• Forms

• Contributed Forms: 60 forms.

• CAMOS module: An intuitive interface for text organization and insertion in a patient's chart.
• Eye Exam: The Comprehensive Ophthalmic Exam.
• Graphic Pain Map: Image uploading & annotations guide.
• Form Previews.
• Track Anything: A graph generating form for any data.

• Layout Based Visit Forms.

• LBV Forms.
• Sample Layout Based Visit Form.
• LBV FORMS FOR OPHTHALMOLOGY: A pictorial tutorial.
• Layout Based Validation.

• Nation Notes: LBV Form with a WYSIWYG editor.

• Sample NationNotes Form.

• Simple Note Templates.

• Illustration

• Videos and Animations.

• Meaningful Use

• OpenEMR 4.2.0 AMC Reports.

• Navigation

• Cross Reference Views.
• Find - Search HowTos: Finding things in OpenEMR - various search methods used.
• Patient Note and Form Searching.

• Practice Setup

• Facility Specific User Information.
• User Settings

• Prescription

• ePrescribing.
• Pharmacy Dispensary Module.

• Reports

• End of Day Report.

• Scheduling

• Calendar Categories: Guide to change name, color & interval of appointments.
• Holidays: How to set up holidays for the clinic.

Configuration Manuals

General

• Description of Access Controls: Documentation of the settings in Administration->ACL.
• ACL Fine Granular Control: A guide with examples and screenshots.
• Client Sided Validation
• HOWTO: Create And Use Database Views.
• Backup - Backup Tools: Backup Methods and Scripts in OpenEMR - Protecting Your Data.
• Database - Database Conversion Tools: Changing Data For Use in OpenEMR.
• OpenEMR Deletion.
• Forms - Form Creation Tools: Tools for editing existing forms and creating new forms in OpenEMR.
• DIY Implementation of OpenEMR: A do-it-yourself guide with encouragements.
• Installation in a hosted environment.
• Layout Selection: Configuration and selection of three visual layouts with comparison screenshots.
• Language Translation Configuration: Translation of OpenEMR into your native language.
• Multiple Sites Module: Configuration and maintenance of multiple sites from one OpenEMR instance.
• Operating Systems.
• Securing OpenEMR: Advice from the community on how to secure an OpenEMR instance.
• Description of Settings: Documentation of the settings in Administration->Globals and Administration->Lists.
• Patient Statement Printing/Configuration Howtos.
• SSL Install Howtos.
• UTF-8 Upgrade Howto: Configuration of non-Latin scripts.
• Windows Package Dual Upgrade: Simultaneous upgrades of XAMPP and OpenEMR.

Modules

• Billing - Billing Setup Howtos: How To Configure and Use OpenEMR For Billing.
• Calendar - Using The Calendar As A Tool: Using The Calendar As A Tool in OpenEMR.
• CouchDB Documents Module - Using CouchDB to store patient documents.
• Mercury Mail Configuration in Windows XAMPP.
• Pharmacy Dispensary Module Configuration.
• Sms/Email Notification Howtos.
• Z&H's CCDA Module: Setup and Configuration of Z&H's Carecoordination module.

Development

Developer Manuals

• Information For New Developers: If you are a developer looking to contribute to the project, check this page for details on how to get started.
• Policies for Developers: Agreed upon policies developers must observe (or provide a good reason not to).
• How to Document Code: A guide for developers to document their code properly.
• Architecture

• Architecture Overview: Overview of OpenEMR's system architecture.
• File Structure
• Database Structure

• Code Notes: Notes on how certain features are coded.
• Typical Work Flow in a Medical Clinic: A guide for developers who need to improve their knowledge of the work flow in an ambulatory clinic

Projects

• Active Projects & Projects Needing Developers: Listing of projects, both Active & Proposed.
• Active Independent Developers / Contributors: Listing of volunteer and independent freelance developers working on OpenEMR.
• OpenEMR API: Project in progess to auto-document OpenEMR's code.
• OpenEMR Project Marketplace.
• Request for Proposals (RfP's).

Roadmaps

• Main Roadmaps
• Modernization Roadmap

Repository

• Our git Repository structure, work flow, and developer roles: This describes our current git repository structure, work flow, and current developer/contributor roles.
• git For Dummies: This is a quick, practical OpenEMR walk through with the goal of getting new developers up and working with git as quick as possible.
• Using Git with OpenEMR: Example workflow for preparing patches for OpenEMR with Git.
• Git Migration: Documentation of the migration from the cvs repository to the git repository, which was completed on 10/30/2010.

Testing

• Manual Tests
• Selenium Testing
• Automated Testing: OpenEMR has an automated test suite designed to help ensure that the code does what it's supposed to and that new features do not break existing features. (note that this thing has been broken/not used for some time now).

Internationalization

• OpenEMR Internationalization Translator Guide: A HOWTO on helping with translation of OpenEMR in your native language.
• OpenEMR Internationalization Developer Guide: Developers guide to the translation engine and functions.

Modules and Modular Interfaces

• CDR Engine: stuff related to the Clinical Decision Rules engine.
• Background Service Manager
• The OpenEMR API: Core interfaces for OpenEMR programming.
• The Forms API: an interface for adding additional encounter and non-encounter based forms.
• The Notes API: an interface for adding and managing non-medical notes attached to a patient's file.
• The Reminders API: an interface for adding and managing reminders.
• Lists and Layouts: built-in List editing, and simple form layout editor.
• Sending Email: Preferred mechanism of sending email(s).
• Prescribing Module: Walk-through of the prescribing module.
• Code Types: Explains the current scheme for containing code types (such as ICD9, CPT) etc.
• Diagnostic Codes Development: Current plan/implementation for diagnostic code sets (ICD9,ICD10,SNOMED, etc.).

Development Guides

• Smarty: Using OpenEMR's embedded Smarty templating engine.
• LBV Forms: Creating Layout Based forms.
• Sample Layout Based Visit Form.
• OpenEMR Xml Form Generator : XML based forms (generates php).
• Image Based Forms: Using MI2's new image based forms interface.

Embedded Components

• ADODB: ADOdb Database Abstraction Library for PHP.
• Bower: Mechanism to attempt to standardize assets that are used by OpenEMR.
• Composer: Mechanism to standardize php libraries that are used by OpenEMR.
• FancyBox: hover-over iframes, used in the user interface.
• Gritter: pop-up bubbles, for notifications.
• html2pdf: OpenEMR's embedded html2pdf.
• Jquery: a javascript toolkit, that makes writing javascript easier.
• Open Flash Chart: Embedded javascript flash graphing for for graphing vitals other numeric data in forms.
• PDF: pdf libraries/packages in OpenEMR
• PhpGacl: OpenEMR's embedded php-GACL (access controls).
• PhpMyAdmin: OpenEMR's embedded phpMyAdmin (database administration tool). (requires PHP 5.5+)
• Postnuke Calendar.
• Smarty
• Zend (requires PHP 5.3.3+)

File Formats Used

• X12 837p Reference: A reference for the X12 billing files OpenEMR generates.

Security

• Security Alert Fixes: Track security alerts and fixes.
• Codebase Security: Assessment, plan, and tracking of project progress to globally secure the codebase.
• Securing OpenEMR: Advice from the community on how to secure an OpenEMR instance.

Release Process

• Upgrade Mechanism: How upgrades are done.
• Patch Mechanism: How patches are done.
• Steps for a patch release: Documented steps for a patch release.
• Steps for an official release: Documented the steps for an official full release.
• OpenEMR Acknowledgments: Contributors (testers, bug fixers, developers, translators, etc.) can enter their information here if they want to by included in the Acknowledgments Notice.
• New Features in Each Release: New features in each release (starting from version 4.0).
• Status of an ongoing new release process: Listing of active bugs and planned features with status for an ongoing release.

Package Development

• Appliance Developers Page: Page for Appliance development.
• Ubuntu-Debian Package Developers Page: Page for ubuntu-debian package development.
• Windows Installer.

Project Tools

• OpenEMR Website: OpenEMR website description and development.
• OpenEMR Wiki: OpenEMR wiki description and development.
• OpenEMR Forum: OpenEMR forum description and development.
• OpenEMR IRC: OpenEMR IRC chat channel description.
• OpenEMR Twitter Feed: OpenEMR twitter feed description.
• OpenEMR Facebook Page: OpenEMR Facebook page.
• OpenEMR Google+ Page: OpenEMR Google+ page.
• OpenEMR Diaspora Page: OpenEMR Diaspora Page.
• OpenEMR Community Demo Development: Description for setting up the community demo.
• OpenEMR Slack Chat: OpenEMR Slack Chat description.

Miscellaneous

• How to Document Code: A guide for developers to document their code properly.
• PhpXref: For those of you familiar with PhpXref, here is a parsed copy of 4.0.0. It needs more documentation.

Virtual Appliances

• Virtual Appliances Overview
• OpenEMR 4.1.1 Virtual Appliance
• Help and Tips: Variety of help and tips for the OpenEMR Appliance. Describes how to auto-start the OpenEMR-Appliance(VMware Player) in Windows.
• Appliance Developers Page: Page for Appliance development.

ISO

• ISO Overview.
• ISO Projects.

Apps

• OpenEMR Android Apps.

Troubleshooting

• General Troubleshooting -- general problems people have experienced with OpenEMR, and (hopefully) their solutions.
• Common Installation Problems -- problems people have experienced installing OpenEMR, and (hopefully) their solutions.
• Take advantage of the free community support. If you have a question to ask?

• Ask at the Official OpenEMR Forums.
• Or try our IRC channel at #openemr.

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

Not only for beginners.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

OpenEMR Articles and Presentations

Articles

• OpenEMR on Wikipedia (Current Article).
• 7 cool little open source projects that stood out in 2016 (December, 2016)
• Open Source Health Announces openEMR Collaboration with more then 50,000 annual downloads to Clinics in 200 Countries (December, 2014).
• The Growing 'OpenEMR' Business Community (November, 2013).
• U.S. Peace Corps Adopts OpenEMR for use in 77 Countries World-wide (November, 2013).
• Peace Corps OpenEMR Project Starts (November, 2013).
• EnSoftek, Inc. Wins Peace Corps Global Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System Development and Implementation Contract (November, 2013).
• Bossie Awards 2013: The best open source applications (September, 2013).
• EMR Direct Announces Availability of Direct Project Secure Email Powered by phiMail™ in OpenEMR 4.1.2 (August, 2013).
• OpenEMR v.4.1.2 - Planned Release (July, 2013).
• OpenEMR & Ophthalmologist's Meaningful Use Attestation (April, 2013).
• ZH Healthcare Offers the Next Step in OpenEMR Patient Portal with Progressive New Features (January, 2013).
• OpenEMR Continues to grow in Popularity and Use (December, 2012).
• OpenEMR presented to the Kenya Medical Association (December, 2012).
• Key health IT systems moving into the final phase of the Open Source Maturity Model (December, 2012).
• Going From Paper to Electronic: A Road Map (December, 2012).
• Vendor launches on-line OpenEMR education program (December, 2012).
• Open Source EMR Alternatives for Kenya (November, 2012).
• OpenEMR continues to make news (October, 2012).
• 10 award-winning open source apps to try today (September, 2012).
• Bossie Awards 2012: The best open source applications (September, 2012).
• HP India Mobile Health Centre Project To Utilize OpenEMR (July, 2012).
• Siaya District Hospital in Kenya Goes Live With OpenEMR (April, 2012).
• OpenEMR continues to flourish (March, 2012).
• MediGrail LLC Automates Siaya District Hospital in Rural Kenya with OpenEMR (February, 2012).
• Peace Corps plans EHR system in 2013 (February, 2012): OpenEMR to be used by the Peace Corps.
• DIY: OpenEMR, free software for medical practices (October, 2011).
• OpenEMR 4.1 Achieves Full 'Meaningful Use' Certification (August, 2011).
• Taking medical records into the digital age - Solving traditional system challenges with OpenEMR (2010).
• OpenEMR - At a glance (2010).
• FPAI conducts training on OpenEMR (2010).
• OpenEMR Success Story (2009).
• Guest Article: Open Source EMRs for free clinics (2009).
• Open Source Electronic Health Records: In Public Policy. (2009).
• Open Source Electronic Health Records: in Practice. (2009).
• Open Source EMR and Practice Management Software Appliance (2007).
• Using OpenEMR in Family Practice (2006).
• Technical Aspects of OpenEMR. Julia Weatherby (2006).
• OpenEMR Architecture. T. Simbini (2006).
• The OpenEMR Community. Margaret Donahue (2006).

Videos and Presentations

• POSSCON Presentation (2013).

• Implementation of OpenEMR in a Paper Primary Care Office By Diane Petersen and Dr. Samuel Bowen.

• Abstract.
• Going From Paper to Electronic

• Portland Linux/Unix Group Presentation (2013).

• OpenEMR Implementation By Diane Petersen.

• Abstract.

• Libre Software Meeting (2012).

• OpenEMR, a multi-language free open source electronic health record for international use By Dr. Samuel Bowen.

• Abstract.

• Ohio LinuxFest Presentation (2011).

• Taking OpenEMR to Meaningful Use Certification and Beyond By Dr Samuel Bowen.

• Slides: Ohio_Linuxfest_OEMR-2011-09-09.pdf.

• Portland Linux/Unix Group Presentation (2011).

• Introduction to OpenEMR By Tony McCormick.

• Video: http://www.openaffairs.tv/2011/06/open-emr-presentation-and-discussion-at-portland-linux-user-group/.

• POSSCON Presentation (2011).

• The Development & Growth of the OpenEMR Project By Dr Samuel Bowen and Tony McCormick.

• Video: http://www.posscon.org/presentation/development-growth-openemr-project/.
• Slides: POSSCON_OpenEMR_Growth_and_Development-v3.pdf.

• OSCON Presentation (2010).

• Taking OpenEMR, a GPL EMR to ARRA Meaningful Use Certification and beyond Presentation By Dr Samuel Bowen and Tony McCormick.

• Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxd-ZJuiCEk.
• Slides: OpenEMR-MUCert.pdf.

• Related Blog Posts:

• Day One: http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/07/day-one-of-the-health-care-it.html.
• Day Two: http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/07/vista-scenarios-and-other-cont.html.
• Wrap Up: http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/07/wrap-up-of-the-health-care-it.html.

Ongoing Projects

• General Marketing of OpenEMR: General articles describing the OpenEMR project and discussing features of OpenEMR.
• Open Source EMRs are Better: 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 and 4) showing examples of OpenEMR working in practices.
• Success Stories: Clinic success stories are here.

Student Projects

• Going From Paper to Electronic

Events

• Conference Calls.

• Twice weekly conference call that is open to public.

• Details.
• Agenda/Minutes.

• Once monthly OEMR board meeting that is open to the public.

• Details.
• Agenda/Minutes.

• IRC Discussions.

• Considering a weekly IRC discussion time at #openemr.

Resources

• Health Information and the Law a project of the George Washington University’s Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program, developed with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is designed to serve as a practical online resource to federal and state laws governing access, use, release, and publication of health information.

Miscellaneous

• OpenEMR is not Affiliated with LibreHealth
• OpenEMR Logos
• Google Summer of Code - OpenEMR is willing to submit an application for GSOC 2015.
• OpenEMR Forum Guidelines: A guide to Forum etiquette.

Organizations Supporting OpenEMR

• OEMR: OEMR is a non-profit organization supporting OpenEMR (OEMR wiki page).
• Sourceforge: Provides the OpenEMR project with free tools, including project management, file release repository, bug tracker, forums, and web space/server for the OpenEMR website and web tools.

Wiki Instructions

Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.

• Configuration settings list.
• MediaWiki FAQ.
• MediaWiki release mailing list.
• Account Request and Wiki Authorship Primer - How to get an account and start a Wiki article.