June 11th, 2009
Black Duck pushing open source health IT solutions
Black Duck Software has released a podcast analysis of 800 open source health IT projects gleaned from its KnowledgeBase, concluding it represents $6 billion in development effort.
Along with the “usual suspects” like VistA and OpenEMR, the Black Duck report highlights such projects as PatientOS, an EHR system now being expanded into a full hospital suite; tkfp, a family practice system developed in Mason City, Iowa,; and dcm4che, a Java-based image management system. (Picture from tkfp.)
Many practices don’t pursue open source solutions because their business is complex and learning the software can be hard. Tkfp admits this on its Sourceforge page.
When asked why she has stuck with Tkfp in spite of the steep learning curve and beta status, Becky answered characteristically, “Because were &*$%!@ dirt poor, what else would you think!”
Once a practice becomes large enough to afford a full time IT staffer, having that person explore open source solutions is a good way for them to justify their pay and for the practice to save money.
Why don’t more do it?
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist since 1978, and has covered technology since 1982. He launched the Interactive Age Daily, the first daily coverage of the Internet to launch with a magazine, in September 1994. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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