News

Open Source Model Needed to Rein-In "Unsustainable" Health IT Expenditures, Says Frost & Sullivan

"Healthcare expenditure is reaching unsustainable levels on a global scale" according to the international consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. In a strongly worded press release, Frost & Sullivan says that "there is an urgent need for sustainable business models that can curb expenditure and promote better healthcare delivery." Frost & Sullivan concludes in a recently released analysis that the only way to end these "spiraling expenditure[s]" is to shift "from traditional to newer, more sustainable business models." The analysis specifically recommends a shift to open source as well as software as a service (SaaS), Managed Services, and the Freemium business models.

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Open Source Hardware: Exploring New Territory

As momentum from the open source culture continues to snowball, it acquires new categories—the newest component being open hardware. While open hardware lacks the benefit of a unified movement and faces legal obstacles, it is based upon the same principles that made open source software a soaring success. It also promises to effect positive change in many different fields, including (to name just two) farming and healthcare. Read More »

Open Source Hardware-The Next Frontier

You've heard of open source software. Open data. Open access. Open knowledge. With the origin of open source software, an entire culture with a distinct ethos and community of “openness” was born. But what exactly is open source hardware? Read More »

Why Open Source Will Rule Scientific Computing

I think there are inexorable forces that will elevate open-source software to widespread acceptance, and eventually dominance, in the scientific computing market. For some time now I have harbored a secret belief that this is true, but when customers and scientific computing professionals start saying the same thing, it’s time to pay careful attention. Key forces will be...

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VA To Invest Billions in Open Source Transition

The open source strategy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was the focus of the recent Open Source Think Tank Conference in Napa, California held April 12-14. This conference, sponsored by the Olliance Group and now on its 7th year, has become one of the premier open source gatherings in the world. Top IT leaders of the VA came to the conference to ask for the advice of the open source community in finalizing the VA's strategy for the future of its world-class electronic health record (EHR) system, VistA.

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Other People's Code – FOSS vs Proprietary Health IT

FOSS hold great things for health care if the decision makers embrace it. To do that they need a clear picture of how FOSS will save the money.  The folks advertising a Free EHR are doing themselves a disservice by cheapening themselves and giving the FOSS FUDers an opportunity to exploit the stigma.  And FOSS is not Free, only royalty free to use. That distinction needs to made between “free” and “costs less”. That's why I am writing this article.

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OSEHRA Is On the Move

OSEHRA is on the Move. As we clear the hurdles of establishing Governance structure, clarifying Vision, implementing work Processes, and employing our IT Infrastructure and Development Tools, we simultaneously are preparing ourselves for the long run with the Open Source community. April 2012 was a busy month. We began the month by convening our first meeting of the OSEHRA Board of Directors; General (Retired) James Peake, Mr. Michael O’Neill and Dr. John Halamka. This inaugural Board meeting marks our official emergence as an independent organization with its own governing board. We will publish the meeting minutes on our web-site.

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Upcoming "Health Datapalooza" to Promote Innovation

This June, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) will host the 3rd Annual Health Data Initiative Forum (or the 2012 Health Datapalooza) at the nation's capital. The event, keynoted by national CTO Todd Park, “will feature keynote addresses, a Data & Apps Expo, demonstrations of cutting-edge apps, hands-on data deep dives, and thought-provoking panel discussions". Read More »

Federal Agencies Must Pursue an IT 'Shared Services' Strategy

The recently released Federal Information Technology Shared Services Strategy provides organizations in the Executive Branch of the U.S. federal government with policy guidance on the full range and lifecycle of intra- and inter-agency information technology (IT) shared services, which enable mission, administrative, and infrastructure-related IT functions. "This strategy is part of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 25-Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal IT Management, which seeks to increase return on investment, eliminate waste and duplication, and improve the effectiveness of IT solutions. Commonly referred to as 'Shared-First', this strategy requires agencies to use a shared approach to IT service delivery." Read More »

'Open Source' Robotics Field Continues Rapid Growth

Robots are increasingly being used in the field of healthcare. So the announcement earlier this month about the formation of the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) is of some interest to those of us working in this field. OSRF is an independent, non-profit organization founded by members of the global robotics community. Their mission is to support the development, distribution, and adoption of 'open source' software for use in robotics research, education, and product development. Read More »