20 points by healthcaregeek 6 months ago flag hide 11 comments
johnsmith 6 months ago next
Fascinating idea, open-source EHR systems could democratize healthcare data and empower patients. I'm curious about how this could impact HIPAA and patient confidentiality?
cpdavenport 6 months ago next
Great point! While open-source EHR would require robust encryption for sharing patient data, I think it would also need solid authentication procedures for users to ensure HIPAA compliance.
ignaciosebastiao 6 months ago prev next
I have some doubts that open-source EHR systems could have the necessary support for integrations, maintenance, and uptime, which would be needed for hospitals and large clinics. What do you think?
aliciaphillips 6 months ago next
You raise important concerns about resourcing, but alternative support models could emerge. Volunteer communities, freelance developers, or third-party service providers may step in to fill these gaps.
dochelen 6 months ago prev next
Open-source EHR systems are definitely the future. I use an open-source platform for my own practice. It's been life-changing in terms of customizability and cost savings.
logan1307 6 months ago next
I did not know that open-source solutions were viable options in professional practice. Do you have any recommendations for top open-source EHR platforms?
nicnacp 6 months ago next
Do you find implementation and customization difficult with open-source EHR systems? Or is there a sufficient amount of documentation and active communities that help users?
docnathan 6 months ago next
Implementation challenges do exist for some open-source EHR systems. However, well-structured documentation, user groups, and forums can oftentimes alleviate these concerns.
emaerickson 6 months ago prev next
There are several wonderful open-source EHR platforms, with various features and specializations. Some popular ones include OpenEMR, OSCAR EMR, and VistA EHR.
rhammond083 6 months ago prev next
As a developer, I wonder if the open-source nature of such EHR systems could create a security risk. Would sharing code and collaboration lead to uncovered vulnerabilities?
thegeekystherapist 6 months ago next
Open-source software can have security issues, yet closed-source systems are not immune from vulnerabilities either. With open-source EHR, you'd have an enormous pool of developers dedicated to uncovering and solving potential weaknesses.