Va Begins Implementation Of Open Source Ehr

[allan]

VA Begins Implementation of Open Source EHR

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/07/01/va-begins-implementation-of-open-source-ehr/

[broncovet]

This could be a very good thing. Some people do not understand even what "open source" software is.

There are two types of software: Proprietary and Open Source

1. Propietary. This is what most of us are familiar with. A good example is Microsoft Windows 7. If you use the software, you have to pay a license fee. You may not have known you bought this software, because it was probably "bundled" with the computer you bought. Windows 7 costs from about $100 to $300 depending on which version you buy. I explain this as a "toll road". You use the road, you have to pay the toll.

2. Open source. One example of this is google. Another example is Linux Mint. You can download this, burn a CD/DVD and use it on your computer for free,

here: http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php You dont pay for gmail, or google docs, or, for the operating system "android" that is on many tablet PCs. There is no charge to the user for open source, but some of them are supported by advertising. This is a "non-toll" road, and you dont pay for use of the hiway.

There are many, many advantages to open source software. Probably the biggest advantage is that Linux (also known as "open source") computers are virtually Virus free. Yes. Virus infections are virtually 100% on Microsoft operating systems as virii do not infect Linux (or Apple) systems.

The biggest DISADVANTAGE of open source software is that their marketing is generally inferior to Microsoft, so many home users do not understand it. There is simply no incentive to "market" a free product, so it is less known than well marketed Microsoft products.