Open source, open standards, and health care information systems.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Software Engineering
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Significant global investment in health care information systems (HCIS) driven by potential improvements in patient safety, quality of care, and efficiency.
• The HCIS market is a multibillion dollar global industry, necessitating a focus on maximizing return on investment.
• Policy makers, healthcare professionals, and patients share a responsibility to ensure effective utilization of HCIS investments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze alternative licensing and software development models for health care information systems.
• To evaluate the impact of licensing on the development of HCIS.
• To advocate for open source licensing as a superior model for promoting safer and more effective HCIS.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of various software licensing models, including proprietary and open source approaches.
• Examination of software development methodologies within the healthcare sector.
• Assessment of the role of standards in the development and adoption of HCIS.

Main Results:

• Licensing models significantly influence the development trajectory and characteristics of health care information systems.
• Open source licensing demonstrates a clear advantage in fostering innovation and adaptability in HCIS.
• The adoption of open source models can lead to enhanced system security and reliability.

Conclusions:

• Open source licensing is essential for developing safer, more effective health care information systems.
• Implementing open source licensing is a critical component of a rational procurement strategy for HCIS.
• Maximizing the return on investment in health care information systems requires embracing open source principles.