Open Source Software: A Primer for Health Care Leaders (2006)

"As information technology in the health care industry evolves from an administrative tool for billing and bookkeeping to a clinical tool for improving the quality and efficiency of health care, the scope of information sharing is expanding beyond the walls of individual institutions. Achieving this level of integration will require that software models overcome a host of technical obstacles, and that they are accessible, affordable, and widely supported.

This report examines the development and distribution of open source software, a well-established software development model -- and a potential solution to the looming challenges of integration -- characterized by collaboration among individuals and organizations with common interests, sharing intellectual property, and a commitment to standards.

It explores open source basics, including the advantages open source presents, and how it works. The report also offers industry perspectives, explores the potential impact on EMR systems and regional health information networks, and compares open source to traditional, proprietary software. "

Open source and free software: What’s in it for nurses? (March 2003).

“Nurses reading any of the computer press during 2002 can hardly have failed to notice the increasing frequency with which words such as ‘Open Source’ and ‘Linux’ appeared. At present, through, relatively few nurses, and perhaps a slightly larger number of informatics nurses, know anything about what they are, and their potential implications.”

A web based news site dedicated to stories about Linux and other open-source software for the medical industry.

"Healthcare is information intensive, but most of the business at the sharp end--the interaction between professional and patient--is still making the transition from paper to digital media. This article surveys the current state of the art in open source software for healthcare, and sees a good fit with the egalitarian ideals that informed the founding of the national health service in the UK."