Selecting an electronic medical record system is a complicated process. With so many different proprietary software choices available, it can be hard for a doctor to decide which package will work best for them. Further complicating the decision is the fact that the price of the software often doesn’t include the hardware upgrades and technical support necessary to bring the software online. Since the software itself represents a significant investment, it is no wonder that many physicians are reluctant to make the switch to electronic medical records.
These open source EMRs are then available to download and install free, but keep in mind that while the open source software is free, there may be costs associated with customizing and maintaining the software. Some additional costs include hardware upgrades and technical support, although OpenEMR provides free upgrades and online support.
The software may also require a significant investment of time. Since, someone, either a staff member or contractor will have download and install the software. In addition, just like with proprietary software, someone will need to provide training to the end users.
Another thing to keep in mind there is no vendor standing behind the open source software. Since, there is no sound way to predict if the community that built the open source product will continue to grow and flourish you need to consider a few things before selecting an open source EMR.
First, are there a significant number of people working on the project? Is there any commercial backing to the project? And is the community continuously working to upgrade the product?
