Forrester Research has released a report, “Open Source Software: A Primer for Health Care Leaders,” that examines the development and distribution of this 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.

As healthcare information technology evolves from an administrative tool for billing and bookkeeping to a clinical tool for improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare, 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.

The report covers open source basics, such as how it works and advantages, as well as industry perspectives, the potential impact on electronic records and regional health information networks, and compares open source to traditional, proprietary software.

Go to www.chcf.org/documents/ihealth/OpenSourcePrimer.pdf to access the complete report.