[Ma-linux] Personal Tech: Computerized Health Records -- COST??

[Wade Hampton]

On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 4:42 PM, Kevin Dwyer <kevin at pheared.net> wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Jay Hart <jhart at kevla.org> wrote:
>>
>> 4. Whom controls the data, in what format, and how is it protected.
>
> Even with potential privacy concerns aside, this one is very
> important.  If I want to switch doctors, just how will my files move
> with me?  I don't think imposing a standard is such a good idea, but
> requiring that the formats be at least documented and unencumbered by
> patents/NDAs/etc should help interoperability.  And furthermore, if I
> want to see the records about _me_ I better be able to read them.

Check out world VistA at http://worldvista.org/

According to a doc friend at the VA, VistA is the closest she has seen
to a paperless office and she loves it.  Open source and runs on Linux.

I imagine a lot of the cost consists of:
1) compliance
2) markup by resellers
3) maintenance contracts

--
Wade Hampton