Free, open source RHIO software coming

A group of California-based foundation executives expect to turn their regional health information network software into an open-source product by early 2007, in hopes that they'll help foster RHIO development nationwide. Officials at the California HealthCare Foundation had spent $20 million to build the software running the Santa Barbara County Data Exchange. Foundation officials, who spoke at a Washington, DC-area health information conference this week, said it would cost around $700,000 to make the conversion. If they go ahead and make the port, it appears that RHIO-building nationwide could get a boost. Another speaker, Forrester Research VP Eric Brown, predicted that if open-source RHIO software became widely available, 60 percent of the country would have access to a RHIO, as opposed to 48 percent if open-source options aren't available.

To learn more about the open-source RHIO software effort:
- read this Government HealthIT article

Related Articles:
IBM hopes open source will open healthcare IT silos. Report
Open source tech to ride health IT growth. Report
United Nations official backs open source for public health IT. Report

Post a comment