Healthcare IT is rapidly evolving and information sharing is critical on both the clinical and administrative sides. The majority of software that exists to meet the multiple and varied IT needs of the healthcare industry do not integrate easily with one another, effectively setting up roadblocks along the information highway.

A newly released report from Forrester Research, prepared for the California HealthCare Foundation, examines the development and distribution of open source software, a fairly well-established software development model, which offers a potential solution to the challenges of integration. The model is characterized by collaboration among individuals and organizations with common interests, sharing intellectual property, and a commitment to standards.

The report, Open Source Software: A Primer for Health Care Leaders, looks at open source basics, including the advantages that open source presents, and how it works. Additionally, the report offers industry perspectives, explores the potential impact on electronic medical records (EMR) systems and regional health information networks (RHIOs), and compares open source to traditional, proprietary software.