[discuss] McMaster University Creates Open Source eHealth Records System

[Aaron Vegh]

>> I just got this via a McMaster RSS feed:
>> "McMaster University has developed a comprehensive, secure, web-based
>> and open source electronic health records system which is ready to be
>> rolled out across Canada."
>> The full article is at http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=6421
>
> Too bad someone at e-health ontario did not think about this, they  
> could have saved all there consultant fees and used them for  
> implementation of a system like this.

This looks like a great piece of software, if it does what it says it  
does. Electronic Health Records are a huge issue to me: it represents  
the ability for the public to have control over their own health  
information in ways we've never dreamed of. Yet Ontario has clearly  
gone down the proprietary road, much to our detriment, I believe.

So while I'm really encouraged by the McMaster researchers' work, I  
really have to wonder: can this be successful in the marketplace? Can  
this grassroots project accomplish what tens of millions of dollars  
and political pork cannot?

I'd love to hear your thoughts along these lines.

Cheers,
Aaron.