[Health] Threads from VistA and OpenMRS folks -- OpenMRS for villages. VistA for major centers.

Tue Sep 2 12:55:33 EDT 2008

Below are a few messages from folks. Here's what I know about the authors:

===========
Paul Biondich
===========
Physician and OpenMRS developer, got some of his start with Prof.
William Tierney at IUPUI (the Indiana project was nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2007). Like I said in previous post, OpenMRS also
has a pico interface (ie, very easy on memory and processor).
Apparently the recent OpenMRS implementers conference in South Africa
attracted 350-400 attendees, so my sense is there's more experience in
the villages than one might think.

http://openmrs.org/wiki/User:Paul

==============
Nancy Anthracite
==============
the widow of a Navy physician and a big booster for Vista. Sent me
directions for running VistA on Ubuntu.

http://opensourcevista.net:8888/NancysVistAServer/WVEHR-VOE1.0-Install/

==========
Fred Trotter
==========
has spoken at Black Hat and is a self-aligned booster for FOSS
healthcare software.

http://www.fredtrotter.com/

==============
My understanding
==============
a number of VistA implementations are being developed, and there are
at least suggestions of a non-MUMPS database for some of them; my
sense is a non-MUMPS VistA is a desirable goal.

Keep in mind, many VistA boosters are also VA employees who like their
jobs. Which is fine. More power to them. But my impression is that
MUMPS really is a weak link compared to modern databases, like
PostrgreSQL. The fact that few people use MUMPS seems like it would be
a challenge to wide deployment, and any village-level deployment is a
wide deployment scenario, even if it's just one village.

In any case, even VistA boosters seem to agree that, at the village
level, OpenMRS is the way to go. And, again, Paul developed OpenMRS
*for African villages*

niels

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Biondich <pbiondich at regenstrief.org>
Date: Sun, Jun 15, 2008 at 5:07 AM
Subject: Re: EMR for Losho, Masailand, Kenya
To: Fred Trotter <fred.trotter at gmail.com>
Cc: Niels Olson <niels.olson at gmail.com>, nanthracite at verizon.net

Hi Fred, and greetings Neils,

You probably should take a look at OpenMRS in live circumstances.

It's actually installed in over 40-50 clinical settings throughout
Kenya.  If you're in fact going to Kenya, you should go take a look at
the clinical enterprises of:

AMPATH (Academic Model for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV) in
Eldoret, Kenya
FACES (Family AIDS Care and Educational Services) based out of Kisumu
Millenium Villages Project in a number of villages, but I think the
main one is based out of Sauri, Kenya

Here's what I would suggest:  go and join either/both the OpenMRS
developers and implementer's list and get to know the community.
There are lots of people that will be able to answer your questions.
I could also personally introduce you if this doesn't bear fruit.  You
need to visit the environment to really get a sense of what people are
doing.

I'm actually here in Durban, South Africa getting ready to kick off
the 3rd annual OpenMRS implementer's conference.  We're expecting
350-400 attendees this time, and this will likely create a lot more
activity in the months to come.

Hope this helps,
-Paul

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nancy Anthracite <nanthracite at verizon.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: EMR for Losho, Masailand, Kenya
To: Fred Trotter <fred.trotter at gmail.com>
Cc: Niels Olson <niels.olson at gmail.com>, paul at openmrs.org

I think OpenMRS is probably what you need for here but the medical schools
probably need VistA.  It would not be a bad idea for VistA and OpenMRS
to "learn" to exchange data and work cooperatively in these environments.

On Friday 13 June 2008, Fred Trotter wrote:
> Niels,
>          Nancy may well disagree but VistA is probably not the right
> project for your needs. It does not sound like you need "Hospital"
> features that VistA comes with, and might be able to get away with one
> of the lighter weight clinic focused web-based EHRs. Using a web-based
> EHR would ensure that you could use the low-cost laptops running
> linux. I believe there is some work being done to get VistA working in
> this environment but I do not know where that work is.
>
>          I would recommend OpenMRS. It is already designed for your
> environment and has been extensively deployed in what might be similar
> environments across Africa. I have included Paul from the OpenMRS
> project who will obviously be able to speak more intelligently.
>
>          There are other good web-based EHRs out there, but I think
> that the OpenMRS vision is most compatible with what you want to do,
> and would be the most receptive to developing or accepting patches
> that you might need.
>
> HTH,
> -FT
>
> On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 12:05 PM, Niels Olson <niels.olson at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I have a friend who is going to Kenya June 25th to August 10th, her goal
> > is to facilitate regular primary care visits, establish a usable,
> > sustainable system of medical records, to link the incountry medical
> > schools with this site. The villagers use cell phones (network unknown
> > for now), power is available, the generator may be solar. Lots we need to
> > follow up on. Total souls in the catchment area is guesstimated at 4000
> > to 7000. If we could establish a medical record system in this area it
> > could become a model for other areas in Kenya or Africa.
> >
> > The main group goal is in the schools, my friend is the only medical
> > person. I think the overlap potential is obvious.
> >
> > SO: can we set her up with VistA? Can we set it up on XO laptops? Will
> > she have a client available? If not OLPC, then what about the new Dell E
> > or the Asus Eee?
> >
> > Thoughts? Will follow up with the team's website and more particulars.
> > D-Day for this is in less than two weeks.
> >
> > Niels

-- 
Niels Olson
Tulane School of Medicine
Class of 2009
niels.olson at gmail.com
h/c: (410) 212-1281
alt: (443) 221-4648
http://nielsolson.us

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