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Consortium for Universal Health System Metrics
   How can my QCDR benefit from QI Open Source?
What is Open Source? What is Open Source? - -

  • 'Open Source' refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open.

  • Open Source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community.

  • Open source sprouted in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by corporations

  • Many customers are alienated by the long problem list of proprietary software:  Unable to fulfill report requirements, report process interrupts workflow, work interruptions caused by untimely upgrades, multiple add-on charges . . . 

What is QI Open Source? What is QI Open Source? - -

  • 'QI Open Source' refers to an Open Source program that applies to Healthcare Quality Initiative.

  • 'QI Open Source' solve common QI problems faced by healthcare IT professionals every day;

  • This includes common functions used by the healthcare community such as population health analytics, Data Extraction, Access and Availability.

Executive Summary: What are the advantages of QI Open Source Software? Executive Summary: What are the advantages of QI Open Source Software?(collapse table)

  • Control

    You decide functions,
    versions & distribution of your solution

    Regulatory Compliance

    Development aligned with MU3 & Section 508 (ADA)  specifications
    Reduced cost with free headcount

    Share development & support costs by paying  only for functions you need directly

    Distributed support network

    Federal, State and
    educational organizations  actively support Open Source

    Planned upgrade path

    Fulfills future CMS & State QI report mandates

    Reliability

    Software tested by ONC & VA

    Flexibility

    Can adapt existing
    solutions for functions needed

    Speed

    Quickly integrate vetted code

How does Open Source help my QCDR achieve its goals? How does Open Source help my QCDR achieve its goals? - -
  • Open Source saves time and resources by eliminating redundancy of effort.
  • This goal is achieved by implementing a collaborative effort to develop QI related software
  • Many Healthcare organizations have used this process to expedite development while saving time and money.

How does Open Source lower costs? How does Open Source lower costs?  
  • 'Open Source' enables you to select working solutions off the shelf.
  • Recycling Open Source Code reduces software development and support costs.
  • Using 'Open Source' is less costly than 're-inventing the wheel' of QI code.

How does Open Source speed up development? How does Open Source speed up development?  
  • 'Open Source' empowers you to change working solutions to meet your needs.
  • Since you have the source code, it can be changed to fit your needs.
  • Making incremental changes to working solutions is much faster than creating code from the 'ground up'.

Who uses Open Source for their development efforts? Who uses Open Source for their development efforts?
  • Large companies: Google - Android, IBM, Intel, Toshiba...
  • Federal agencies: VA administration, ONC - Office of National Coordinator, Several State Medicaid Agencies...
  • Educational Institutions: Northwestern University, University of Minnesota
  • State Government Agencies: State Medicaid Agencies - Texas, Alabama, Wyoming. State HIE

How does QI Open Source ease the burden of regulatory compliance? How does QI Open Source ease the burden of regulatory compliance? - -
  • Many QI Open Source projects already embrace the constantly changing regulatory environment of CMS, ONC, ADA and state health agencies
  • Example of proven advantage of 'QI Open Source'
  • - Scenario: CMS changes QPP measure regulations
  • - -MU2 response: Registries require man-months of programming effort to comply with new regs
  • - -MU3 repspone: A registry downloads the new eCQM definitions from Nation Library of Medicine website, load new measures, and is ready to go.
  • - - The same registry can assist the provider to meet state Medicaid report requirements (such as Texas QRDA3 report requirements)

How do I evaluate Open Source? How do I evaluate Open Source? -
  • The following are effective methods evaluate QI Open Source:
  • --Matching your needs assessment with existing functions in QI Open Source solutions
  • --Open Source Certification processes (ONC/CMS/VA . . .)
  • --Open Source support - multiple organizations
  • --Coordination of development timelines & goals
  • Due to the fact that you have functional 'Open Source' code, evaluating an Open Source project is easier than evaluating an IT vendor who is estimating dates and costs.

Where do I learn how to integrate Open Source solutions for my QCDR? Where do I learn how to integrate Open Source solutions for my QCDR? ~
  • For your convenience, we have a schedule of QI Open Source Workshops that cover:
  • --Administration of the integration processes for QI Open Source
  • --Programming staff training for Open Source technology development
  • --Ongoing maintenance and support of QI Open Source projects
  • For a list of our workshops, look here