----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 1:18
PM
Subject: Re: [Hardhats-members] Fwd: Text
of Article from Modern Physician
In my opinion, (and, as always, I speak only for myself) I
would agree that in a head to head competition with "Open Logician" that
VistA-Office EHR would lose. That is if all you were comparing was
functionality. As a system for the physician's office, Logician is a more
mature offering, no question. VistA-Office EHR is only in the embryonic
stage. However, if you were to compare them in "open source"
market and all that implies and entails, VistA-Office EHR would be the
clear winner. To the best of my knowledge, Logician does not have a rabid (and
I mean that only in the nicest sense!), international community of
developers or an organized community of cooperating vendors who can
supply professional services, with all working in concert to promote,
support and enhance the application.
This community you speak of... how
big is it exactly? Compared to the one the exists that could and would
sign up to support Open Logician. See my comments re: this topic in my
response to Mark.
On the topic of 'rabid' ... I've never
seen that included in a recommended list of selection criteria.
Reliable, yes. References, yes. Responsive, yes. Cost
effective, yes.
Frankly, I'm not sure that VistA has all that yet either and
therein lies the challenge and the opportunity! Yes, the serious
discussions have to start, but, the VistA community doesn't need a
survival strategy, it needs a growth strategy.
We don't disagree on this. It's
perspective, I guess. Growth vs. Survival. My background in
business has perhaps conditioned me to see that not as a choice, but as an
imperative. Grow or die. That's the law of the
market.
This will be big. There are roughly 400,000 physicians in the US. If we
achieve 1% market penetration...
Your definition of "big" is
underwhelming. If 1% is your honest assessment of VistA Office's real
market potential, I'd strongly suggest you keep it to yourself when talking to
vendors like HP. In fact, I'd strongly suggest you begin working on a
statement to "spin" that in case they've already heard you. "What I
really meant..."
Even it that's a good number though, the
current VistA community couldn't support it unless you think Docs will just
line up and wait. They might. I doubt it.
What's needed is a serious discussion to
address the two core issues.
1) Documentation - it's got to be
there. No option.
2) M - it's got to be a non-issue.
Best option here may be to wrap VistA in a SOAP bubble and treat it as a web
service. GUI front-ends need to be built for both clinician and sys
admin use.
Get these issues resolved and VistA has a
real chance.
But if all you're shooting for is
1%...
Back in the early '90's I learned an
important lesson. It's easier to get $5 million from a VC than it
is $500K. The reason is that they have to invest just as much time and
effort into making the business successful either way. The only thing
that's different is the size of the potential reward.
Personally, I think the potential here is
much larger than 1%. But it all depends on the community getting
serious. I am.
Best regards,
Bill
