Why Proprietary EMR Software is Killing Innovation in Healthcare IT — A Doctor’s Perspective

I’m a doctor by education and a developer by practice, and I've spent a fair share of my time working on Electronic Medical Records (EMR) apps. From both sides of the table — the clinical side and the IT side — I've seen one thing over and over: proprietary EMR software is holding us back.

Every time I see a colleague pulling their hair out trying to navigate an overly complicated EMR or a hospital stuck with outdated workflows, I wonder: Why are we still doing this to ourselves?

Let’s have an honest conversation about why proprietary EMRs are hurting innovation and why open-source solutions could be the key to making things better.

Table of Contents

1. The Frustration is Real
2. Proprietary EMRs: The Black Box Dilemma
3. Security: A Major Risk Hospitals Can’t Ignore
4. Why Open-Source EMRs Deserve a Chance
5. Bridging the Gap to the Future
6. Let’s Fix This Together

Open-source Healthcare Software: Stuck in a Time Warp

The Open-source EMR/ EHR/ HIS Solutions in 2024, did not change much for the last 10 years, why?

MEDevel.comHazem Abbas

The Frustration is Real

In clinical practice, EMRs are supposed to make our lives easier. They should streamline patient care, reduce paperwork, and help us work more efficiently. But what do we get instead? Clunky interfaces, endless clicking, and workflows that seem to be designed for robots, not humans.

As a developer, I’ve worked on customizing EMR systems, and let me tell you — if you’re dealing with proprietary EMR software, you’re in for a headache. Need a simple adjustment to improve patient workflow? Here’s what usually happens:

1. Submit a request to the vendor (and hope they actually consider it).
2. Wait for the next update cycle — which could take months, if not years.
3. Pay a ridiculous fee for a change that shouldn’t be that complicated.

By the time the “solution” arrives, the problem has probably changed, and your staff is still stuck with inefficiencies.

NOSH EMR: Free, Open source Health Charting System built by a doctor for doctors

NOSH (New Open Source Health) ChartingSystem is a free open source charting system and electronic medical record. It was developed by doctor Michael Chen, MD. So NOSH EMR is a result of an extreme end-user experience with different sort and settings of EMR and professional in-practice who realizes what’s missing

MEDevel.comHazem Abbas

Proprietary EMRs: The Black Box Dilemma

The core problem with proprietary EMRs is that they’re closed systems. You can’t easily see how they work, you can’t tweak them to meet your hospital’s unique needs, and you’re dependent on the vendor for everything.