Open Source Software in Healthcare: Balancing Innovation and Security

By Kraig Kleeman

“They say necessity is the mother of invention, but in the realm of healthcare, necessity often meets the maverick of open source software, creating a union that’s as promising as it is challenging.” – Ghazenfer Mansoor, Founder and CEO

Introduction

Using open source software (OSS) in healthcare is becoming more popular because it can save money and be customized to fit specific needs. But, bringing OSS into healthcare organizations also has special problems that need solving. Here, I will talk about these challenges and share the best practices from my time at Technology Rivers. We focus on software innovation, including Open Source Software (OSS) solutions for healthcare industry.

  1. Security Strains on Healthcare Security Teams
    Healthcare providers often keep very tight security rules because medical information is highly sensitive, and HIPAA compliance rules must be followed. Bringing in Open-Source Software (OSS) might make things harder for these security teams. The main reason is that Open Source is available to public, and anyone can see the source code, and understand how certain functionally is created, which can bring vulnerabilities if not controlled well. Hackers can exploit the weaknesses learned from this codebase. Security teams need to be more careful and maybe use more resources for watching over and securing the OSS partsᅳtasks that are tough but very important to keep patient data safe.
  2. Challenges of Limited OSS Support
    With small IT teams, healthcare providers often deal with big problems because many OSS solutions do not come with dedicated support. Unlike proprietary software that has full support services included, OSS usually depends on help from the community. This type of assistance can sometimes be slow or lack enough expertise to solve specific issues quickly and effectively. This absence of dedicated support can make the workload tougher for already busy IT teams. Because of this, it is very important for healthcare organizations to either train their own staff or work together with outside OSS experts. This way, they can keep systems running smoothly and fix problems when they come up.
  3. Integration with Proprietary Systems
    Integration is another big challenge. Healthcare providers often use different types of systems, some made by specific companies and others open-source software (OSS), which can cause problems when they try to work together. Proprietary systems mostly are created to function inside a specific environment, making it hard to integrate them with OSS. OSS is often more adaptable but not as customized. To handle this problem, healthcare providers need strong middleware solutions or they may have to create special integration tools that connect different software systems together.
  4. Open Source Licensing
    Every piece of Open Source software comes with a license agreement that could potentially clash with healthcare organization regulations. Numerous Open Source licenses mandate that companies share any modifications they make to the software, which could violate an organization’s security policies. Therefore, it’s crucial for healthcare organizations to carefully examine these licenses before incorporating the software into their proprietary applications.
  5. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
    One of the very important worries with OSS in healthcare is following strict rules made to protect patient information and keep services running smoothly. It can be hard to follow these rules because OSS parts might not always be created thinking about these regulations. Providers must in this way do complete audits and maybe change the OSS to match health rules like HIPAA in United States or GDPR in Europe.
  6. Best Practices for Managing OSS
    Handling Open Source Software (OSS) efficiently within healthcare provider organizations demands a strategic method. Here are some best practices:
  • Check and Review OSS Frequently: Before starting integration, it is very important to check carefully and keep reviewing the OSS. This helps make sure there are no problems with compliance standards or security rules.
  • Review OSS Licenses Regularly: Before start leveraging any Open Source software in your application, it is very important to check carefully and keep reviewing the licenses with your legal department, to ensure compliance. 
  • Build Strong Partnership with OSS Community: Actively engaging with the OSS community can give valuable knowledge and help, which can reduce the absence of formal customer support.
    Creating Internal Skill: Growing internal skill in OSS can assist healthcare providers to solve many problems that come with using OSS.
  • Put Strong Security Practices: Because OSS is open for everyone, adding more security layers like regular updates and patches is very important.

At Technology Rivers, we manage these obstacles well because we have strong knowledge in technology and software innovation, particularly in the fields of health, AI, and machine learning. By following best practices closely, healthcare providers can gain many benefits from OSS while reducing its natural risks.

Conclusion

Although putting OSS into healthcare has many difficulties, the benefits of doing this are very clear. By using good plans, health workers can make their services better, save money, and keep high levels of care for patients and safety for information.

About Ghazenfer Mansoor

Ghazenfer Mansoor, CEO and Founder of Technology Rivers, leads a top software development firm in Washington DC, dedicated to empowering startups and enterprises globally with innovative solutions. His commitment to social and economic impact is showcased through employment generation and philanthropy in emerging countries. A seasoned advisor and investor in technology and healthcare, Mansoor combines technical expertise with strategic vision. His firm focuses on software innovation, especially in health, AI, and Machine Learning. He is also writing “Free App Promotion Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Supercharge Your Mobile App’s Reach,” sharing insights for app developers.