OpenMRS

Electronic medical record (EMR) system designed for use in the developing world.

Past and Current Partners

Digital Square, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Partners in Health, Columbia University, South African Medical Research Council, and partners in 40 countries

Active Countries
More than 40 countries
Thematic area(s)
Health
Technology
Open Source
Organisation Name
OpenMRS, Inc
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The Problem

OpenMRS aims to solve the problem that healthcare workers face of using unreliable healthcare management syetems that are a mix of paper and multiple, siloed electronic systems, leading to a heavy burden of duplicative data entry and reporting.OpenMRS bring together those interested in developing and maintaining an open source EMR system that healthcare workers can use to ensure patients get the right, timely, and appropriate care, throughout and across health care facilities. OpenMRS provides health care workers with easier and greater access to data from longitudinal patient records that can inform patient care.

The Solution

OpenMRS provides health care workers with easier and greater access to data from longitudinal patient records that can inform patient care. OpenMRS brings together those interested in developing and maintaining an open source EMR system that healthcare workers can use to ensure patients get the right, timely, and appropriate care, throughout and across healthcare facilities.

How it works?

  • Step1: OpenMRS engages with governments, software development organizations, and other stakeholders to understand their EMR challenges and requirements, then guides the planning, customizing, and implementation of OpenMRS in priority healthcare facilities
  • Step 2: OpenMRS works closely with designated software development organizations to perform a needs analysis
  • Step 3: With OpenMRS community support, the local software development organization identifies development priorities to meet implementation goals
  • Step 4: OpenMRS guides and onboards local technical staff to OpenMRS technology, community conventions, and collaborative development practices through a hackathon and/or working sessions
  • Step 5: OpenMRS connects the local software development organization to existing community groups with solutions or solutions in design or development that they can reuse or help build
  • Step 6: OpenMRS provides the local software development organization with guidance and training on OpenMRS configuration, development, and quality assurance tools and processes
  • Step 7: The local software development organization then releases, deploys, and trains users on their customized OpenMRS MVP
Digital X Solution OpenMRS

Bridging the digital divide

By using Carbon Design System, with components that follow the IBM Accessibility Checklist, based on WCAG AA, Section 508, and European standards, OpenMRS designs a product that is more accessible for all users, including those with disabilities and the digitally illiterate. Patient charts, registration, and other forms are available offline for healthcare workers with limited internet connectivity.

Impact and highlights

  • OpenMRS implementers have helped service providers in more than 6,500 health facilities in 40+ countries use OpenMRS to manage health records and inform care and treatment for more than 15.6 million patients.
  • Within three years, an increase in the number of organizations collaborating on OpenMRS community products rose by 200%.

Plans for expansion

As of December 2021, at least 16 organizations committed to collaboratively developing OpenMRS functionalities and features using the new OpenMRS 3 Framework. Currently in conversation with at least three new organizations about contributing to OpenMRS 3.

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