Beating the high cost of software

Name-brand practice-management software can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars-no small expense, especially for a new practice. Still, you and your staff need the word processing, spreadsheet, documentation, patient tracking, and appointment-scheduling capabilities these programs provide.

Open-source and general public licensing (GPL) software titles-available free or at minimal cost-may offer a budget-friendly alternative.

Open-source versus GPL

There are two types of “free” software:

• “free” as in no charge for its use. For example, Steve Gibson of Speeding up your Web search,” Psyber Psychiatry, May 2003). Use key words such as “freeware,” “free,” or “open source” in conjunction with the type of program (eg, “document” or “database”).
  Many open-source or GPL projects are centrally stored at two sites, SourceForge and Freshmeat. Browse the categories for the type of program you need, such as databases, utilities, firewalls, etc. These sites offer source code and version information for programmers as well as precompiled software for the public.
  Table Relevant open-source and GPL software titles

  Type	Software	URL
  Office document	OpenOffice *	www.openoffice.org
  Instant messaging	GAIM *	http://gaim.sourceforge.net
  Web browser	Firefox *	www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
  Database	Firebird *	http://firebird.sourceforge.net
  Application server	Zope *	www.zope.org
  Practice management	FreeMED	www.freemed.org
  Clinical database	SQL Clinic	www.sqlclinic.net
  Electronic Medical Record	Open EMR	www.openemr.net
  * available in binary format and ready to use

  Related Resources (accessed Feb. 20, 2004) GNU Project. GNU General Public License (example of free-distribution license). http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
  GNU Project. Various licenses and comments about them. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html.
  GNU Project. Terms and conditions for copying, distribution, and modification http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html#SEC3
  Open Source Initiative. The open source definition. http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php
  If you have questions about these products or comments about Psyber Psychiatry, click here to contact Dr. Luo or send an e-mail to Current.Psychiatry@dowdenhealth.com.
  Disclosure Dr. Luo reports no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed by Dr. Luo in this column are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Current Psychiatry.

Name-brand practice-management software can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars-no small expense, especially for a new practice. Still, you and your staff need the word processing, spreadsheet, documentation, patient tracking, and appointment-scheduling capabilities these programs provide.

Open-source and general public licensing (GPL) software titles-available free or at minimal cost-may offer a budget-friendly alternative.

Open-source versus GPL

There are two types of “free” software:

• “free” as in no charge for its use. For example, Steve Gibson of Speeding up your Web search,” Psyber Psychiatry, May 2003). Use key words such as “freeware,” “free,” or “open source” in conjunction with the type of program (eg, “document” or “database”).
  Many open-source or GPL projects are centrally stored at two sites, SourceForge and Freshmeat. Browse the categories for the type of program you need, such as databases, utilities, firewalls, etc. These sites offer source code and version information for programmers as well as precompiled software for the public.
  Table Relevant open-source and GPL software titles

  Type	Software	URL
  Office document	OpenOffice *	www.openoffice.org
  Instant messaging	GAIM *	http://gaim.sourceforge.net
  Web browser	Firefox *	www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
  Database	Firebird *	http://firebird.sourceforge.net
  Application server	Zope *	www.zope.org
  Practice management	FreeMED	www.freemed.org
  Clinical database	SQL Clinic	www.sqlclinic.net
  Electronic Medical Record	Open EMR	www.openemr.net
  * available in binary format and ready to use

  Related Resources (accessed Feb. 20, 2004) GNU Project. GNU General Public License (example of free-distribution license). http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
  GNU Project. Various licenses and comments about them. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html.
  GNU Project. Terms and conditions for copying, distribution, and modification http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html#SEC3
  Open Source Initiative. The open source definition. http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php
  If you have questions about these products or comments about Psyber Psychiatry, click here to contact Dr. Luo or send an e-mail to Current.Psychiatry@dowdenhealth.com.
  Disclosure Dr. Luo reports no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed by Dr. Luo in this column are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Current Psychiatry.

Name-brand practice-management software can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars-no small expense, especially for a new practice. Still, you and your staff need the word processing, spreadsheet, documentation, patient tracking, and appointment-scheduling capabilities these programs provide.

Open-source and general public licensing (GPL) software titles-available free or at minimal cost-may offer a budget-friendly alternative.

Open-source versus GPL

There are two types of “free” software:

• “free” as in no charge for its use. For example, Steve Gibson of Speeding up your Web search,” Psyber Psychiatry, May 2003). Use key words such as “freeware,” “free,” or “open source” in conjunction with the type of program (eg, “document” or “database”).
  Many open-source or GPL projects are centrally stored at two sites, SourceForge and Freshmeat. Browse the categories for the type of program you need, such as databases, utilities, firewalls, etc. These sites offer source code and version information for programmers as well as precompiled software for the public.
  Table Relevant open-source and GPL software titles

  Type	Software	URL
  Office document	OpenOffice *	www.openoffice.org
  Instant messaging	GAIM *	http://gaim.sourceforge.net
  Web browser	Firefox *	www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
  Database	Firebird *	http://firebird.sourceforge.net
  Application server	Zope *	www.zope.org
  Practice management	FreeMED	www.freemed.org
  Clinical database	SQL Clinic	www.sqlclinic.net
  Electronic Medical Record	Open EMR	www.openemr.net
  * available in binary format and ready to use

  Related Resources (accessed Feb. 20, 2004) GNU Project. GNU General Public License (example of free-distribution license). http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
  GNU Project. Various licenses and comments about them. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html.
  GNU Project. Terms and conditions for copying, distribution, and modification http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html#SEC3
  Open Source Initiative. The open source definition. http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php
  If you have questions about these products or comments about Psyber Psychiatry, click here to contact Dr. Luo or send an e-mail to Current.Psychiatry@dowdenhealth.com.
  Disclosure Dr. Luo reports no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed by Dr. Luo in this column are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Current Psychiatry.