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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1638681
Human Factors for Capacity Building. Lessons learned from the OpenMRS Implementers Network
The Open MRS Implementers Network is partially supported by a grant from the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) ICT4D program: “Developer Network and Open Source PDA Software for Health Data Collection” (Grant Number 101974-001) with additional inputs from the South African Medical Research Council (SA-MRC), the World Health Organization and the Rockefeller Foundation. PIH is supported by WHO and the Regenstrief Institute is supported by the US Centres for Disease Control. The authors gratefully acknowledge ongoing support and contributions from Heloise Emdon, Chaitali Sinha and Steve Song, IDRC and Prof Bill Tierney, Regenstrief Institute and University of Indiana.
Publication History
Publication Date:
07 March 2018 (online)
Summary
Objectives: Theoverallobjectiveofthisprojectwastoinvestigateways to strengthen the OpenMRS community by (i) developing capacity and implementing a network focusing specifically on the needs of OpenMRS implementers,(ii) strengthening community-driven aspects of OpenMRS and providing a dedicated forum for implementation-specific issues, and; (iii) providing regional support for OpenMRS implementations as well as mentorship and training.
Methods: Themethodsusedincluded(i)face-to-facenetworkingusing meetings and workshops; (ii) online collaboration tools, peer support and mentorship programmes; (iii) capacity and community development programmes, and; (iv) community outreach programmes.
Results: Thecommunity-driven approach,combined withafewsimple interventions,has been a key factor in the growth and success of the OpenMRS ImplementersNetwork.Ithascontributed toimplementations in at least twenty-three different countries using basic online tools; and provided mentorship and peer support through an annual meeting, workshops and an internshipprogram. The OpenMRS Implementers Network has formed collaborations with several other open source networks and is evolving regional OpenMRS Centres of Excellence to provide localized support for OpenMRS development and implementation. These initiativesare increasingthe range of functionalityand sustainability of open source software in the health domain, resulting in improvedadoption and enterprise-readiness.
Conclusions: Socialorganizationandcapacitydevelopmentactivities are important in growing a successful community-driven open source softwaremodel.
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