VistA Ecosystem: Current Status and Future Directions

In October 2010, the Institute for Software Research at Carnegie Mellon University released a report entitled "The VistA Ecosystem: Current Status and Future Directions".  They concluded that if done correctly, the VistA software could form the basis of a thriving ecosystem that would drive down cost and unleash innovation in healthcare. The kernel of a socio‐technical ecosystem based on VistA is functioning today outside of VA, but it needs help and support from VA policies if it is to thrive, grow to its full potential, and help to transform HIT.

In this technical report, researchers mapped out the VistA ecosystem and comparing it with four well‐established, highly successful software ecosystems. The results of their year‐long qualitative study of the current VistA ecosystem were analyzed and recommendations are presented in the report on ways of moving VistA forward, capitalizing on lessons from successful platforms.  To download and read the full report, go to http://conway.isri.cmu.edu/~jdh/web-pubs/pdfs/vista_report_2010_final-formatted.pdf