About OSCAR

♦OSCAR ♦OSCAR ACROSS CANADA ♦SUITE OF PRODUCTS

About Open Source Software

►freely available online products and codes, universally available for downloading

►can be reviewed and redesigned for further uses.

►General Public License (GPL) bestows the rights to people to develop and distribute this medical software.

OSCAR (Open Source Clinical Application Resource) is at the cutting edge of development in web-based electronic record programs in the medical field.

Oscar is a suite of applications that has been collaboratively designed for the development of evidence-based resources and decision support at the point of care for both providers and patients alike. OSCAR was initially developed by the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, but there are currently collaborators all over the world. The vision for this project is to develop advanced technology software applications and free clinical evidence-based resources that can be used by medical professionals and world citizens in order to improve the health of our global community.

OSCAR is

►free open source medical software product.

►a suite of applications serving to enhance the Health and Social Service Community's ability to provide the highest possible level of care.

►one of the finest web based EMR software in the category of open source software products.

►the brainchild of Dr. David Chan of the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

►built in free open source software, which means you are free to download the program, use the program, or modify it.

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About Oscar Across Canada

►Investigate further at OSCAR Canada

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About Oscar Support

Support companies with services like server installation, maintenance, user training and support have grown with the growth of OSCAR use. Oscar Service Inc. is at the forefront of these support providers.

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OSCAR: A Suite of Products

OSCAR Electronic Medical Record (EMR)	OSCAR (EMR) has full billing capabilities, chronic disease management tools, prescription modules, scheduling and many other features. OSCAR has the ability to run locally in an office setting or to be accessed over the Internet.	Flash Demo	Live Demo
MyOSCAR	MyOSCAR is a patient-controlled personal health record which integrates with the OSCAR EMR.	Flash Demo	Live Site
MyDrugRef	MyDrugRef is a "social-network" for pharmacists and physicians to facilitate "knowledge transfer" of drug information and is fully integrated with the OSCAR EMR.	Flash Demo	Live Site
OSCAR CAISI	OSCAR CAISI is a national, award-winning, full-featured Case Management, Bed Management, and Program/Facility Management system, used by several leading agencies and residential programs in Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa. This OSCAR partnership won the 2007 Silver Award of Excellence in the Efficiency & Operational Improvements from the Canadian Information Productivity Awards (CIPA).
OSCAR Resource	OSCAR Resource is a compilation of free clinical resources which can be accessed through the EMR, directly at the point of care.		Link

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The History of OSCAR

The Vision and the Visionary

Dr. David Chan is a Canadian health care professional with a dream! Since coming to the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Dr. Chan's original vision has never wavered. His vision continues to be the development of advanced technology software programs for medical professionals. The goal of such programs is to help medical professionals complete their work more efficiently thus providing better care for the patient.

OSCAR was created, in part, to address the requirements of the Ontario Provincial Government's Primary Care Reform Initiative, a multi-million dollar initiative towards the transformation of primary care in the province.

OSCAR Beginnings

OSCAR was started by the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University in the year 2001. This open source medical software was brought out with the aim of producing the web based EMR support for diverse academic as well as clinical functionaries.

The origins of OSCAR date back to 1988. That year Dr. David Chan developed a DOS program called MUFFIN (McGill University Family Folder Information Network) through McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. This was one of the premier programs developed with the spirit of 'Open Source, designed to provide a low-cost computerized medical record system to primary care clinics. The system was customized to meet the specifications of Provincial Health Care Programs.

MUFFIN embodied the problem-oriented, patient-centered and episode-oriented philosophy in its development, implementation and evolution. Although the system was not designed to replace the manual record system, capabilities were built such that patient information could be stored in great detail.

OSCAR Launch

In a mere 14 months of intense programming, OSCAR launched at its first large clinic on April 15, 2002. Dr. Chan's leadership both inspired and propelled the programming team to produce dynamic, interactive, cutting-edge, Open Source Clinical software for the medical profession. This was an amazing feat in just 2 years from conception to the official release on November 17, 2002!

Oscar goes International

Since its inception in 2001, OSCAR's use, influence and support services have become world-wide, experiencing a tremendous growth percentage of 75% in installations between 2007 and 2008. The user base of OSCAR as of May 2009 reached a level of 700 – 800 users in places like BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and PEI. Ontario and BC top the list with the highest number of users, thus maintaining and exceeding this rate of growth up to the present.

OSCAR goes to the Hospital

OSCAR has excellent Chronic Disease Management Flow Sheets for diseases such as Diabetes, Hypertension, CHF, COPD, asthma, HIV and INR. OSCAR is also equipped with Chronic Disease Management audit tools. The Chronic Disease Management Flowcharts come with added features like the capability of customization for each patient. These elements help to improve the tracking of individual patient care. This web based EMR software contains maternity forms, reports, audit tools, preventive care modules, immunization modules, enhanced prescribing features and many other up-to-date elements.

Oscar Today