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VISTA Expertise Network
VISTA is the award-winning MUMPS-based medical software suite first developed in the late 1970s at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, (it has no connection with Microsoft's Windows operating system, which uses the name Vista for its current version). We use VISTA to describe both the core software platform and its close relatives including the variants known as CHCS and RPMS.
For a detailed history of VISTA and its development see the excellent Hardhats page. Also available is a memo written in 1981 by Marty Johnson (84 KB PDF), one of the fathers of VISTA, that summarizes the history of VISTA's creation.
VISTA is a comprehensive automation solution for medical facilities of any scale: from a physician's office to a clinic, from a single hospital to a large hospital group. There are more than a hundred modules available to automate every conceivable aspect of a medical facility. Typical implementation begins with patient information management and progresses to service areas like labs and pharmacy. Specialty clinics and other areas follow leading to adoption of the physician's interface, CPRS, regarded by many as the jewel of the system. Modules for administrative and ancillary areas usually follow CPRS.
VISTA is a comprehensive automation solution for medical facilities of any scale
As a suite of software for automating medical facilities, VISTA is unmatched in comprehensiveness and scale, but it is the approach and methodology behind VISTA that lies behind the most remarkable results. The VISTA culture turns development on its head by putting users in control of system analysis and design. This produces software tailored sensitively to the needs of those who actually use it. It places emphasis on what users consider important and empowers healthcare professionals to drive development schedules and priorities. The results of this approach have been astounding, leading to improvements saving countless lives and dollars.
Some of VISTA's strengths:
- Comprehensive solution with 100+ modules
- Tight, seamless integration between modules
- Idustrial strength with decades of successful track record
- Flexible architecture with limitless customizability
- Unique approach empowers users, increases satisfaction
- Ability to scale from single office to large hospital group
- Compact footprint and efficient resource utilization
- Open source code, no license fees
- Committed user community