Service oriented architecture as an enabler of ICT integration and optimization in public protection and disaster relief services: case study of medical emergency services in Finland

Abstract

Current global initiative is geared towards improving health care services using service oriented architecture (SOA) and Web Services or REST. The decision support systems so far introduced have been based on software development approaches and architectural philosophies that have inherent limitations and therefore do not adequately tackle the growing pressure on the health care services such as the emergency medical services and the integration of systems that support such services. These systems are to a large extent not interoperable and do not support agility, reusability and integration owing to the approaches that gave birth to them. Since health services are moving towards the adoption of SOA and Web Services, this paper proposes a SOA model for use in medical emergency vehicles and their control centres together with a conceptual innovative service blue print for the domain. The primary idea is to address issues of ICT integration, interoperability and support for information inter-change within the domain. The paper also presents the outcome of a survey which sought to test the popularity and viability of SOA as a technology for adoption including its implementation using Web services or REST. Issues that affect the adoption and implementation of SOA and suggested ways through which they can be addressed are also presented. The research findings suggest that, a SOA solution is feasible in the problem domain and standards-based interoperability and integration can be achieved.