Conceptual Framework for Mobile-Based Application in Healthcare

The significance of aligning IT with corporate strategy is widely recognised, but the lack of an appropriate framework often prevents practitioners from integrating emerging Internet technologies (like Web services and mobile technologies) within organisations’ strategies effectively. This chapter introduces a framework that addresses the issue of deploying Web services strategically within a mobile-based healthcare setting. A framework is developed to match potential benefits of Web services with corporate strategy in four business dimensions: innovation, internal healthcare process, patients’ pathway, and management of the healthcare institution. The author argues that the strategic benefits of implementing Web services in a healthcare organisation can only be realized if the Web-services initiatives are planned and implemented within the framework of an IT strategy that is designed to support the business strategy of that healthcare organisation.The chapter will use case studies to answer several questions relating to wireless and mobile technologies and how they offer vast opportunity to enhance Web services. It also investigates what challenges are faced if this solution is to be delivered successfully in healthcare. The healthcare industry globally, with specific emphasis on the USA and United Kingdom, has been extremely slow in adopting emerging technologies that focus on better practice management and administrative needs. The chapter elaborates on certain emerging information technologies that are currently available to aid the smooth process of implementing mobile-based technologies into healthcare industry.