Application service provision in healthcare: UK's National Health Service case study

We discuss variation and formalization strategies for managing technology: use mediation of Web-enabled applications in an organisational context. The use of information technology to support healthcare in the UK entails a close collaboration between many geographically distributed actors. ASP and Web services are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to selling software the traditional way. We look at ASP as a possible solution to the NHS need to induce uniformity of configurations across the health sector, which might strengthen the mediating position of the NHS information authority and how well the technology is suited to the local work practices of medical practitioners. The result of our study shows the need for a more transparent implementation process. Also noticed were major trepidations from medical practitioners, regarding ASP business model unsuitability to improve the NHS information authority's efforts to fully support healthcare process and relevant health services. Most likely because of its apparent top-down approach.