Analysis and Design of the eSAP: An Integrated Health and Social Care Information System

Abstract

Health care information systems are becoming more and more computerized. A huge amount of health related information needs to be stored and analysed, and with the aid of computer systems this can be done faster and more efficiently. The Agent Oriented paradigm provides an alternative way of developing medical based systems. This article presents an initial exploration of the analysis and design of a multi-agent system to deliver the Single Assessment Process, an integrated health and social care information system for older people. The article concludes by making the following observations: Agent technology has the potential to support the development of medical and health and social care systems for older people. Nevertheless there are not many real-life agent based applications successfully applied in the health care sector. One of the main reasons is the limitation of the existing analysis and design methodologies. Thus, in order for the agent-technology to be widely accepted in the development of computer based medical information systems for older people (and in extent any medical system) it is necessary to develop a complete and mature analysis and design methodology to support the development of agent based medical systems.