The increasing digitalization of health care systems has intensified the need for mechanisms capable of ensuring interoperability among medical devices, clinical information systems, and complex hospital infrastructures. In this context, service-oriented device connectivity (SDC), defined within the IEEE 11073 family of standards, has emerged as one of the most advanced architectures for enabling standardized communication among heterogeneous medical devices. Despite its technical capabilities, the adoption of SDC in real-world clinical environments continues to face significant challenges that extend beyond purely technological considerations. The complexity associated with integrating SDC into existing hospital infrastructures, its coexistence with other interoperability standards, validation and certification requirements, cybersecurity implications, and implementation-related costs constitute critical factors influencing its large-scale deployment. This study provides a critical analysis of the main challenges associated with the implementation of SDC-based interoperable architectures. Particular attention is given to issues related to functional interoperability, integration within heterogeneous health care ecosystems, operational sustainability, technology governance, and adoption barriers from the perspectives of medical device manufacturers, technology providers, and health care organizations. The reviewed literature suggests that the potential of SDC depends not only on its communication capabilities but also on the health care ecosystem’s ability to address the technical, organizational, and economic challenges associated with its adoption. Consequently, the transition toward truly interoperable clinical infrastructures requires combining the technological maturity of interoperability standards with effective implementation, management, and governance strategies.
Medical devices have an essential role in modern health care environments by ensuring safe and effective patient care. The inherent complexity of these modern technologies necessitates a rigorous approach to health care technology management (HTM). This paper highlights a hands-on practicum experience in clinical engineering at Sodexo for University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the primary investigations involved a nomenclature standardization initiative employing Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) using the Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID) to update inconsistent asset records and improve data quality. This project analyzed 534,127 device records across the Sodexo network and achieved a 75.79% completion rate while establishing a repeatable methodology for future work. The practicum also involved surgical device validation within operating environments and preparing for hospital accreditation surveys conducted by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Through maintenance, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, this report demonstrates how clinical engineering practices contribute to operational efficiency and patient-centered care.
