Publications
Scientific journal:
Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare (FinJeHeW), https://www.finjehew.fi
FinJeHeW is a scientific journal published jointly by the Finnish Society for Telemedicine and eHealth and the Finnish Association for Social and Health Care Informatics since 2009. The journal belongs to publication platform category 1. The ISSN of the journal is 1798-0798.
FinJeHeW welcomes scientific articles and other material related to information technology in social and healthcare services, telemedicine, and eHealth. Author guidelines are available on the journal’s website. The journal is published mainly in Finnish, but it also includes articles, abstracts, and other material in English. Manuscripts are evaluated using a double-referee peer review process. The journal publishes at least four issues per year as an online publication in PDF format. Each issue is freely available online. www.finjehew.fi.
Digihoitopolkujen vaikutukset terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten toimintaprosesseihin erikoissairaanhoidossa fi
The effects of digital care pathways on the healthcare professionals’ processes in specialized health care en
Tiivistelmä
Terveydenhuollossa on käytössä entistä enemmän potilaiden omahoitoa tukevia sähköisiä terveyspalveluja, jotka mahdollistavat aktiivisen osallistumisen omaan hoitoon. Omahoitopalvelujen lisääntyessä uudet sähköiset terveydenhuollon palvelut ovat myös osa ammattilaisten arkea, mikä vaikuttaa työhön ja työn sisältöön muuttaen ammattilaisten toimintaprosesseja. Terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten toimintaprosesseja tarkastellaan ammattilaisen ja potilaan välisenä vuorovaikutuksena sekä asiantuntijatyönä. Tutkimuksen kohteena on erikoissairaanhoidon omahoitopalvelu, Terveyskylän digihoitopolut. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kuvata digihoitopolkujen vaikutuksia terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten toimintaprosesseihin erikoissairaanhoidossa.
Tutkimus toteutettiin teemahaastatteluina neljässä yliopistollisessa sairaalassa digihoitopolkuja käyttäville ammattilaisille (n=11). Aineisto kerättiin kesän 2019 ja kevään 2020 aikana. Tiedonantajista suurin osa oli sairaanhoitajia (n=8). Muut tutkimukseen osallistuneet (n=3) toimivat lääkärinä, kuntoutusohjaajana ja ravitsemusterapeuttina. Aineiston analyysimenetelmänä oli teoriaohjaava sisällönanalyysi.
Tulokset osoittavat digihoitopolkujen vaikuttaneen terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten ja potilaiden väliseen yhteistyöhön muuttamalla potilaan ja ammattilaisen välistä vuorovaikutusta sekä lisäämällä potilaan osallistamista. Potilaiden tuottama tieto digihoitopoluilla mahdollisti uudella tavalla valmistelevan toiminnan ennen vuorovaikutustilannetta. Terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten tehtävien luonne muuttui. Toimintaprosessit monipuolistuivat ja työn tekeminen uudistui, kun työssä voitiin käyttää uusia menetelmiä. Tulosten perusteella ammattilaisten osaaminen kehittyi ja työtehtävien osaamistarpeet uudistuivat. Digihoitopolkujen arvioitiin lisäävän ajankäytön suunnitelmallisuutta, kun työnjako muuttui ja työajan käyttö tehostui.
Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, että digihoitopolut muuttivat terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten toimintaprosesseja. Toimintaprosesseissa muuttuivat ammattilaisen ja potilaan välinen vuorovaikutus ja toteutettavien tehtävien luonne. Työnjako ja työajan käyttö tehostuivat. Tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää sähköisiä terveyspalveluja suunniteltaessa.
Abstract (English)
In health care, there are more and more electronic health care services supporting patients’ self-care that enable their active participation in care. With the increase in self-care services, new e-health services are also part of the daily lives of professionals, affecting work and the content of work and changing the healthcare processes of professionals. The healthcare processes of professionals are interactive processes in relation to patients as well as expert work. The subject of the study are the digital care pathways of Health Village, a self-care service used in specialized health care. The purpose of the study is to describe the effects of digital care pathways on the healthcare processes of specialized health care from the professionals’ point of view.
The study was conducted with thematic interviews with professionals using digital care pathways in four university hospitals. The informants were health care professionals from four university hospitals (n=11). Data was collected during autumn 2019 and summer 2020. A large proportion of the informants were nurses (n=8). Others participating in the study (n=3) worked as a physician, rehabilitation counselor and nutrition therapist. Data was analyzed by theory-guided content analysis.
The results show that digital care pathways influenced the collaborative interaction between professionals and patients by changing the patient-professional interaction and increasing patient orientation and patient involvement. In specialized health care, the nature of the tasks of the professionals was altered. The processes became more diverse, and work was redesigned as new methods could be used in the work. Based on the results, the competence of health care professionals developed, and the competence needs of work tasks were renewed. Digital care pathways were estimated to increase the planning of time use as the division of labor changed and the use of working time became more efficient.
In conclusion, digital care pathways changed the processes of health care professionals. The interaction between the professional and the patient and the nature of the tasks to be performed changed in the processes. The division of labor and the use of working time became more efficient. The results can be utilized in the design of electronic health services.
Avainsanat
Kanoninen lähde ja PDF: journal.fi. Tätä artikkelia ei ole kopioitu tälle palvelimelle.
Lisenssi: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The society's 30-year history (available only in Finnish)
30 VUOTTA KEHITYKSEN KÄRJESSÄ – Suomen telelääketieteen ja e-Health seura 1995-2025, 2025,
ISBN 978-952-65791-1-5 (PDF)
The Society’s 30-Year History
30 Years at the Forefront – The Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth 1995-2025, 2025.
ISBN: 978-952-65791-5-3 (pdf)
Podcasts
eHealth & Telemedicine Today – by STeHS
What’s happening in digital healthcare right now? In this podcast, STeHS brings you conversations on telemedicine, eHealth, and the evolving healthcare landscape—featuring voices from Finland and beyond.
Innovaatiot ja yrittäjyys suomalaisessa eHealthissa
This episode was recorded live at the eHealth2025 Conference, part of the 30th anniversary of the Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth (STeHS). Hosts of this podcast are Titta Venho and Anna Saranlinna.In this discussion, Kalevi Virta, CEO of eWell Oy, and Arto Holopainen, Innovation Director at the City of Kuopio, share their perspectives on the development of the Finnish eHealth ecosystem, with a particular focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.The conversation explores how digital health has evolved in Finland over the past decades, highlighting key milestones such as mobile technologies, national digital health services, and international collaboration. The speakers reflect on the opportunities and challenges faced by startups and innovators in the health technology sector, including funding, regulation, and access to real-world testing environments.The episode also discusses the role of cities, ecosystems, and collaborative networks in supporting innovation, as well as the importance of early user engagement and cross-sector partnerships. Looking ahead, the discussion touches on future trends such as artificial intelligence, data-driven services, and the increasing demand for sustainable and scalable digital health solutions.Finally, the guests share practical advice for entrepreneurs and emphasize the need for stronger strategic leadership, long-term investment, and continued cooperation between public and private sectors to drive meaningful impact in healthcare.Note: This episode is in Finnish.Full transcript is available in https://www.telemedicine.fi/julkaisut/
Vaikuttavuus digitaalisissa terveyspalveluissa
This episode was recorded live at the eHealth2025 Conference, part of the 30th anniversary of the Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth (STeHS). Hosts of this podcast are Titta Venho and Anna Saranlinna.In this discussion, Mika Perttu, Director of Digital Transformation at the City of Helsinki’s Social, Health and Rescue Division, and Minna Saranpää, Customer Manager and Social and Healthcare Specialist at Vivago Oy, explore the topic of impact and effectiveness in digital health and care services.As digitalisation continues to reshape how healthcare services are delivered, used, and evaluated, the conversation focuses on how to ensure that digital solutions truly create value for patients, professionals, and society. The speakers discuss how effectiveness can be defined, measured, and integrated into service development and decision-making.The episode highlights practical examples from both public and private sectors, addressing challenges such as fragmented systems, limited resources, and the need for better data-driven leadership. It also explores the future role of digital tools, including artificial intelligence and remote care, in improving outcomes and enabling more proactive and personalised healthcare services.Note: This episode is in Finnish.Full transcript is available: https://www.telemedicine.fi/julkaisut/
Women around the world in health care digitalisation
This episode was recorded live at the eHealth2025 Conference, part of the 30th anniversary of the Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth (STeHS). Hosts of this podcast are Titta Venho and Anna Saranlinna.In this discussion, Dr Michelle Griffith, President of ISfTeH, a physician specializing in internal, lifestyle, and integrative medicine with over 30 years of clinical experience, and Professor Pirkko Kouri, Vice President of ISfTeH and a Finnish expert in health informatics and digital health education, explore the theme Women Around the World in Healthcare Digitalisation.Together, they reflect on how gender shapes the development, leadership, and use of digital health services across different cultural and global contexts. The conversation highlights both the challenges women face in technology-driven environments and the critical role they play in designing more inclusive, holistic healthcare solutions.The episode also offers insights into international collaboration, leadership experiences, and practical advice for women aiming to make an impact in the rapidly evolving field of telemedicine and eHealth.Full transcript will be available in: https://www.telemedicine.fi/julkaisut/
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Conference publications:
- XXXI Kansallinen ja kansainvälinen Telelääketieteen ja eHealth konferenssi, #eHealth2026: Effective digital solutions in health care and social welfare services, 2026, ISBN 978-952-65791-4-6 (PDF)
- XXX Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari, #eHealth2025: Strengthening Interoperability and Equality in Digital Health with Nordic Innovations, 2025, ISBN 978-952-65791-3-9 (PDF)
- XXIX National Seminar on Telemedicine and eHealth, #eHealth2024: From Research to Impact on Digital Health and Welfare Services, 2024, ISBN 978-952-69224-9-2 (PDF)
- XXVIII National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, #eHealth2023: Human oriented approach in eHealth and digital services, 2023, ISBN 978-952-69224-8-5 (pdf)
- XXVII National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, #eHealth2022: Digital Health – from Research to Applied Solutions, 2022, ISBN 978-952-69224-6-1 (PDF)
- XXVI National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, #eHealth2021: eHealth in a Lifecycle, 2021, ISBN: 978-952-69224-4-7 (pdf)
- XXV National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, eHealth2020: From Dream to Reality, 2020, ISBN: 978-952-69224-2-3 (pdf)
- XXIV National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, eHealth2019: Data-Driven Health, 2019, ISBN: 978-952-68112-9-1 (pdf)
- XXII National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, eHealth2018: Health communities facing cyber transformation, 2018, ISBN: 978-952-68112-8-4 (pdf)
- XXII National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, Win-Win-Win, for citizens, professionals and society, 2017, ISBN: 978-952-68112-6-0 (pdf)
- XXI National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, Nordic eHealth2016 Culture of experimentation and digitalisation, 2016, ISBN: 978-952-68112-4-6 (pdf)
- XX National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, eHealth, an engine for change, 2015, ISBN: 978-952-68112-2-2 (pdf)
- XIX National Telemedicine and eHealth Seminar, Towards effective eHealth, 2014, ISBN: 978-952-67213-9-2 (pdf)
- XVIII Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari: Teknologiatalkoilla parempiin hoitotuloksiin, 2013, ISBN: 978-952-67213-8-5 (pdf)
- XVII Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari: Tietoa tarpeeseen, 2012, ISBN: 978-952-67213-6-1 (pdf)
- XVI Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari: Maalta maailmalle – Aluemalli terveyspalveluiden kehittämisessä, 2011, ISBN: 978-952-67213-4-7 (pdf)
- XV Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari: Katse yli rajojen, 2010, ISBN: 978-952-67213-2-3 (pdf)
- XIV Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari: Terveyttä verkosta ja verkostosta, 2009, ISBN: 978-952-67213-0-9 (pdf)
- XIII Kansallinen telelääketieteen ja eHealth seminaari: e-Health kansalaisen palveluksessa, 2008 (pdf)