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.
Hoitoprosessien uudistamattomuus haastaa terveydenhuollon digitalisaatiota fi
Digital health services as part of care processes en
Tiivistelmä
Suomi tavoittelee digitalisaation edelläkävijyyttä uudistamalla julkisten palvelujen prosesseja ja sähköistämällä palveluja. Terveydenhuollossa sähköisten asiointipalvelujen käyttöönotolla tavoitellaan yhä parempia terveydenhuollon palveluita ja kustannushyötyjä. Sähköisten asiointipalveluiden käyttö on viime vuosina lisääntynyt, mutta käyttömäärä on edelleen alhainen digitalisaation toteutumiseksi. Sähköisten asiointipalveluiden käytön lisääntymisen yhdeksi haasteeksi on havainnoitu hoitoprosessien uudistamattomuus.
Etelä-Pohjanmaan sähköisten asiointipalveluiden parantamiseksi, tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, miten terveydenhuollon hoitoprosessit huomioidaan sähköisten asiointipalveluiden kehittämistyössä Etelä-Pohjanmaalla. Tavoitteen saavuttamiseksi tutkittiin, millaisia sähköisiä asiointipalveluja terveydenhuollossa on käytössä ja kehitteillä, millaiseksi sähköisten asiointipalveluiden käytön yleisyys arvioidaan, millainen sähköisten asiointipalveluiden ja terveydenhuollon hoitoprosessien yhteenliittymä on, millä tavoin sähköisten asiointipalveluiden kehittämistyötä toteutetaan ja mitkä ovat Covid-19-pandemian vaikutukset sähköisiin asiointipalveluihin terveydenhuollossa.
Tutkimuksen lähtökohta kuvattiin kirjallisuuskatsauksella, jossa haettiin tietoa terveydenhuollon sähköisistä palveluista Pohjoismaista. Tiedot terveydenhuollon hoitoprosessien huomioimisesta sähköisten asiointipalveluiden kehittämistyössä kerättiin terveydenhuollon ja tietohallinnon ammattilaisten haastatteluista.
Terveydenhuollossa on käytössä erilaisia sähköisiä asiointipalveluja, joita on tarpeen kehittää sujuvamman asiointikokemuksen mahdollistamiseksi. Sähköisten asiointipalveluiden käyttöönottojen yhteydessä tehdään muutoksia hoitoprosesseihin, mutta prosesseja ei uudisteta suunnittelemalla, miten sähköisten palvelujen hyödyt saavutetaan. Sähköisten asiointipalveluiden kehittämistyötä toivottiin edistettävän ja sisällyttämään työhön prosessisuunnittelu entistä vahvemmin. Sähköisten palveluiden ja prosessien muotoilulle yhtenäiseksi kokonaisuudeksi on olemassa hyvät edellytykset. Tulevaisuudessa on tärkeää määritellä sähköisten asiointipalveluiden hyötytavoitteet ja tehdä strategia niiden saavuttamiseksi. Sähköisten asiointipalveluiden hyödyt konkretisoituvat, kun määritellyt prosessivaiheet digitalisoidaan siten, että ne ovat osa työkäytänteitä ja kansalaisten asiointia.
Abstract (English)
Finland aims to be a pioneer in digitalization by reforming the processes of public services and digitalizing services. In healthcare, the introduction of digital transaction services is aimed at bettering health care services and cost benefits. The use of digital transaction services in recent years has increased, but the realization of digitalization is still low. One of the challenges in increasing the use of digital transaction services is the non-renewable state of the care processes.
In order to improve digital services in Southern Ostrobothnia, this study aimed to find out how healthcare processes are taken into account in the development of digital services in Southern Ostrobothnia. In order to achieve this goal, studies were performed to find out what kind of digital services are being used and developed in healthcare, the prevalence of these digital services, how the consortium of e-services and health care processes is being developed, how the development of e-services is being carried out, and what the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are on e-services in healthcare.
The basis of the study is described in a literature review, in which information was sought on digital health services in the Nordic countries. Information on the consideration of health care processes in the development of digital transaction services was collected from interviews with health care and information management professionals.
There are several different electronic transaction services in healthcare, which need to be developed for the possibility of a smoother transaction experience. In deploying digital services, care processes will be modified, but these processes are not being redesigned to ensure that the benefits of the digital services can be achieved. It was desired that the development of digital transaction services would be advanced and to include process planning more firmly in the development process. There are good preconditions for formulating electronic transaction services and processes into a unified whole. In the future, it will be important to define the benefit of goals for digital services and to craft a strategy to achieve them. The benefits of digital transaction services materialize when defined processes are digitalized in such a way that they are part of working practices and citizens' transactions.
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)