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.
Tietojärjestelmät suunnitelmallisen sosiaalityön tukena fi
Information systems in support of planned social work en
Tiivistelmä
Sosiaalityötä sääteleviin lakeihin perustuva suunnitelmallisuus kehystää ammatillista työskentelyä, ohjaa asiakkaan asian käsittelyä ja kattaa useita vaiheita alkuarvioinnista työskentelyvaiheeseen ja prosessin päättämiseen. Suunnitelmallisen sosiaalityön välineenä toimiva dokumentaatio tukee asiakkaan tilanteen hahmottamista, laadukasta työtä ja monialaista yhteistyötä asetettujen tavoitteiden saavuttamiseksi. Artikkelissa suunnitelmallista sosiaalityötä lähestytään tietojärjestelmien näkökulmasta ja tarkastellaan tietojärjestelmien toimivuutta suunnitelmallisen sosiaalityön tukena.
Tutkimuksessa kysyttiin, miten hyvin asiakastietojärjestelmät tukevat suunnitelmallista sosiaalityötä. Aineistona hyödynnettiin kansallisessa STePS 3.0 -hankkeessa syksyllä 2020 kerättyä kyselyaineistoa, joista tutkimukseen valittiin laillistettujen sosiaalityöntekijöiden vastaukset (N=429). Aineistoa analysoitiin kuvailevilla menetelmillä ja rakentamalla summamuuttujia aineistoa tiivistäen. Määrällistä analyysiä täydennettiin hyödyntämällä avovastauksista muodostettua laadullista aineistoa (3706 sanaa).
Tulosten mukaan sosiaalityöntekijät arvioivat tietojärjestelmien tiedon laadun pääosin hyväksi, mutta olennaisen ja tarpeellisen tiedon hahmottaminen on useimmille haastavaa. Enemmistö sosiaalityöntekijöistä koki, ettei tietojärjestelmä tue riittävästi laadukasta työtä eikä dokumentaatiota. Lähes puolet arvioi myös työn hallinnan ja asiakkaan tilanteen hahmottamisen tuen olevan huonoa. Sosiaalityöntekijöiden tyytymättömyys oli suurinta koskien tietojärjestelmän tarjoamaa tukea asiakkaan ja ammattilaisen väliselle, monialaiselle sekä organisaatioiden väliselle yhteistyölle ja tiedonkululle.
Tutkimus nostaa tietääksemme ensimmäistä kertaa suunnitelmallisen sosiaalityön tietojärjestelmiä tarkastelevan tutkimuksen keskiöön. Tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää tietojärjestelmien kehittämistyössä ja hyvinvointialueilla, joissa monialainen yhteistyö ja sujuva tiedonkulku korostuvat. Sosiaalityöntekijöiden luottamus tietojärjestelmien tiedon laatuun luo hyvät edellytykset tiedon hyödyntämiselle, mutta kehittämistä tarvitaan tiedon hyödyntämisen toteutumiseksi suunnitelmallisen sosiaalityön käytännössä.
Abstract (English)
A systematic and plan-based approach, grounded on the laws governing social work in Finland, frames professional social work, guides the handling of a client’s case and covers several stages from an initial needs assessment to structuring the interventions with present objectives and implementing them in the working phase to the final conclusion of the process. Documentation as a tool for planned social work supports the understanding of the client’s situation, quality work and multidisciplinary cooperation to achieve the objectives set. This article approaches planned social work from the perspective of the information systems and examines their effectiveness in supporting planned social work.
The study asked how well the client information systems supported planned social work. Data were collected in the national STePS 3.0 project in autumn 2020, and the responses of licensed social workers (N=429) were selected for the study. The data were analysed using descriptive methods and by constructing summary variables to summarize the data. The quantitative analysis was complemented by a qualitative analysis of data (3,706 words) obtained from the open-ended responses of the participants.
According to the findings, social workers rated the quality of information in the information system as mostly good but that it was challenging for most of them to identify the relevant and necessary information. The majority of social workers felt that the information system does not sufficiently support quality work and documentation. Almost half of them also rated support for managing work and understanding the client’s situation as poor. Social workers were most dissatisfied with the ability of the information system to support cooperation and information flow, both between client and professional and at the multidisciplinary and organisational levels.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that puts planned social work at the centre of research on information systems. The results can be utilised in the development of information systems and in wellbeing services counties where multidisciplinary cooperation and smooth information flow are emphasised. Social workers’ confidence in the quality of information in the information systems creates a good basis for the utilisation of information; however, further development is needed to ensure that this utilisation takes place in the practice of planned social work.
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/
Jaksot päivittyvät tälle sivulle automaattisesti. Kaikki jaksot myös Spotifyssa.
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)