{"id":6040,"date":"2024-01-15T12:19:44","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T10:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/?post_type=uutinen&#038;p=6040"},"modified":"2026-05-25T12:57:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:57:46","slug":"digiklinikka-muuttamassa-julkista-perusterveydenhuoltoa","status":"publish","type":"uutinen","link":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/uutinen\/digiklinikka-muuttamassa-julkista-perusterveydenhuoltoa\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital clinics are reshaping public primary health care"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Nearly 2.4 million Finns are already covered by a public-sector digital clinic, and many also have access via occupational health care. Digital clinics have spread in Finland at a tremendous pace, but their effects and effectiveness have been studied only sparingly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rapid spread of digital-clinic use is one of the most visible shifts in Finnish primary health care in the 2020s. Just as mobile apps have already put banks, grocery stores, and restaurants in our pockets, digital-clinic apps are doing the same for public health care. Alongside traditional face-to-face visits, a digital alternative has emerged for accessing health-centre services. <em>(see Figure 1)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d9382119 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d9382119 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"sotedatalab-embed\" style=\"max-width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0;\">\n\n  <div style=\"display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; margin: 0;\">\n    <div id=\"observablehq-viewof-digiclinicChart-3234b577\" \n         style=\"line-height: 0; padding: 1em 0.5em; margin: 0;\"><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p class=\"sotedatalab-embed__caption\" style=\"max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto 0 auto; text-align: center;\">\n    <strong>Figure 1:<\/strong> How many people live in an area where a public digital clinic is available?\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/@observablehq\/inspector@5\/dist\/inspector.css\">\n<script type=\"module\">\nimport {Runtime, Inspector} from \"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/@observablehq\/runtime@5\/dist\/runtime.js\";\nimport define from \"https:\/\/api.observablehq.com\/d\/ce70b45a21196913@443.js?v=4\";\nnew Runtime().module(define, name => {\n  if (name === \"viewof digiclinicChart\") return new Inspector(document.querySelector(\"#observablehq-viewof-digiclinicChart-3234b577\")\n);\n});\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><em>Explanation: The figure runs through December 2024. The definition of a digital clinic is based on our research group\u2019s own interpretation. The chart does not include digital services of individual outsourced health centres or Apotti\u2019s Maisa service.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A digital clinic is not necessarily just a chat link to a nurse or a doctor; it can be a broader app or platform (see Figure 2) that, in addition to chat discussions, non-urgent messaging, and video consultations, brings together other digital service options such as viewing and cancelling appointments, viewing one\u2019s own data, care notes and lab results, and completing questionnaires and forms. In this project, however, we primarily use a narrower definition: a service that enables quick digital contact (e.g., via chat) with a health-care professional (nurses and doctors) in primary health care without travelling, and with extended opening hours. <sup><a href=\"#footnote_1_6040\" id=\"awef_ident_1_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Thus, our definition does not only cover asynchronous communication between the patient and the professional, as in Apotti&#039;s Maissa service, but in digital clinic operations, the response time is short from the customer&#039;s point of view.\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a23586f3ba96&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"wp-block-image wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXe0zNvOjH35MFCPb2lK_FLS-AmkEtE2MGdVL-ul1qud2ssA2OA25gri1gZ2-efu2vgADBelSxd57r3q3tBHpvqvWdcDN_kQ5xeX46joOBfXp6jQt_dCPMzOiPrTL8yx5wfbt9pKEA?key=emIwxyd-bPerDRj5tvKSottl\" alt=\"\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 2: <\/strong>The forthcoming application of the Central Uusimaa wellbeing services county on the BeeHealthy platform. Copyright: Central Uusimaa wellbeing services county. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.keusote.fi\/keski-uudenmaan-hyvinvointialue-valitsi-suomisote-alustan-asukkaiden-ja-ammattilaisten-kayttoon\/\">Central Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County<\/a>, accessed 8 Nov 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The features of digital clinics vary by wellbeing services county, but from the customer\u2019s perspective the solutions are largely similar. <sup><a href=\"#footnote_2_6040\" id=\"awef_ident_2_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"As an illustrative example, this instruction video from the P\u00e4ij\u00e4t-H\u00e4me Welfare Area for the use of the Digital Clinic of the P\u00e4ij\u00e4t-Sote app: https:\/\/youtu.be\/4nBnq_hpxdc?feature=shared, viewed on 5 November 2024.\">2<\/a><\/sup> The nurse assesses the need for care and aims to resolve the matter. If needed, the nurse consults a doctor or directs the patient onward to a doctor or another professional via chat, to a video visit, or to an in-person appointment <sup><a href=\"#footnote_3_6040\" id=\"awef_ident_3_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"For example, the Pirkanmaa Digital Clinic aims for an average waiting time of 10 minutes. Source: https:\/\/www.sttinfo.fi\/newsletter\/70146968\/digiklinikka-department 25-pirkanmaa-this-use-new-service?publisherId=69818823&amp;lang=fi, read 5.11.2024.\">3<\/a><\/sup> The nurse assesses the need for treatment and tries to resolve the issue. If necessary, the nurse will consult a doctor or refer the patient to a doctor or other professional via chat, video consultation or on the ground <em>(see Figure 3)<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a23586f3bcec&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"wp-block-image wp-lightbox-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXe3Bpajd6wDpeAOL4Lr8Hj7Mxk6JU5QisL1WIDcl8eTvVo9w1SSc_-2gKB_1GodedfS_jIL0VfiX56nitDro2hrInVTW80t9pSf14w6sb-FJrulwunGXv_tngVaXh2h5Jvj0x9zTQ?key=emIwxyd-bPerDRj5tvKSottl\" alt=\"\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 3:<\/strong> Services of the centralized digital clinic for residents of Pirkanmaa. Copyright: Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county.<strong> <\/strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/pirha.cloudnc.fi\/download\/noname\/%7Be53506ef-8c46-4585-8ed2-6a335488eac9%7D\/52896\">Digital Clinic of the Pirkanmaa Wellbeing Services County<\/a>, accessed 18 Nov 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As a rule, digital clinics provide care for symptoms that do not require a physical examination. These may include, for example, cold and flu, allergy, eye, and skin symptoms. Digital channels also often highlight sensitive issues such as sexual health and mental-health concerns. There are, however, several situations for which remote consultations are generally unsuitable\u2014e.g., acute neurological symptoms and complex cases among patients with multiple conditions.<sup><a href=\"#footnote_4_6040\" id=\"awef_ident_4_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Kujansivu K., Tolvanen E., Kautto M., Koskela T. (2024) Primary care physicians\u2019 experiences of video and online chat consultations: a qualitative descriptive study. Scand J Prim Health Care. 18:1-12. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/02813432.2024.2391406\">4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on our background review, the key goals of digital-clinic operations in wellbeing services counties have been:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increasing efficiency and curbing cost growth by handling cases suitable for digital channels digitally, thereby freeing up resources in brick-and-mortar services for those who need them,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving access to services in terms of opening hours, geographic availability, and for previously underserved population groups, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitating professional recruitment, as hiring for digital services has been perceived as easier than recruiting for health centres in remote areas.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>We interpret that operators have placed different emphases on the efficiency goal versus improving access: some appear to be pursuing savings, while others see digital-clinic operations primarily as a relatively inexpensive way to improve service accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This project examines the use, users, provision, and effectiveness of digital health services. The project has three pillars: 1) building the necessary data and skills base, 2) registry-based descriptive analysis, and 3) implementing nationally significant randomized trials. The goal is to create a laboratory and situation room for digital services to enable a more systematic, versatile, rapid, and reliable way of producing situational awareness and evidence on effectiveness, both nationally and regionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Welcome to follow our project!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Authors:<\/strong> Tapio Haaga, Vivi Mauno, Tanja Saxell, Alex Kivim\u00e4ki, Kaisa Kujansivu, Oskari Nokso-Koivisto, What is Kortelainen, Lauri S\u00e4\u00e4ksvuori<\/p>\n\t\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tol.footnotes.awepost_6040>li {list-style-type:decimal;}\n\t\t\t\tol.footnotes.awepost_6040>li>span.symbol {display: none;}\n\t\t\tol.footnotes {\r\n  color: var(--wp--preset--color--contrast-40, currentColor);\r\n  font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--s);\r\n  box-sizing: border-box;\r\n  padding: 8px 16px;\r\n  word-break: break-word;\r\n  overflow-wrap: break-word;\r\n}\t\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t\t<ol start=\"1\" class=\"footnotes awepost_6040\">\n\t<li id=\"footnote_1_6040\" class=\"footnote\">Thus, our definition does not only cover asynchronous communication between the patient and the professional, as in Apotti's Maissa service, but in digital clinic operations, the response time is short from the customer's point of view.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/uutinen\/digiklinikka-muuttamassa-julkista-perusterveydenhuoltoa\/#awef_ident_1_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\"  title=\"Jump back to text\"  aria-labelby=\"Jump back to text\">\u21a9<\/a><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">]<\/span><\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_2_6040\" class=\"footnote\">As an illustrative example, this instruction video from the P\u00e4ij\u00e4t-H\u00e4me Welfare Area for the use of the Digital Clinic of the P\u00e4ij\u00e4t-Sote app: <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4nBnq_hpxdc?feature=shared\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/4nBnq_hpxdc?feature=shared<\/a>, viewed on 5 November 2024.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/uutinen\/digiklinikka-muuttamassa-julkista-perusterveydenhuoltoa\/#awef_ident_2_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\"  title=\"Jump back to text\"  aria-labelby=\"Jump back to text\">\u21a9<\/a><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">]<\/span><\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_3_6040\" class=\"footnote\">For example, the Pirkanmaa Digital Clinic aims for an average waiting time of 10 minutes. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sttinfo.fi\/tiedote\/70146968\/digiklinikka-kayttoon-25-pirkanmaalla-nain-kaytat-uutta-palvelua?publisherId=69818823&amp;lang=fi\">https:\/\/www.sttinfo.fi\/tiedote\/70146968\/digiklinikka-kayttoon-25-pirkanmaalla-nain-kaytat-uutta-palvelua?publisherId=69818823&amp;lang=fi<\/a>, read on 5 November 2024.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/uutinen\/digiklinikka-muuttamassa-julkista-perusterveydenhuoltoa\/#awef_ident_3_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\"  title=\"Jump back to text\"  aria-labelby=\"Jump back to text\">\u21a9<\/a><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">]<\/span><\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_4_6040\" class=\"footnote\">Kujansivu K., Tolvanen E., Kautto M., Koskela T. (2024) Primary care physicians\u2019 experiences of video and online chat consultations: a qualitative descriptive study. Scand J Prim Health Care. 18:1-12. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/02813432.2024.2391406\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/02813432.2024.2391406<\/a><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">[<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/uutinen\/digiklinikka-muuttamassa-julkista-perusterveydenhuoltoa\/#awef_ident_4_6040\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\"  title=\"Jump back to text\"  aria-labelby=\"Jump back to text\">\u21a9<\/a><span class=\"awef-pre-backlink\">]<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jo miltei 2,4 miljoonaa suomalaisista on julkisen terveydenhuollon digiklinikan piiriss\u00e4, ja monella on p\u00e4\u00e4sy digiklinikalle my\u00f6s ty\u00f6terveyshuollon kautta.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[243],"tags":[254,252,253,251,249,255],"class_list":["post-6040","uutinen","type-uutinen","status-publish","hentry","category-blogi","tag-digiklinikka","tag-digitaaliset-terveyspalvelut","tag-sote","tag-terveydenhuolto","tag-terveysasemat","tag-tutkimushanke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uutinen\/6040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uutinen"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/uutinen"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotedatalab.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}