MY DIGITAL TOOLS AT WORK

I work as a Biomedical Laboratory Scientist at Fimlab Laboratories. In my work I use many digital tools for both laboratory work and communication. Each step of the laboratory process requires different tools and in a widespread organization tools for communication have also become familiar. Digital tools that I use the most at work are listed below.

• Vihta – an online appointment booking service. This tool is used to show the list of booked appointments when taking blood samples or performing other laboratory tests. It can also be used to manage patient flow and control waiting times.
• Lifecare – a patient information system. This system includes a tool for laboratory which is used to manage for example test requests and results.
• WebFimlab – a laboratory system that is also used to manage for example test requests and results.
• Infinity, eIPU and Labon – intermediate data softwares that integrates the patient information system and the analyzer. These tools are for management of test and control data and monitoring the results. You can for example check and validate test results, make renewal requests and also necessary comments on the results.
• Lab 2.0 – a digital tool from where you can see all sample processing information. This is mainly used when sending or receiving samples.
• Intranet of Fimlab Laboratories – local area network of the organization. You can check all relevant information related to your work like instructions, announcements, contact information, organization’s operating principles etc. from intranet.
• Outlook – an e-mail program. This is an important means of communication in a big organization and is actively used every day.
• Teams – a platform for collaboration and communication. This is mainly used for educatings and meetings but also for sharing information about the projects that you are involved with.
• Quinyx – a tool for managing and scheduling workforce. This is used for clocking and approving your work time, making wishes of your work shifts or day offs and checking your work shifts.
• Mepco – a personnel management system. You can check all you personal data like salary, education, competence areas and earned vacation days from Mepco. It is also used for applying the vacation or other free periods.
• M2 – expence and travel invoice program. This tool is used when traveling or working out of the normal workplace. You can have financial compensation for the costs.
• Microsoft Excel – program for spreadsheets. This is used for gathering and handling data like control results of the point-of-care testing or data from verifications.
• Microsoft Word – program for word processing. This is used to write for example instructions for using and handling laboratory supplies and analyzers.

5 TOOLS OF SOCIAL MEDIA I COULD UTILIZE AT DAILY WORK

WhatsApp is an application for calling and sending messages. It is free, safe and easy to use so that is why it is suitable for working community too. Creating a common group for your working community it is easy to share information to all at the same time and the discussion can be made in real time among the group. It fastens the information flow if you have your mobile phone with you but unfortunately it is recommendable to use mobile phones only during breaks in my workplace. However all necessary information regarding to work will reach you on your free time too. Is this a good thing I do not know… In my opinion a good means of communication if used for the right purpose.

YouTube is an internet-based video service where you can watch, share and comment on videos. I think YouTube could be helpful for example when introducing new analyzers. Watching videos on how the analyzer look like and work in practise helps in learning new things. I have used it for this purpose and found it a good method. I think some manufacturers use links for YouTube videos also in their own websites. Bad side is that there is a lot of advertising in the service. Though I could not share videos of our own analyzers because YouTube is an open media and I have to protect the privacy of my organization. Due to the risk of data security it is also not allowed to use this service on the organization’s computers either.

Facebook is a community service funded with advertising where you can create your own profile and keep in touch with your friends, join different communities and have information about the future events. I have my own profile too. There has been a lot of discussion about the privacy policy and data security of this service and it has been noticeable that lot of viruses are spreading there. It is also worth considering how to use this service and what to share. At workplace using Facebook is allowed only during breaks and with your own devices so this application can not be utilized at daily work either. However it could be used in a way that benefits the organization and also you in a professional way. Nowadays when there is a lack of laboratory professionals it is a great place to share information about open vacancies in your organization. It has even been encouraged and also organizations have their own profiles for that. Following the organization’s profile you can have up-to-date information about the services, products and ongoing things too. You can also get professional information and support by joining communities in your own field. So despite of all negative aspects Facebook can be a useful tool too from the point of view of working.

Twitter is a community and microblogging service on the internet where users can send and read each other’s updates without separate approval or permission. It is used a lot in reporting big news like disasters. I have not used Twitter but it would have been interesting to try it for example during the Covid pandemic. There were new information available constantly so by using this social media application you could have achieved up-to-date information quickly. Although I do not know how reliable the information is. However the Covid pandemic had significant effects on laboratory work too and different kind of arrangements had to be made in a short time period.

LinkedIn is a service and tool for networking. I have heard about it many times and I know many people use it too. With graduation I have thought about advancing in my career. I think this tool might be helpful in that case. You can load your CV, hobbies and interests to the service and get also recommendations from former workplaces. This way you can expand your networks and opportunities to get job offers. This service is owned by Microsoft which also makes it reliable in my opinion.

It can be summarized briefly that social media offers you visibility, increases your knowledge of your own professional field and may help at working but there is a lot to consider carefully like privacy, data security and unreliable information. That is why the elements of successful use of digital applications are also: use consideration in all and protect your privacy enough. There is life outside of the digital applications too.

SELF EVALUATION

After this entire course I am more aware of the digitalized environment at work and in personal life. I have tried new digital tools and got new perspectives on digitalization. Also my English skills have developed. Even though I have not been the most active user of the digitalized services this course has been fun and this blog posting has been quite easy. However I think I am not going to continue blogging but I am going to at least check out LinkedIn and maybe Twitter too. Finally I hope that my blog offers new ideas and something to learn for others as well. I have really enjoyed of reading others postings.