About Kela services

I have not had to rely on Kela’s services much. The last time I used them was earlier this year when I needed to print a sick leave certificate and had to paid the FSHS student healthcare fee to Kela. Before that, I used Kela’s services a few years ago when applying for student support. Currently, my partner and I do not really need to use Kela services.

I already have a European Health Insurance Card. My partner suggested me to get one over a year ago for our travels abroad. Since then, I have had it, and I was pleasantly surprised to receive a new one automatically before the old one expired. The card provides a sense of security while traveling and can make it easier to access medical services abroad.

OmaKanta – medical knowledge of your health

Accessing to OmaKanta was quite easy and there are many possibilities for strong authentication to log in.  I do fancy OmaKanta because it is collecting all the information about your medical and health visits and records. I do like the fact that the information is in the one and same place and is easy to reach and check every now and then. I would say I use OmaKanta monthly. I still do hope you could create your own information as well, for example mark down childhood vaccinations or treatments which are not shown in the details. I do prefer it is also easier to follow your personal health instructions from the same place where the information can be gathered from different health producers.

Keva – My Pension

This is something I was not looking keen for, haha! I think it can be a quite devastating to check your pension timing in your 30s.. but here we go! My minimum retirement age according to the calculator is 67 years 10 months.  If I would retire at the age of 70 years, which is shown as an upper age limit of accumulation, my pension would be almost 300 euros more per month. I checked I would be able to take partial early retirement at the age of 64 years, and I think it does not feel that many years between those years, but the amount of your pension is having a quite a gab. I think in this population growth situation it is important to have savings for the future. You do have to pay attention to aging and to my opinion it is hard to think that will I be fit for work at the age of 70.

Online shopping

I do enjoy online shopping because it is quite convenient, and the options are limitless. However, I often like to order multiple sizes or versions of the same item, so I only shop from stores that offer free delivery and returns so I won’t be losing any money for those expenses.

I recently ordered new bedside tables from online store, and I felt it was easier, faster and cheaper than from the local shops. Online shops can have more choice in options and competitiveness is easier. I also noticed when comparing Vila clothes prices that you can find more often better discounts on big platforms like Zalando compared to brand-specific sites like Vila’s own web shop. In some cases, I do try to invest more in local shops especially when I am buying gifts. I do value handmade materials and items made by locals especially in food products.

I chose to compare hotel prices via booking.com and from hotel website. Booking.com can try to bait people by client discount programme but if you are paying attention the booking will be cheaper from the hotel’s own website. I think I will be more accurate with the prices in the future.

Fimlab – mobile application

Fimlab is Finland’s largest healthcare laboratory company, owned by wellbeing services counties. Fimlab has a quite new mobile app where you can check your most common laboratory examinations securely and free of charge. You can also check the results from MyKanta but I do like the app because it is faster and clear to use. I think the app is quite simple and it has big, clear selections in it so the use should be easy for the most people. It brings the information quickly to your reach. I do like about the fact that it shows the results within reference range in colours so person can easily estimate the results by themselves. In that case it helps to understand whether the results should be in and for example, can help to make the changes in your health habits to reach for better results. To use the application, you need to verify your identity by using strong authentication but after the first login you can set a pin code or use biometric identification for quicker log in.  I think this is great application for the persons who need to check their lab results regularly. You can also book a lab test appointment within app.

Digitalization and digital gap

One of the main things in digitalization in social and health care is that it should be planned for everyone’s use. Developing digitalization is the goal in wellbeing services counties and it is making competition arising. Many services have been digitalized in a short period of time, and I am worried that some people are not getting into the same phase with it. There is a major risk of dropping out of the services and information and therefor those people are not anymore using those services at all. Some of the digital applications can be hard to understand and use and some people won’t even have the mobile phone you can download apps. There should be sufficient support and user-friendly services that people feel comfortable asking help for.

Digital Competence Test

I found the test interesting and informative way to assess your digital skills in different areas. I found out that I have good skills in identify management and self-service since I have been using digital tools since childhood. I have grown as a user while understanding risks and safety perspective in digital environment. I have not been so keen on digital production and especially automation is something that is out of my comfort zone. Still, I would be interested in developing that area especially in work context.  

I enjoy using digital health tracking tools—they make it easier to monitor habits and make improvements. In the future, I plan to complete more certifications related to digital skills.

What did I learn as a digi citizen?

Digitalization connects many aspects of our daily lives and continues to evolve rapidly. It makes accessing important information easier and more efficient especially in social and health care.

However, we must consider whether all information should be digital—should some still be available in written form from the perspective of data security? I’ve learned that digitalization will continue to grow, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. The line between safe and efficient use of digital services is becoming increasingly important as technology evolves. That is something we need to pay attention and much personal data are we willing to share for smoother services.

As digital information takes many forms, we must stay informed and ensured that everyone can use digital tools according to their abilities. Digitalization development should be in stages and have the opportunity for everyone to learn to use it in different ways. When we are taking people into account in the service design, there is better changes to make the services work like the users need them to do.

I have commented on the following blogs

Digi Citizen
DIGI CITIZEN
DIGI CITIZEN