DIGITAL SOCIETY

My experiences with digitalization in the social and healthcare sector

I started working as a deacon in our national church 12 years ago. I have also worked as a psychiatric nurse and as a social worker in the social and health sector, both in the public and private sectors. Most of my work has focused on child protection, psychiatric, or substance abuse and mental health work. When working in deaconry, client information was initially recorded sparingly in the Katrina database. For the most part, the information was recorded, stored, and even archived in Word files and printed in separate paper versions, which were then kept in a locked cabinet for the duration of the archiving.

While working in the private sector in child protection, client records were often entered into the Nappula database commonly used in social services, using desktop computers, which were partially replaced by laptops. Some documentation was still done in Word files. The Nappula system has since evolved. It was also used in the next social services organization where I worked. Meetings have partly shifted to remote conferences, and communications have moved more towards digital channels. Paperwork has not decreased, but rather increased. In my current project work as a psychiatric nurse for young people, documentation of work, various statistics, and reporting have increased and become a regular part of my work. Payments and account allocations to the welfare area, as well as entries into patient records, are done, among other ways, through Effica. For clients or colleagues, emails containing sensitive information are not sent for data protection reasons, but are sent via secure mail.

There are challenges in multidisciplinary network work; network meetings and psychiatric appointments take place via digital social and health services. Not everyone is accustomed to using them. The aim is to have the client and a network intended for the specific matter present at the meetings, which is often not easy, as the strict schedules of authorities leave no room for flexibility. I hope that in the future, remote services, smart technology, and various digital self-care solutions in the social and health sector would facilitate assessing clients’ situations, monitoring, access to services, and meet needs more flexibly. I would also hope that professionals, together with clients, could manage the simultaneous use of technology, which would make handling matters smoother. On the other hand, digitalization can lead to exclusion for many, even giving up, if they do not have sufficient digital skills, access to online services, or the opportunity for either. Ethical responsibility and enabling equal services for citizens should be considered in digital development already during its creation, not only after they have been implemented. People in weaker positions and their difficult life situations should be protected from digitalization that in any way would worsen their situation.

To prevent things from getting too chaotic, updating legislation and enacting and implementing new laws should occur simultaneously with digital development. Advancements in digital services require continuous learning, innovation, and willingness to change from both clients and professionals. We are in a period of transformation. Digitalization does not replace human interaction or care in the social and health sector. It can improve some services, but it can also complicate others, and this can happen to anyone. Many digital solutions have streamlined work and helped in organizing information, assessing a client’s situation, or monitoring and recording. They have not reduced manual work in my job. There is room for improvement. I am hoping that various AI solutions could make documentation easier, streamline communication and monitoring, and provide continuity. Could it reduce the workload and free up time for interaction and care?

General Data Protection Regulation

Organizations comply with the general data protection regulation (GDPR) in the social and healthcare sector, which ensures the secure handling of client information. As a professional, I need to know and justify my actions regarding whose client information I can process and to whom I can disclose it. The processing of information is monitored by the organization through log files. In my daily work, I must ensure that client information is kept up to date, documentation is responsible, and evidence-based. I must ensure that no one has access to my computer. Confidentiality obligations and secrecy bind me.

Security, privacy, and digital inequality are particular risks in our open digital society. Digitalization increases unauthorized access to customer data. Data breaches pose a threat, and monitoring the enforcement of data protection by organizations is challenging. Strict data protection guidelines can also make it difficult to share information between service providers and challenge the use of technological solutions. Up-to-date training and implementations of data protection policies ensure better conditions to prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands and thus compromising an individual’s privacy. The General Data Protection Regulation protects citizens’ right to privacy, while also enabling and holding organizations accountable for confidentiality in social and healthcare services.

ChatGPT

I asked ChatGPT what psychiatric nursing care in youth outpatient services entails. The response emphasized the core purpose and functions of the care. The question was addressed in sufficient detail by highlighting the key elements, such as multidisciplinary assessment, care planning, discussion and therapy sessions, medication monitoring, and supporting the family and school. The goal is to manage daily life and provide preventive care. ChatGPT provided sources of information and objectives that can guide further action. There were several options, and they seemed feasible. Artificial intelligence can provide new perspectives and innovative ideas, as well as answer many questions based on evidence. Misunderstandings and inaccuracies may occur. When utilizing and using AI in social and health care tasks, one’s approach should be cautious and thinking critical. In different organizations, structures and consistent rules/practices have been created for carrying out work, which everyone commits to following and which are updated and adjusted together as needed. One cannot start independently changing their own work guided by AI. Sharing and making use of tacit knowledge has helped in leveraging expertise in one’s own field of work.

Self-assessment

The various threats of the digital society and the effects of the data protection reform became clearer to me through this task. Now I have a more comprehensive understanding of data protection and the importance of digital rights. There is a lot of room for development and potential to be utilized in social and healthcare services. The costs can be high compared to the benefits gained. The field now benefits from multidisciplinary leadership expertise. I wonder how the current economic situation would sustain a broader implementation of digital services. How is customer guidance and counseling carried out as part of the services? How are coverage and effectiveness monitored and supervised?

This task inspires reflection particularly on user-centered communication. Could new opportunities be utilized in rehabilitative services and in measuring customer experience? In my opinion, multidisciplinary collaboration should be improved with digital solutions. Privacy regulations and practices can limit many possibilities, but mastering them and updating one’s skills can increase visibility in services. In expert work and networking, it is important that every professional involved in a client’s case takes responsibility for their part and that it becomes visible.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is increasing rapidly. The trend in digital development appears to be growing. The orientation videos included up-to-date data on the threats and opportunities of utilizing digital applications. Establishing and maintaining a blog has influenced my desire to learn new things about digitalization and how information can benefit my work and its development. My goal now and in the future is to develop my skills in utilizing applications and data so that I can act in the best interest of clients.