KELA (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland)
I haven’t had to use Kelas services for a long time. The last time was when I paid the health care fees of the higher education student for this year.
Five years ago Kela provided compensation for the loss of my income during my illness and when I worked only part time after arm operation.
Kela provides partial reimbursement for the cost of medicine for an illness and for private medical expenses.
Many, many years ago I got a child benefit when children were young and a partial parental allowance when I worked only 30 hours a week.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are covered for health insurance in Finland, you are able to get EHIC for free from Kela. I have had a European Health Insurance Card for many years already and Kela is sending a new card at home automatically.
I can receive medically necessary treatment when I travel or stay temporarily in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain or in Northern Ireland by showing this card to the treatment provider.
Mykanta
I log in to Mykanta and Omakela using my Nordea mobile ID certificate and this service is easy to find. I use Mykanta service quite often and there I can see my own health care information, patient data and prescriptions. Renewals of prescriptions are also easily done in Mykanta.
My health data is safe and in one place in the Kanta Service and all professionals attending to my care are able to see my data there with my permission.
KEVA
I logged in to the Keva service using my online banking code. Keva site (My Pension service) I can find out my own retirement age. According to the calculator, my minimum retirement age is 65 years and 3 months. However, if I work until I am 70, the amount of my pension will increase by a few hundred euro.
ONLINE SHOPS: Booking.com, Trivago, ebookers
We have used global digital shops Booking.com and Trivaco when we have started to plan a trip for our family and evaluated the prices of accommodations and flights. Ebookers.fi websites are also easy to use for evaluating the prices. Sometimes the accommodation is cheaper to book directly by using the websites of the hotel. In my opinion Booking.com and Trivago are both reliable and trustworthy services to use.
TERVEYSTALO APPLICATION
From my own field of expertise I choose the Terveystalo application to present. I use the Terveystalo application regularly because my occupational health services are provided by Terveystalo at this moment. My health information and laboratory examinations are stored there and if I need remote appointments, chat, or video appointments I can do it with this application. Remote appointments are quite a simple way to ask help and advice if you don’t need urgent help. I prefer to use the Terveystalo application instead of going to the Terveystalo medical center or calling because, so I can also save my time.
I have been satisfied with this service because it is easy to use and there are all necessary services I need.
DUODECIM, OPPIPORTTI learning portal and training event
This application is useful for me and other professionals because there are a lot of useful training events, online courses, Webinars, and textbooks. Oppiportti provides opportunities for maintaining and developing the skills which are needed in our workplace and application also offers continuing education to professionals.
DIGITALIZATION AND A DIGITAL GAP
My 90-years old mother-in-law is a good example of an elderly person, who hasn’t got bank credentials, a smartphone or a computer, and never used the internet. All the bills are paid directly from her bank account and her health matters are handled over the phone. All of this is normal life for her and she seems to be satisfied with her life. Of course, we will take care of her if needed.
Many younger people than my mother-in-law fall into the digital gap because they do not have necessary skills to use digital devices and there is no help available. Different customer services and bank branches have been reduced and moved to digital services. There is a real danger that these people feel lonely and socially isolated, and they are unable to manage their affairs.
My mother (76 years old) is digitally active but sometimes she turns to us or grandchildren for asking help in digital technical problems.
DIGITAL COMPETENCE TEST
Digital competence test results were what I expected. Especially I pay my attention that I use digital technology safely and I know the legislation. Communication and collaboration with my colleagues in virtual teams are one part of my work because we are mostly working together remotely. Production is unfamiliar to me, and if I need help with digital devices or systems I will try to solve the technical problems first by myself. However, I would rather ask for help than get into trouble with the computer.
SELF-EVALUATION
Kela, Keva, Kanta and online shops were already familiar to me, but as the digital competence test showed, I am not very good at solving technical problems.
The assignments in this course were useful and interesting. Especially I enjoyed reading other students’ blogs and thoughts of those who work in different industries than I do.
While I write assignments I realized how many programmes and applications I have to use in my life and at my work. On the other hand, I would not like to return to the time when there was no digitalization.
I commented the following blogs:
Sirpa Pitkäniemi, Laura Antikainen and Tanja Liedes