My work
Previously I have worked as a public health nurse in centralised maternity and child clinic, where we provide counselling on issues related to the pregnancy well-being and health of families with children. We also book appointments for our maternity and child clinic services. Families contact as through phone and chat.
In my everyday work I use variety of digital applications for client work. All recording of phone calls and chat I write to the patient recording system, Apotti. Phone calls I make through a Telia Ace- service, where we call back to our customers. Customers can contact us through a chat service too, named Sotebotti Hester. There is also a chatbot service available 24/7. We work only in office hours.
I also use Office applications, mostly Teams-application. There we have several groups where we can discuss and consult our colleagues. All our instructions, orientation material for new workers and shift plans are saved to Teams. Also, Outlook-email is an important place to get up to date information and messages everyday.
Our work also includes arranging group management through Teams or Maisa-application. We plan and arrange family coaching for first time parents and also arrange gestational diabetes groups.
Social media – possibilities and negative side effects
I think Social media plays a minimal role in our work. In some other cities maternity- and child clinics, for example Western part of Uusimaa uses it much more to give information to families. I think Helsinki could improve with this to reach more people and maybe younger families, who use a lot of social media. Of course there is a negative side also. It is important to draw attention to the accuracy of information. Plenty of disinformation is given through social media platforms and everybody can publish almost anything there. Official authorities should always base their information on reliable scientific research.
Instagram is a platform where people can publish e.g pictures and short videos for everyone or people they choose to see. People can follow each other, like and comment their posts. I think many public services in recent years have woken up to and use instagram to “market” or reach more people through the application. Instagram is familiar application to me, but I think my work organization could use it more, for example to give targeted advice to families and make our work field more open and give information more about the services we provide. I think also young international families would especially benefit of it – Those who are not very familiar with the neuvola system in Finland.
ASANA
Asana is a project and task management tool. I could use Asana to organize my daily tasks, follow up on ongoing cases, and manage reminders for follow-up calls or messages. It would also help our clinic team to coordinate small internal projects, such as creating health promotion campaigns or organizing parent support groups.
Doodle
Doodle is a scheduling tool that helps find suitable meeting times. I could use Doodle to arrange meetings with colleagues from other units, such as physiotherapists or psychologists, when we need to collaborate on a client’s care. It would also be useful when planning team training days or staff meetings, especially when coordinating with many professionals.
DeepL
DeepL is a translation tool that provides high-quality translations. It would be very useful when communicating with non-Finnish-speaking clients. I could use it to translate short information messages or check my English responses to make sure they are clear and accurate. It could also help me understand health documents in other languages if needed.
Miro
Miro is a digital whiteboard for visual collaboration. In my work or generally in maternity and child work, Miro could be used when developing new client materials or planning service processes with colleagues. For example, we could visually map out a new care path for first-time parents or create an overview of mental health resources for families. It supports brainstorming and teamwork even when working remotely.
Elements of successful use of digital platforms
Digital platforms can significantly enhance communication, efficiency, and customer service, especially in healthcare environments. However, the successful use of digital platforms depends on several important elements. A digital platform should be easy to use for both professionals and clients. A clear interface, simple navigation, and compatibility with mobile devices help users access services smoothly and without frustration. In the healthcare field, protecting client data is essential. A successful digital platform must follow strict data protection laws, such as the GDPR, and ensure that all sensitive information is stored and shared securely.
A good platform should be inclusive and accessible to all users, including people with disabilities or limited digital skills. Offering support in multiple languages is also important, especially in a multicultural city like Helsinki.
It is important that users understand the purpose of the platform and how to use it correctly. Proper staff training ensures that everyone is confident in using the platform and can benefit from its features. Continuous support and regular updates help maintain effectiveness.
Platforms that allow two-way communication, such as chat features, feedback forms, or online booking systems, help clients participate more actively. This improves client satisfaction and allows services to better respond to their needs.
Many successful platforms include tools for collecting data and generating reports. These tools help healthcare professionals monitor service quality, follow trends, and make more informed decisions to improve care.