Kela
In Finland, Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, is responsible for social security benefits and different social security services. These include, for example, student financial aid, family benefits, sickness-related benefits and housing benefits. Many of Kela’s services are now also available online through OmaKela, such as filling in applications and sending attachments. I have used Kela´s digital services to take care of both my own and my children’s matters. I also sometimes use Kela´s digital services in my work as a supervisor.
I think these digital services are convenient and fast way to take care of things. However, finding the right matter or form has not always been easy or clear to me. Especially in my work role, finding the right information or service can sometimes take time. In some situations, filling in and sending a paper form feels easier. I think this shows well that although digital services can make things easier, they should be very clear and easy to use in different situations.
While doing this assignment, I also learned more about the European Health Insurance Card. The card can be applied easyly through OmaKela, and it is free of charge. I think the card is a useful service because it increases safety when travelling abroad in case of unexpected illness. However, it is important to remember that the European Health Insurance Card does not replace travel insurance.
OmaKanta
OmaKanta is an online service where every Finnish citizen can view their own health and prescription information after strong identification. Logging in is easy, and the service contains a lot of useful information and services. OmaKanta brings health information together in one place, regardless of the service provider, and it can also be used to renew prescriptions.
I looked at my own health information in OmaKanta. I have not needed to use the service very much myself, but I have helped my parents use it. Based on my experience, the service provides a lot of information but it is not shown very clearly, at least for my elderly parents point of view. It is useful that patient records, test results and prescriptions can all be found in the same place and viewed at any time. However, the way the information is presented could be improved.
OmaKanta is a good example of a digital service that makes health information easier to access in one place. However, the service contains very personal and confidential information, so data security and the accuracy of the information are especially important.
My Future Pension
While doing this assignment, I noticed that my pension matters are handled by Varma. The estimate of my future pension did not seem particularly high, even if I continued working until the age of 68.8, which is my target retirement age. When looking at the pension forecast, it is also important to consider changes in the general price level and the value of money in the future. Pension taxation is also quite high, so with my own pension, I might not be able to do very much.
It makes me wonder if Finland could consider alternative models for building up pensions alongside the current system. For example, could people decide to invest part of their own pension contribution in a way they choose themselves?
Booking.com
I looked at the Booking.com service which I have used before to search for and book hotels. I think the service is easy to use both through a web browser and a mobile app. Comparing accommodation options and their prices is also smooth. In addition to the information provided by the accommodation itself, user reviews are very important because they give a good picture of what the accommodation is really like.
However, I have noticed that sometimes the device or browser used to access the service can affect the price offered for the accommodation. For example, going to the service through Google Maps can also lead to a different price. That is why it is worth comparing prices through different channels.
A Digital Service in My Own Field
In my own wellbeing services county, where I also work, we use the Päijät-Sote application, which provides healthcare services. The platform includes digital services related to oral healthcare, such as digital appointments, different digital pathways such as oral self-care, and appointment management. However, it is not possible to make an appointment directly through the application. Underage family members can also be easily added to user´s account.
I think the application brings different healthcare services together in one place and makes it possible to take care of matters without visiting a healthcare facility. I think the platform is easy to use and finding the services is quite clear. However, there could be more information about the application and the services it offers, so that people would know how to use them better.
Digitalisation and the Digital Divide
Developing easy-to-use digital services is an important part of a successful service system. Digital services can make it possible to offer services to a larger number of people, and they can also help reduce costs. During the development of digitalisation, it is important to remember that not all services can be replaced by digital versions. Providing services through different channels can lower the threshold for people to start using digital services and help them find the most suitable way to take care of their matters.
There can be differences in the availability and speed of services between different channels. Digital service users may get an appointment more easily or quickly because there are more service channels and they are often faster than, for example, visiting an appointment desk. They may also get information about laboratory results more quickly and handle many tasks without visiting a healthcare facility. Overall digital healthcare services can save time and makes using services much more flexible.
However, it is important to remember that not everyone has sufficient digital skills or the opportunity to use digital services. A lack of a suitable digital service or a service that is difficult to use can make it harder to take care of personal matters and increase the risk of being left out of important services. One of the challenges in the future is to make sure that services are equally available to everyone, regardless of their digital skills or background.
Digital Competence Test
I thought the digital competence test was interesting because it looked at digital skills from many different perspectives. My overall result was about 68%, and I think it describes my own skills quite realistically. I use digital services a lot both at work and in my free time. I do not have the same amount of experience in all areas of the test, and my own interests also affect my skills.
The test helped me understand my strengths better and see the areas where I could still improve. To me digital competence does not only mean being able to use digital services. It also means being able to act safely, understand the importance of protecting information, and evaluate your own actions in a digital environment. These topics were also well highlighted in the test questions.
The test was a useful way to think about my own digital skills. It showed that I have good basic skills, but also things that I can still learn and develop.
Self-Reflection
I found this assignment interesting, and it was nice to learn about different sides of digitalisation in a practical way and read the experiences and thoughts of other students. The assignment especially brought up thoughts about the benefits and challenges of digitalisation.
Digital services are not equally easy for everyone to use, and especially elderly people may need more support when services are moved online. Data security risks and cyberattacks are also major risks that need to be considered as digitalisation continues to develop.
I believe that digitalisation brings more benefits than disadvantages, despite the challenges. For example, online studies make it possible for me to combine work and studies without needing to be physically present at school. Digital services also make many everyday things faster and more flexible.
Since digitalisation and technology are constantly evolving, I need to keep updating my own digital skills and remain open to learning. Staying up to date is crucial for my professional development as well as for my personal life. Continuous learning and adapting to change are key parts of modern life, and we have to be willing to try new solutions alongside traditional ones.
I read several interesting texts written by my fellow students and chose three blogs to comment on: