I work as Product Owner in ICMT (Information, Communication and Medical devices Techonology) publicly-owned limited company, which works for the common good. In our company our customers include numerous wellbeing services counties, cities, municipalites and joint municipalities. We have a wide range of core expertise in information technology as well as health and wellbeing solutions. In our ICMT company we plan, develop, implement, and maintain digital operating enviroments for social operators, such as hospitals and municipalities to secure the wellbeing of all people.

Our company is in-house company which means that we are a non-profit company owned by our customers. This means close partnership and our customers guiding the operations of the company through decision-making. In-house companies also cooperate closely with private sector companies and seek services for customers from the market throug competitive tendering processes in compliance with the Act on Pubulic Procurement ant Consession Contracts. This means that our company organise competitive tendering for procurements in compliance with th Act on behalf of its owner customers.

I have worked my whole working life in IT-field, starting my career as a specialist at database conversions in the early 2000 s. At that time we worked at office and every employee had a desctop computers and own workspace with own table. Nowadays in it-industry it is normal work at home with laptop. So you can do your work everywhere where it is safe and your employer allows it. Before covid I usually worked a day or two in a week outside of the office. When covid came, most of the employees moved home to do their work. Of course, this in not possible in all jobs, not then and not now.

Nowadays almost every meeting is kept through Teams. Usually communication with colleagues and also with customers  happens  through phone calls and chatting in Teams. I have also noticed that sometimes it is desirable to hold the meeting face-to-face in the same space. The conversation may then be richer in certain subject areas.

DIGITALIZATION IN TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTION

In healthcare, digital health services are likely to have a significant impact in the future. Citizens increasingly have access to various electronic health services that support patients’ self-care, enabling their participation in their own treatment. Digital health services are also part of professionals’ daily work, influencing how they perform their tasks and the content they provide. Engaging customers as end-users and patients in the development and implementation of new digital health technologies is crucial for optimizing services and their effectiveness. The goal should be to offer higher-quality and more applicable health and well-being services to customers across different care pathways.

Accessibility of services in the form of electronic services is quite important. In digital services, individuals can review their own information, make appointments, and access reliable health data.

In digitalization, the risk of increasing inequality must be taken into account. Older adults, those with poor health, individuals with low education, and those outside the workforce may significantly lack the necessary digital skills for online interactions, leading to less frequent use of digital services compared to other groups. Services should therefore be accessible to those who cannot engage digitally. Additionally, it is essential to consider the diverse needs of customer groups and tailor services to meet their specific requirements. “Digital competence should be elevated as part of citizens’ basic skills.

In recent decades, public spending on healthcare and long-term care has increased in most countries worldwide, and it is expected to continue growing. A significant portion of this growth is attributed to the adoption and funding of new technologies, including digital innovations, in healthcare. Therefore, it is crucial to generate evidence to support the advancement and financing of digital health strategies.

GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation (also known as GDPR) is a regulation of the European Union, which aims to ensure that companies process personal data on lawful grounds and ensure the security, privacy and confidentiality of personal data.

Personal data is all information on the basis of which a person can be identified directly or indirectly, such as name, telephone number, e-mail address or home address. The Data Protection Regulation applies to to personal data and imposes obligations on companies and organizations that process personal data.

After the enactment of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), protecting personal data has become increasingly challenging for the healthcare sector. Information should be handled more comprehensively, and the structures of data mobility need to be understood. In healthcare, there should be specific procedures that can be applied to meet the requirements. Personal data should be treated with even greater care, and it is essential to know how data is processed and stored. This applies to both the public and private sectors: hospitals, private clinics, dental care, pharmacies, nursing homes, laboratories, online stores selling medications, and all other companies and organizations dealing with health-related information.

Data breaches can be avoided in the healthcare sector by adhering to GDPR requirements, including reviewing data processing agreements. Additionally, it is crucial to keep internal procedures, documentation, and databases up-to-date and prepared for potential audits. Maintaining a registry of personal data processing activities helps track what information is collected, where it is collected, and how it is stored. Due to aging and outdated IT infrastructure, the healthcare industry is particularly vulnerable to security breaches. Implementing technical safeguards is essential to prevent unauthorized access to data. Proper technical and organizational measures should be in place to address potential data security incidents, including data protection and staff training.

AI SOLUTIONS

Nowadays digital security, automate operations and Artificial I are keywords. How data is security and protected, risk and continuity management and preparedness of digital security. How customers may use all that available data for a customers decision-making, planning and forecasting. How we may use AI to facilitate and support for a working.

Artificial intelligence solutions offer several benefits in healthcare, improving patient care, healthcare efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. AI can analyze large amounts of patient data and identify hidden connections, helping doctors make more accurate diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans. AI can predict patients’ health risks and the onset of diseases by analyzing their health data. This enables early intervention and preventive care. AI can assist doctors in identifying diseases such as cancer from radiological images more accurately and quickly. It can also improve imaging precision and reduce errors. AI solutions can help healthcare organizations optimize resource usage, such as staff time and hospital equipment, leading to better patient care and cost-effectiveness. AI can help healthcare organizations provide better and more personalized care to patients, for example, through virtual assistants or personalized health coaching. AI solutions can assist researchers in analyzing vast amounts of data and identifying new treatment methods, medical breakthroughs, and health risks.

Self evaluation

Digitalization is taking significant leaps, and it’s fascinating to observe the new digital innovations that will support operations in the coming years. In my own work, I already use digital solutions to enhance processes and keep track of various offerings from different vendors for our clients.

Interestingly, I recently delved into blogging and started using the WordPress application. It’s been an exciting learning experience.

Digitalization has indeed transformed various aspects of our lives, including work and communication. Let’s continue embracing these advancements

My comments to the following blogs:

DIGI SOCIETY – Maija Räty (savonia.fi)

DIGI Society – Kaisu´s blog (savonia.fi)