During my nursing career, I have seen the rapid development of digitalization in patient care. The first was a computer-based appointment booking system. Gradually, the documentation of patient work moved to electronic. Various statistical data began to be collected for information management, and there were separate systems for patient billing accounting. A big change and the involvement of patients in digitalization was the electronic prescription and the national patient information system Kanta. Online therapy began to be offered throughout Finland. In recent years, various electronic tools have been introduced to assess the need for treatment, and patients are increasingly being guided to assess their own situation before contacting healthcare services. In addition, various electronic self-care programs have become tools for self-care. Covid accelerated the development of digital care pathways and care provided remotely. Work teams are geographically extensive, and remote meetings and remote work have become normal everyday work.

Digitalization helps patients to participate more in self-assessment and self-care. Patients must have good digital skills so that they receive the care they deserve on an equal basis. Digitalization can also marginalize them from society if their skills for using digital services are weak. Digitalization speeds up work. There may be a risk that legislation and information security issues are forgotten when seeking work efficiency. In what situations can artificial intelligence be used? Will the patient be left without services if they can only use brick-and-mortar services. Digital services should free up resources from brick-and-mortar services, not completely replace them with digital services.

In the future, I would like to use more digital applications for monitoring and assessing patients’ well-being in my work. For example, a patient could fill out an electronic sleep diary or mood diary between appointments, which would allow the caregiver to monitor the response to medication and prepare for the upcoming appointment.

Benefits and Risks of an Open Digital Society

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European Union’s data protection law, which entered into force in 2016 and began to be applied in 2018. GDPR applies to all organizations that process the personal data of individuals located within the EU. Violations of the regulation may result in fines.

GDPR gives individuals greater control over their personal data and obliges organizations to handle that data responsibly.

The key principles of GDPR include:

  • Personal data may only be collected and used for lawful purposes.
  • Organizations must clearly explain what data is collected and why.
  • Only the necessary amount of data may be collected, and it must be kept secure.
  • Data subjects have the right to access their personal data, request corrections to inaccurate information, request deletion in certain circumstances, and object to the processing of their data.

Digital systems can become targets of cyberattacks, which may result in personal or other sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. Data breaches can cause financial harm to both individuals and organizations. In addition, identity theft has become more common with the increasing use of digital services.

An open digital society allows me to access my own information and better monitor who has access to it. Access to information, such as personal health records, has become faster through digitalization. For example, patient instructions can be easily found in the Kanta archive. On the negative side, various patient information systems are being integrated into the centralized Kanta repository, which may increase the visibility of my information to individuals who are not directly involved in my care. However, this requires that I have given consent for my data to be transferred. I have started to think more carefully about the permissions I want to grant in the future. Concerns about identity theft are not unfounded, as the use of digital services has become a daily part of life. Furthermore, misinformation can spread rapidly through social media and online platforms. Disinformation can influence people’s opinions and increase social tensions.

Services can be improved through data-driven management when statistical information from various databases is available. I see this as a positive development. Digitalization provides information on the performance of service systems and developments in population well-being. It also generates data on the effectiveness, quality, availability, efficiency, and customer safety of organizational services. This information can be used in research and service development. Nationally standardized goals and indicators help ensure a high-quality and consistent service system (Sosiaali- ja Terveysministeriö, 2023).

Legislation and information security are part of my everyday work. Data protection legislation serves as a daily reminder of what information I document and how I record details of patient care in patient records. I view it positively that staff are trained in high-quality structured patient documentation. Working in a digital service environment requires knowledge of several laws, as the regulation of digital services is highly detailed. Legislation sets legal boundaries for digital transactions and service implementation, including documentation, service availability and accessibility, good governance, data protection, and information security (Forss, 2024).

GDPR brings greater precision to my work. As an employee, I am only authorized to access the records of patients under my care, and within those records, only the information relevant to the patient’s treatment. A negative aspect is that a considerable amount of working time is spent learning to use different systems.

An open digital society offers many opportunities, but it also involves significant risks. Privacy protection, information security, and the reliability of information are key challenges. GDPR has been an important step toward addressing these issues and promoting a safer digital environment.

I asked CHATGPT:

  1. How could artificial intelligence be used to assess a patient’s need for mental health services?
  2. How does artificial intelligence help patients with self-care?

Using artificial intelligence to assess the need for treatment of a mental health patient

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities for assessing the care needs of patients seeking mental health services. It can be used to collect and analyze information about a patient’s symptoms, such as mood, anxiety, sleep problems, and daily functioning. AI can also help identify serious risk factors, including suicidal thoughts or psychotic symptoms, and direct patients who need urgent care to a healthcare professional quickly.

In addition, AI can compile patient information into a clear summary, making the work of healthcare professionals more efficient and helping patients access services more quickly. Based on the information provided, AI can also suggest an appropriate care pathway.

However, AI has limitations. It cannot take all individual circumstances into account and cannot replace a professional’s comprehensive clinical assessment. Particular attention must also be paid to data privacy and the reliability of AI-generated assessments.

At its best, AI serves as a tool that supports healthcare professionals. It can improve the efficiency of care needs assessments, increase access to services, and help ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time.

Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Patient Self-Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) can support patient self-care by providing personalized guidance, symptom monitoring, and health information. It can remind patients to take their medications, track their well-being, and help manage factors such as mood, sleep, and stress.

AI can also detect worsening symptoms and encourage patients to seek professional care when necessary. In addition, it provides easily accessible support and promotes healthy lifestyle choices.

AI does not replace healthcare professionals but serves as a tool to support self-care. At its best, it encourages patients to take an active role in managing their health and promotes overall well-being.

The answer was very truthful, which is already practice now. The answer considered the individuality of the patient and the fact that artificial intelligence cannot completely replace the encounter with the patient and the work of a professional. Artificial intelligence is a good help in everyday work. The answer emphasized making work more efficient. The answer mentioned few risks in the use of artificial intelligence in assessing the need for treatment.

Self-assessment

I learned the content of GDPR. The subject was familiar to me, but I received justifications on what responsible work in information security in practical work is based on. I feel that I need to learn more about information security and legislation. It is necessary to learn more about the possibilities of using artificial intelligence in information security, as the use of artificial intelligence is increasing all the time.

Sources:

Forss, S. (toim.) Terveyden- ja hyvinvoinnin laitos 2024. Yleisopas digitaalisten sote-palveluiden kehittämiseen. Helsinki.

Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö 2023. Digitaalisuus sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon kivijalaksi Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon digitalisaation ja tiedonhallinnan strategia 2023–2035. Helsinki: Valtioneuvoston julkaisuarkisto Valto.

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