News from Finland

October 13, 1997

October 13, 1997

TOPICAL ISSUES IN THE UTILISATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN WELFARE AND HEALTH

Matters regarding data protection and data security are also topical because of the legislative reforms due to the implementation of the EU data protection directive. According to the Finnish Constitution, the protection of personal data is specified by law. The law on the protection of privacy in processing personal data is currently being prepared in Finland as is the law governing the publicity of the activities of the authorities and the related laws.

Already in the present law the main principles of data protection and data security to a great extent correspond to the goals of the data protection directive. In processing personal data the position of the individual and his or her consent will be highlighted in the new legislation.

Data protection and data security involve issues on many levels. While the legislation and technology provide the tools for operation, it is always a question of the persons using these tools and of their knowledge and skill to implement data protection and data security. Many people have considered that training in these issues should be organised both on the general level and at workplaces.

In addition to the data protection legislation, regulations concerning the protection of individual privacy are included in the specific legislation on the social and health care services. The law on the position and rights of the patient, which took effect in 1993, incorporates the central legal principles associated with the care and treatment of the patient. The law clarified and improved the legal protection of the patient, with an aim to promote the client/employee relationship based on mutual trust in a complex health care system which is becoming more and more technical. Equivalent legislation on the position and rights of the social welfare client is also underway in Finland. The goal is to establish a law governing the principles associated with the participation, treatment and legal protection of the social welfare client. Placing the emphasis on the right to access information and on the client's autonomy is motivated by the tendency to promote client-centred practices in the social services.

The principles specified in the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, with attendant recommendations, have previously been adopted in the Finnish legislation. Therefore, the implementation of the data protection directive only requires fine adjustment in the legislation, and no major changes in terms of the principles are necessary.
The utilisation of information technology in social welfare and health calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the resulting benefits and disadvantages, making it sure that the privacy of individuals can be adequately guaranteed. However, along with safeguarding privacy it is equally important to provide social and health care services that are of a high standard, utilising the possibilities offered by information technology whenever it enhances the quality of care and other services from the individual's viewpoint.

Some examples of pilot projects currently in progress:

• The regional networking project in health care, the so-called TERVE Project, with the purpose of establishing a regional strategy of data management, whereby a database for a research and care programme could be devised, to be used by various organisations in their patient administration.
• The seamless service concept for health care, the so-called PALKO Project, which will implement a process-based and client-centred data transfer model in health care. The goal is to remove boundaries between organisations by creating information services shared by various organisations and individuals. There is a tendency to shift the focal point of care away from institutions and to create proper working conditions for the personal physician system so that the dialogue between the patient and physician could be improved.
• The regional information system in social welfare and health, the so-called ASTERI project, which will enhance the health care clients' and regional residents' access to data on the services. It will also intensify client guidance and counselling, improve the accessibility of the services and the clients' active participation, it will facilitate client contacts and provide the municipal residents with an interactive channel and an opportunity to take part and have a say in these questions.

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October 13, 1997

Centre of Excellence for Information Technology ready to assist in updating the social and health care services and processes

Along with the dissemination of information and promotion of know-how in information technology and research, the task of the Centre of Excellence is to harmonise and standardise the data systems in health care, and this takes place by participating in the international standardisation collaboration within the CEN TC 251 and ISO HC-TC communities, by maintaining and updating medical classifications and by taking part in the international classification co-operation.

The technology projects include both user technology and information technology. The unit conveys information about the projects in the EU telematics programme for the promotion of independent living, such as Cost 219 bis, Include and Promise. For example, the Centre participates in the following information technology projects in the telematics programme: Star*, Cardlink2 and InterCare. Issues involving data protection and data security are also among the Centre's activities, and the unit has taken part in the Best Practice projects carried out in Finland.

Another important task for the unit is to act as a nodal point for the centre of excellence network set up in Finland, by maintaining and updating the network server. The Centre also administers the network at its initial stages and provides it with secretarial and other services.

In addition, the unit takes part in implementing the utilisation strategy of information technology, launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Through expert and secretarial work the Centre also contributes to the Seamless Care and Service Chain working group and the Client Card group, set up by the Ministry. Moreover, the Centre is party to the Welfare Cluster collaboration under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Thus, one can see three operational approaches in the unit's activities: user technology in assisting independent living, the support given to the transitions in the social and health care service system through information technology and the task of supporting the harmonisation and standardisation of the service system. All these mandates require broad networking with welfare and health care service providers along with viable collaboration with technology companies and with other persons and organisations working in the cluster co-operation. Indeed, the complex nature of the service system and the constant flood of technical innovations will place considerable demands on the further development of the Centre's activities.

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