E-health services glossary

Accessibility is the implementation of digital services in a way that they are as easy to use as possible for all users. Accessibility in online services is like accessibility in the physical world:

• The online service can be accessed using technical aids; it is encoded correctly and in compliance with standards.

• The content of the online service is easy to understand and adopt.

In e-health services acting on behalf of someone refers to handling matters for another person. The right to act on behalf of someone can be granted through guardianship, a power of attorney, or an appointment as a representative/guardian.

Individuals who can act on behalf of another person include:

• guardians of a minor child

• close relatives who have been authorized to act on behalf of an elderly parent through a power of attorney

• appointed representatives/guardians

Apotti is a client and patient information system for social welfare and healthcare services that is used by all units in a whole region. Apotti is the system used by HUS Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Vantaa, Kirkkonummi, Kauniainen, Kerava, Tuusula, Loviisa, Inkoo and Siuntio. Apotti aims, among other things, to achieve uniform operating methods and customer-oriented, cost-effective and high-quality operations.

In Finland, basic health care is a healthcare service available to everyone, the purpose of which is to support and promote the health of the population. Basic health care is provided by health centres, child health clinics, school and occupational health care and dental care. From basic health care, the patient can be sent to further examinations or specialised health care if necessary.

Chat is an online service in which a real person answers written questions in real time. If the questions are answered by a computer program, it is a chatbot.

A computer program on the website, a ‘robot’, that responds to pre-programmed dialogues in a conversational manner. A chatbot can give you advice or care instructions, or it can collect information or direct you to the correct place of care. Some e-health chatbots offer the option to start chatting with a customer service representative if the customer wishes to have more information after discussing with the chatbot.

Data protection ensures the protection of privacy of personal data, such as patient and client data, when processing data. All providers and organisers of health and social services are required by law to arrange the appropriate collection and processing of confidential information.

Data security ensures that personal data is secured from outsiders by technical and possibly other measures. Data security prevents data leaks, ensures the functionality of systems and preserves the confidentiality of information. Data security is therefore one way of implementing data protection. According to the law, every social welfare and healthcare provider must provide appropriate data security.

Digital care pathways are a digital Health Village service that complements traditional health care and appointments. On the digital care pathway, the patient receives information, support, peer support and coaching related to their illness or treatment. They can also contact the professionals responsible for their care through, for example, messages, chat or remote appointments. Online therapies are also digital care pathways. Digital care pathways can be used in specialised health care in connection with treatment, therapy or procedure if you have a referral. Digital care pathways are often low-threshold services. Their use is free of charge to the patient.

E-health services are diverse services offered on digital healthcare channels using a mobile device, i.e. a computer, mobile phone or tablet, and an Internet connection. E-health services are made for all citizens and patients and designed to be as easy to use and understand as possible.

E-health services often complement traditional health care, medical care and appointments and provide reliable information produced by professionals. E-health services may also include e-services. The letter 'e' in front of the word comes from the word 'electronic', which means the service is digital.

E-services mean handling your matters on the Internet, and they are part of e-health services. In health care, e-services include making, changing or cancelling appointments as well as renewing prescriptions, viewing laboratory and imaging research results, filling in forms and sending messages.

Online specialised healthcare service developed by experts together with patients. We offer information and support for all, care for patients and tools for professionals. The service offers virtual hubs for different life situations and symptoms.

Kanta Personal Health Record (Kanta PHR) is a data storage connected to the My Kanta of Kanta services, where citizens can store their health data using health applications (health apps).

Maisa is the e-services portal between a professional and a citizen for the client and patient information system Apotti. In Maisa, citizens can handle their own social and healthcare matters anywhere, anytime. As of the end of 2020, the use of Maisa will be possible at all HUS offices.

The Maisa portal allows you to:

• ask for professional advice or request someone to contact you

• view and supplement your social and health information

• view examination results

• book and cancel appointments

• respond to surveys before your appointment

• save check-up results for monitoring self-care

• take advantage of remote appointments, or, video appointments

• request a renewal of a prescription by entering the My Kanta service without a new login.

You can prepare for an appointment at home by filling in more detailed pre-information forms and surveys related to the treatment in advance.

My Kanta is an online service for the citizen about their health information and prescriptions. You can use My Kanta, for example, to request the renewal of prescriptions and to examine your own health information. All prescriptions are currently issued and delivered via Kanta services, and My Kanta is part of those services.

Health Village's My Path is a digital service channel for health care, which includes e-health services and e-services. My Path is available for patients to be active in matters related their treatment 24/7. The patient’s health information and treatment instructions are with them wherever they go. Using the service is free of charge to the patient.

Omaolo is a national digital service. It is an electronic service channel for social welfare, health care and oral health care that supports self-care and directs the patient to appropriate services if necessary. The participants include Espoo, Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu, Siun Sote, Hämeenlinna, Kuopio, Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing, Porvoo, Sodankylä, South Karelia Social and Health Care District, Central Finland Health Care District and the Hospital District of Southwest Finland.

A service that allows patients to participate in their treatment by providing information on their condition to the physician and medical personnel responsible for their care. The service can be found at omavointi.fi and is used by the following parties​:

• EKSOTE - South Karelia Social and Health Care District

• HUS - Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa

• KSSHP - Central Finland Health Care District

• KYS - Kuopio University Hospital

• LPSHP - Länsi-Pohja Healthcare District

• OYS – Oulu University Hospital

• TYKS – Turku University Hospital

• Soite – Central Ostrobothnia’s Joint Municipal Authority for Specialised Medical Care and Basic Services

• Kymsote – Kymenlaakso Social and Health Services Municipal Association (Carea)

• Satasairaala Hospital – Satakunta Hospital District

• PHHYKY – Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing

• LSHP – Lapland Hospital District

Online therapies offered by the Mental Hub are digital care pathways produced by HUS. Online therapy is an effective low-threshold treatment that is based on independent work as a professional monitors and guides your progress. Online therapy can be done whenever it suits you best, wherever you are. Online therapies are free for people living in Finland.

Peer support means sharing experiences with another person who is going or has gone through the same experience. People who have experienced the same thing can tell about their own experiences of surviving their illness or living with it. You can get peer support from many different services both electronically and face-to-face.

A referral is an electronic document prepared by a physician or other health care professional that allows the patient to be forwarded to treatment or examinations. A referral is needed for things like specialised health care.

A remote appointment is an online appointment with a healthcare professional where the professional and the patient meet via a video connection. Remote appointments are well-suited for many situations where there is no need for the patient and the professional to see each other in person.

Remote care in e-health services is a safe and interactive way of taking care of both your health and illnesses using digital channels. The client receives information and support related to their illness or its treatment, including peer support and coaching, and they can monitor the progress of their treatment. In addition, they can keep in touch with their place of care and the professional responsible for their care by, for example, messages, chat or remote appointments.

Self-care as part of e-health services means treating and promoting one's own health in accordance with digitally available information and services, courses and instructions designed for caring for your health independently. Self-care can be carried out in your own time and without a patient care relationship with a healthcare professional. Health Village has many self-care programmes and various guides that provide information, instructions and support.

A self-care programme is an online course in Health Village that is open to all. Self-care programmes are services designed to support independent measures that promote health, and you can access them by creating an account and logging in to the My Path service. You do not need a referral for self-care programmes, because they are available to everyone.

Specialised health care is a specialised medical and dental care service provided in the Health Care Act. It is provided in hospitals and requires a referral. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general planning, guidance and supervision of specialised health care. Specialised healthcare services are organised by hospital districts, but private operators can also offer specialised healthcare services.

In e-health services, strong identification means that the customer is reliably identified in services requiring logging by electronic means using a predefined method. For example, a mobile certificate, online banking codes or an electronic identity card can be used for logging in. However, not all services, such as information open to all citizens and chatbots, require login.