High-quality data flows smoothly between different actors and serves society as a whole

It is important that the information on healthcare clients is recorded correctly and comprehensively in the Kanta Services. It is vital in patient work, as the information stored in Kanta ensures the flow of information between professionals in situations such as when the organisation providing care changes.

Structured recording is an important starting point for data usability. Structured data can be used diversely for different needs. 

“Structured data can be made use of easily when preparing summaries, statements and certificates. Citizens or their representatives can also view their patient information stored in the Kanta Services in MyKanta,” says Development Manager Pirjo Vuorikallas from Kela’s Kanta Services.

Health and wellbeing from register data

As secondary use of the data stored in Kanta becomes more common, the importance of the coverage and quality of the data is emphasised.
For example, the data in the register can be used to develop care practices and practices in the social welfare and healthcare sector, to promote research and innovation, and to support decision-making.

“The data stored in the Kanta database also make national statistics and monitoring of the population's health and wellbeing possible. For example, the data could be used to support the coordination of the service system, the allocation of resources and the assessment of impact,” Vuorikallas says.

Structured recording supports the utilisation of the information both in patient care and in national statistics and data resources.

The Diabetes Register maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is a good example. It is based on the information stored in Kanta and covers the information stored in specialised medical care, primary healthcare, and public and private healthcare without the need to separately send data from healthcare to the register.

“Wellbeing services counties have made excellent use of the data in the Diabetes Register and managed to improve treatment outcomes with the data. This will help people with diabetes avoid additional illnesses and society the costs related to them,” says Chief Physician Jonna Salonen from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Data supporting care

Organisations using the patient and client information system Apotti record the physiological measurement results of diabetes patients comprehensively in a structured form in Apotti, from where the information is saved to Kanta. The result is high-quality, comparable and useful information that can in future be used to produce important data on the effectiveness of diabetes care.

“This is based on using structured recording and the tools that support it in all key activities. The professionals treating patients must also record the information according to the instructions,” explains Product Manager Miina Lyytikäinen from Oy Apotti Ab.

HUS Helsinki University Hospital is one of the organisations where professionals treating patients record physiological measurement results in a structured manner in the patient information system used. Physiological measurement results mean the clinical measurement results and findings describing the patient’s health, such as blood sugar values and blood pressure.

“Structured recording has improved the quality and usefulness of patient information. It is easier for professionals to access data when it has been recorded consistently and, at the same time, the data can be used more efficiently in reporting, statistics and to support management,” says Project Manager Timo Nurmi from HUS IT Management.

High-quality data is created through cooperation

Kanta also wants to support social welfare and healthcare actors with comprehensive recording of information and the development of the quality of the information. For example, these themes are discussed in regular cooperation meetings between Kela, THL, information system providers and customer organisations (‘Neliapila’ meetings).

“Cooperation helps to ensure that the Kanta Services support the daily work in social welfare and healthcare and promote the smooth flow and usefulness of the information in the best possible way,” Pirjo Vuorikallas sums up.