Archiving of old patient data

Archiving of old patient data

The Patient Data Repository can also be used to store patient data that was created prior to joining Kanta. This is called old patient data.

The health care service provider can also archive old patient data that was stored in the health care service provider’s systems before the Patient Data Repository was deployed. Patient data generated after the deployment can also be saved as old data if it was not previously stored in the Patient Data Repository. 

Administrative documents or data from the data file used for patient data management cannot be stored in the Patient Data Repository.

Using old patient data 

A social welfare and health care professional can use the old patient data in their customer work by using a data viewer for old data provided by the system provider. In addition, a person acting in the role of Kanta archivist will be able to view the old patient data in the Archivist’s user interface. For example, they can verify whether the data has been archived and, if necessary, invalidate old documents. 

Old patient data cannot be disclosed via Kanta to another social welfare and health care service provider, as the old data is only available to the controller. However, it is possible to disclose old data in other ways, for example, as paper documents, taking into account the client’s consent and denials of consent to data sharing.

Patient data saved as old data is not visible to the client in MyKanta. However, the client has the right to request their patient data from their health care service provider. 

How to start archiving old patient data 

You can deploy the service for archiving old patient data once your organisation has joined as a user of the Patient Data Repository.

First, review the training material on archiving old patient data and then agree on starting the archiving project with your system provider. 

If your organisation is not already using the service for archiving old patient data, deploy the service:

  1. For more detailed information on the deployment process,  please refer to the instructions on deploying the service for archiving old patient data (pdf, in Finnish).
  2. Read the service description and terms of use for the archiving of old patient data (pdf, in Finnish).
  3. Complete the form for acknowledging that you accept the terms of use for the archiving of old patient data (pdf, in Finnish) and send the form to Kela by post.
  4. Complete the form for the technical information regarding the old patient data (pdf, in Finnish) and send it to kanta@kanta.fi.
  5. Submit the materials created according to the specifications to the Kanta Services. The delivery methods available for old patient data are described in the deployment instructions.

The archiving of old patient data is often completed in phases, and archiving projects may have long breaks, during which the technical information may have changed. If necessary, please contact us and email the updated information to kanta@kanta.fi

Further information

Last updated 3.4.2024