Personal Doctor Pilot at Iso Omena Health Station is Off to a Great Start
The pilot project on designated personal doctors at Iso Omena health station is off to a strong start. The pilot has brought several positive changes to professional workflows, access to care, and the continuity of care. Under the project, doctors and nurses employed by the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County take independent responsibility for the clients assigned to them.
The pilot project on the use of designated personal doctors started in late January at the Iso Omena health station. The pilot involves four doctors and six nurses at Iso Omena Health Station. The residents participating in the pilot correspond to around 10 percent of all clients at the health station—selected randomly. Clients will be assigned to a personal doctor and nurse, responsible for their treatment and care.
From First Contact to Follow-Up: One Team, One Patient
Nurses are the first point of contact: they respond to the client’s enquiry and consult the personal doctor whenever necessary. “If a client needs an in-person appointment, they see their own nurse or doctor, “Among other things, this makes it much easier to judge when a visit is necessary and how much time to set aside,” explains Satu Joutsiniemi, one of the participating doctors.
The same nurse or doctor also manages follow-up appointments, medical certificates, and any possible later inquiries. “It feels good to meet patients again and it's so rewarding to see when treatment has worked and previous problems have cleared up,” Joutsiniemi adds.
Doctors and nurses share a team room, allowing quick consultations and easy information-sharing. Working in a small group makes it easier to get to know one another and fosters a better understanding of each other’s workflows. This has also made treatment of patients more consistent.
Nurses say the pilot has given them more influence over their own work. Greater autonomy has called for—and encouraged—self-direction and independent problem-solving, something the professionals find highly motivating. The team decides for itself what kind of meetings support their work the best. This has also reduced unnecessary formal meetings.
Fast Contact and Better Care Access
For clients, the most visible change is the familiar professional waiting for them. Call-backs have been quick—sometimes so fast that clients are taken by surprise. “Access to care improved almost immediately. There are also promising signs regarding better continuity,” says Chief Physician Eva Lehtinen.
Based on the first two months, professionals are satisfied with the pilot and the changes it has ushered in. The Iso Omena personal doctor pilot will run until the end of the year.
The pilot project on the model with designated personal doctors is part of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland, funded by the EU’s recovery instrument (Next Generation EU) through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.