additional tools for managing medical disorders. Sitra has financed six Finnish pilot projects using health apps or digital medicines. The apps are based on medical evidence, thus they are not traditional fitness apps. Examples of piloted apps include a weight control app and one for those with musculoskeletal issues. The trial projects concluded in May 2023. “The pilots provided practical lessons and experience, as well as models and guidelines for a wide range of circumstances. Working time and costs can be reduced if the lessons learnt are applied in the counties that provide wellbeing services,” says Sitra Specialist Johannes Ahlqvist. The pilot projects demonstrated that there is a high need for health apps. Patients seek additional tools to help them manage their health and medical issues. Healthcare workers want to serve their patients more effectively and with reliable information, but they also want to make their own jobs easier. Patients and professionals are satisfied with health applications as long as they are ready-to-use. Health apps simplify daily life for patients and health providers. Health applications make it easier for patients to communicate with healthcare providers. They promote self-care, reduce trips to health-care facilities, and provide a renewed sense of security through continuous health monitoring. In a trial experiment conducted in the welfare services county of North Ostrobothnia, patients on anticoagulant medication’s blood counts were even monitored while overseas. A number of the pilots discovered that assumptions regarding older patients’ lack of computer abilities were incorrect. Problems can sometimes be solved with the support of family and friends. Health applications that enhance patient care provide healthcare practitioners with more accurate and up-to-date data than would be available otherwise. The increased data volume must be considered early on in order to avoid increasing the workload of healthcare staff. Up-to-date information can make it easier to direct resources toward more productive and efficient tasks. For example, a pilot conducted by the wellbeing services county of North Karelia (Siun sote) permitted cancer patients to be monitored symptomatically rather than calendar-based. Once the new approach is implemented, health applications will minimize the number of health-care visits, staff workload, and system expenditures. Initially, workload and expenditures often increase as new procedures are implemented, personnel are taught, and procurements are made. For example, in a health center in North Ostrobothnia, the amount of time spent each patient was lowered by one-third due to less recording and reporting. App technology and deployment initially increased the workload. The pilot projects also showed certain issues. Some were related to the ephemeral nature of the pilot projects, while others addressed the usage of the health applications, as funding was only provided for a limited time and integration with patient information systems or thorough training plans were either not completed or were insufficient. The novelty of the apps also increased workload because staff and patients were unaware of their potential usage. This necessitated a large investment of time and effort in training and user assistance during the initial stages. In the short term, new working methods and solutions inevitably result in additional work. Health apps differ substantially from one another. Some require extensive integration with workplace practices and systems, while others function similarly to traditional medical procedures. One example of the latter is the Onnikka weight management app, which was piloted in Central Finland’s wellbeing services county. To fully profit from any digital solution, modifications in working patterns are required. There is also a need to shift attitudes. Patients frequently become active rather than passive partners in their own care. Many of the tested health apps are still in development, therefore technical issues arose and the apps had to be repaired and adjusted. There were few technical issues observed in the test projects that used fully created apps.
