Hoitoketjulle

Hoitoketjulle is a Finnish term used in health and social care contexts to describe actions, processes, or aims directed toward the care chain—the integrated sequence of services a patient may move through, from primary care to hospitals, rehabilitation, home care, and social support. The form -lle marks direction toward or within the care chain, and the term appears in guidelines, policy documents, and service design discussions to emphasize continuity and coordination of care.

The core idea of hoitoketjulle is to ensure seamless transitions and a coherent plan across providers and sectors. It reflects a focus on person-centered care, where a patient’s needs are managed across different services and professionals, rather than in isolated settings. In practice, hoitoketjulle is associated with structured discharge planning, defined care pathways, shared care plans, and interoperable electronic health records that enable information to follow the patient.

Implementation often involves interprofessional collaboration, defined roles for hospital, primary care, and social services, and digital tools that support data sharing. Challenges include information system interoperability, data privacy considerations, and resource constraints that can hinder timely coordination. In Finnish policy and service development, hoitoketjulle is tied to broader efforts toward integrated care, improved patient safety during transitions, and better outcomes through coordinated support across the care chain.

See also: hoitoketju, continuity of care, transition of care.