Potilastiedon

Potilastiedon is a Finnish term for patient information in health care. It refers to the data generated about an individual during medical care and used to plan, document and coordinate treatment. Potilastieto includes both personal data and health data that are necessary for providing care and making medical decisions.

The content of potilastieto can include demographic data, medical history, current diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, laboratory results, imaging and other test results, procedure notes, and patient-reported information such as symptoms or health status. It may also cover administrative data like appointment records and consent histories. The exact content varies by provider and care context.

Uses of potilastieto include supporting clinical decision making, ensuring continuity of care across health services, enabling safe prescribing, and facilitating communication among different care professionals. Patients in Finland can access portions of their potilastieto through the Omakanta patient portal, part of the national Kanta services. Access and processing are governed by data protection laws, including GDPR, and by national health data legislation. Individuals have rights to access their data, request corrections, restrict processing, or request erasure where applicable, subject to legal limits.

Governance and exchange of potilastieto are managed by healthcare providers as data controllers and processors. Data sharing between providers is allowed to ensure timely and coordinated care, with access restricted to those who need it. Security measures, audit trails, and data retention policies protect the data, and interoperability efforts aim to improve data quality and accessibility while safeguarding privacy.

Overall, potilastieto is a central element of Finland’s health information infrastructure, balancing patient privacy with the benefits of data-driven care.