hoitojaksoista

Hoitojaksoista refers to episodes of care within the Finnish health and social care system. An episode of care, or hoitojakso, is a contiguous period during which a patient receives care under a single care plan and from the same care setting or provider, from the initiation of treatment to its completion. Hoitojaksot can occur in hospitals, in primary health care, or in social services, and they are used to document the patient’s care trajectory, coordinate services, and support statistical reporting.

Boundaries and criteria for defining a hoitojakso vary by sector and administrative rules. Typically a hoitojakso starts with the beginning of a defined care process—such as hospital admission, the start of a treatment plan, or the initiation of a rehabilitation program—and ends when that process is completed, the patient is discharged, or the care plan changes in a way that necessitates a new episode. If the patient’s condition requires a different care setting, a change in provider, or a substantial alteration in the care plan, a new hoitojakso may be recorded.

Contexts and uses: Hoitojakso data are used in patient records and, at the national level, in health and welfare statistics to analyze care continuity, capacity, and outcomes. They are captured in electronic health records and national information systems and can inform planning, budgeting, and service development.

Examples include a hospital stay for a surgical procedure, a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, or ongoing home care for a chronic illness. While practical definitions of hoitojaksot help standardize reporting, there can be regional or organizational variations in how episodes are delineated.