Virtual University for Occupational Health Care in Finland
The Finnish occupational health service (OHS) system (short description)
In Finland, OHS are not only seen as part of the primary health care system,
but also as part of the workplace health and safety system. Occupational health is an integral part of the government policy to develop work life, promote health, and secure adequate, effective social and health services for everyone. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health formulates the strategy and runs the occupational health 2015 action programme. It also supervises the occupational health service and safety systems. All important issues concerning legislation and the development of OHS are discussed in the tripartite Advisory Board on OHS at the Ministry, which comprises social partners, the government, the providers of OHS and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH).
Read the whole article
(Timo Leino, MD: Barents Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, vol. 12 no. 3, 2009)
Virtual University initiative
The growing need for qualified Occupational Health Physicians (OHP) in Finland prompted to start Virtual University (VU) initiative in 2002. The aim was to improve quality and efficiency of specialist training and increase the number of graduated OHPs. These goals have been met with systematic work.
Virtual University for OHPs is a nation wide collaborative effort of five medical faculties within the universities of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu and Kuopio and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH). The activities of Virtual University reach 900 physicians specialising in OH and 300 tutoring senior consultants in OH. Web-based learning is suitable in Finland which is a scarcely populated country with long distances.
As a result of the work we have been able to create a well-functioning network of universities, FIOH and 200 local OH units, which is able to offer:
- uniform curriculum and a detailed guide for specific learning goals, content, methods and follow-up.
- portal for Virtual University containing information on training and education
- self-study materials and blended learning courses (e.g. OH core processes, ethics, noise, chemical hazards, air quality, assessment of work conditions, work related diseases, work ability, case studies and virtual patients etc.)
- web conferencing and communication tools for students and tutors
- pedagogically tailored learning contents for tutoring senior consultants
- e-learning support and tools
- e-evaluation and self-assessment tools
We have been able to double the number of graduated OH specialists to 50 per year by mobilising experts, educators and students. New contents with new teaching methods and evaluation tools are now in effective use. Dialog and collaboration have been improved and a community of practise is evolving. Tutoring and evaluation tools have improved follow-up and quality of training.
Future
We are presently conducting an questionnaire among our target group to be able to meet their specific needs also in future. We strongly believe that social media tools will further strengthen our network and offer peer-to-peer guidance. We are building up international contacts to enrich our training program and also learn from others. The work is done according to our strategy.
Clinical teachers Timo Leino, Kristiina Toivola, Virpi Liukkonen, Ilkka Ruonala, Kimmo Räsänen and e-learning specialist Susanna Pitkänen
Contact information
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Faculties of medicine
University of Helsinki
University of Kuopio
University of Oulu
University of Tampere
University of Turku
Essential documents
Curriculum
Portfolio (Lokikirja)
Handout .pdf
|