89% satisfaction with digital care plan for gestational diabetes at Wellbeing services county of Päijät-Häme
The Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme has introduced a digital care plan for gestational diabetes on the BeeHealthy platform. 87 per cent of patients and 89 per cent of healthcare professionals report high satisfaction with the service, praising its clarity, accessibility and support for continuous care.
Gestational diabetes requires continuous monitoring, guidance and flexible interaction between professionals and patients. The Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme in Finland has addressed this by redesigning the gestational diabetes care plan and building it on the BeeHealthy digital platform. The work was carried out jointly by healthcare professionals and the ICT unit as part of the Gestational Diabetes Care Pathway Renewal project.
Results are encouraging. As many as 89 per cent of professionals and 87 per cent of patients would recommend the digital care plan to others. Professionals rated it 9.6 out of 10 and patients 8.6 out of 10. Feedback highlights the clarity of the pathway and the fact that information is always accessible.
Consistent and accessible guidance
Assi Lönnqvist, ICT Specialist at the Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme, explains that the development project aimed to create consistent and accessible guidance for gestational diabetes.
– Previously the content of guidance varied between professionals which created differences in quality. The digital care plan built on the BeeHealthy platform now ensures consistent, timely and easily accessible care for all patients.
The digital care plan is available to all patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Clear structure supported by images and videos makes information easy to understand and apply. Patients can return to the material at different stages of treatment which reduces reliance on information provided only during in-person appointments.
Content and features of the digital care plan for gestational diabetes
The digital pathway brings together all professional content and videos in one place. It offers general information on the condition, diet and physical activity as well as practical support such as instructional videos on blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration. Patients can log blood glucose values and dietary records in the pathway which update in real time for professionals. This enables timely support when needed.
Ease of use is supported by short instructional videos, an intuitive and clear interface and bilingual availability in Finnish and English which improves accessibility.
Development was iterative. Feedback from both patients and professionals led to continuous improvements. This flexible and participatory approach has ensured that the pathway remains high quality and genuinely user driven.
– Patients have also been actively involved in developing and testing content. This participatory method ensures that materials meet real needs which is reflected in patient satisfaction, says Lönnqvist.
Benefits for patients and professionals of the digital care plan for gestational diabetes
The digital pathway for gestational diabetes provides clear value for both patients and healthcare professionals, improving quality of care and simplifying daily practice.
Benefits for patients
The care plan acts as personal support throughout the treatment process in both maternity clinics and specialist maternity outpatient clinics, ensuring continuity of care. All necessary information is available in the county’s digital application which removes the need for paper notes or separate logbooks.
Key advantages for patients include:
- Comprehensive information package in one application covering guidance, images, videos and practical advice on diet and exercise
- Real time blood glucose monitoring with results visible to professionals without the need for a separate notebook
- Clear instructions for dietary changes at different stages of pregnancy
- Convenient communication with professionals including non-urgent questions via the platform
- Continuity of care across maternity clinics and specialist services
Benefits for professionals
The care plan also improves workflows and allows professionals to focus on patient-specific needs.
Key advantages for professionals include:
- Digital documentation with blood glucose values and dietary records updating in real time, reducing the need for patients to bring data to appointments
- Ready-made materials and patient guidance content in one place removing the need for printed handouts
- More efficient appointments as pre-completed questionnaires streamline consultations and allow time for personalised advice
- More precise dietary guidance based on logged dietary records and other patient data
Building better digital healthcare services together
The Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme is part of BeeHealthy’s SuomiSote network, where wellbeing services counties across Finland collaborate in developing and sharing digital care pathways. The network enables the exchange of innovations, best practice and collective development of smarter solutions for social and healthcare services.
Laura Oksala, Business Designer at BeeHealthy, highlights the importance of this collaboration.
– The wellbeing services counties in the SuomiSote network are leaders in digitalisation. They not only develop new solutions but also actively share expertise and innovations. This cooperation ensures that digital services scale quickly and cost effectively across regions.
Through the network counties can build a shared ecosystem that advances Finland’s social and healthcare services. Jointly developed solutions save resources while improving both patient and professional experiences nationwide.
