Information management can determine the success of future regions

Information management has a significant impact on the way in which the regions succeed in the tasks that are being transferred to them in the regional government, health and social services reform. MDI is a partner of Nordic Healthcare Group (NHG), Tampere University of Technology and the University of Helsinki in the preparation of information management in the provinces and the needs for future knowledge management. The report is part of the implementation of the government’s  study and research plan in the year 2018.

The interim report published on the project shows that in the field of information management the work has progressed out of phase in different regions. In some provinces, plans and capabilities for implementing information management practices are already proceeded, while others are only sketching out what it means for them. Resources for information management also vary. There may be a number of cross-administrative working groups in the region and a person in charge of preparing for information management, while in some provinces there is little organization of preparation for human resources. The challenge is also the lack of skilled workers. Several data needs have already been identified. The most commonly identified needs were related to monitoring the implementation of the provincial strategy and the sufficiency of money.

The majority of regions have been aware that the information used to guide service production and demand should be real-time and forward-looking. Preparing for information management is timely, regardless of the form in which the regional, health and social reform is taken forward. The work done so far in the regions serves as an accelerator for the development of information management and better public services.