Finnish healthcare faces bottlenecks – Arcada’s project offers a path forward
Published: 04.03.2026 / Research
Finnish healthcare is facing several simultaneous challenges. An aging population, more people with chronic diseases, and a growing shortage of staff are all increasing the pressure on healthcare. Digitalisation is often highlighted as part of the solution, but in practice, the transition is complex and takes time.
One of the biggest bottlenecks in this development is the lack of digital skills among healthcare staff. Many feel uncertain about new digital tools, which can lead to technology stress, higher workloads, and ultimately burnout. There is also a particular challenge in Swedish-speaking healthcare, where access to education, training, and research-based support remain underdeveloped.
Addressing the bottlenecks – also in Swedish
To meet these challenges, Arcada is running the project Focus on the individual – person-centered care in a digital age (original title in Swedish: Individen i fokus – personcentrerad vård i en digital tid). The project aims to strengthen the digital skills of Swedish-speaking healthcare professionals with person-centered care as the starting point.
‘Arcada is a pioneer in offering Swedish-language education with a strong digital profile for current and future caregivers to offer person-centered care in digital environments, also in Swedish,’ says Lotta Eronen, senior lecturer in healthcare. ‘Virtual care units exist today, but rarely as integrated as in this initiative, where simulation pedagogy and research form a coherent whole.’, she adds.
The digital skills are integrated into both healthcare education and continuing education in a multifaceted way.
‘Arcada is a strong player in diverse educational environments,” Jessica Silfver, senior lecturer in healthcare, agrees. ‘In our lab environments, we also work with generic skills that are needed to meet individuals in a person-centered way, regardless of context.’
Challenges and opportunities
A recurring experience in the healthcare field is that uncertainty about new digital solutions can affect both job satisfaction and healthcare outcomes.
‘Sometimes we hear that a nurse should not have to become an engineer. At the same time, students must be able to assess when digital tools are helpful and when they are not,’ says Jonas Danielson, principal lecturer in healthcare. ‘This requires both clinical knowledge and technical understanding. Therefore, up-to-date training in digital healthcare is a prerequisite.’
At the same time, the research group at Arcada points out great opportunities. When digital solutions are used in a well-thought-out way, they can increase accessibility, strengthen patient participation, and create more flexible forms of care – especially for people who, for various reasons, have difficulty getting to physical clinics.
‘The healthcare profession is largely about communication and interaction. When the encounter takes place digitally, these skills need to be adapted to new forms without compromising quality,’ says Pauleen Mannevaara, senior lecturer in healthcare.
This initiative is a long-term, multifaceted project with external funding from the Swedish Cultural Foundation.
