# Digital competence in healthcare - Savonia AMK

> Digitalization and the use of digital services have changed the healthcare sector in recent years, necessitating new competence requirements for professionals.

## Overview of Digital Transformation in Healthcare
Digitalization and the use of digital services have changed the healthcare sector in recent years. The change can be seen as versatile and flexible healthcare services made possible by digitalization. For healthcare professionals, the change can be seen especially in the form of new competence requirements and their impact on the professional’s work.

## Competence Requirements for Professionals
Healthcare professionals need new skills for the versatile management of digital methods and processes. The skills needed are, for example, information utilization and critical evaluation of information, but also communication and collaboration between clients and multi-professional teams. Remote appointments, digital care paths, and the transmission of information through various platforms and communication channels are standard methods of operation in healthcare settings.

A digitally competent professional should also have strong professional expertise. This means customer-oriented working skills and skills to apply expertise when working with a patient in a digital environment. An essential part of the work is identifying suitable services and marketing these services to the patient. Also, guiding these services’ use is essential, regardless of whether the services are implemented by using traditional face-to-face appointments or digitally. 

Digital competence also includes:
* Critical thinking
* Problem-solving ability
* Constant attention to digital security
* Understanding the general principles, basic functions, and purposes of digital technology
* A reflective, critical, and curious open-minded attitude
* A perspective that considers ethics and responsibility

## Impact on Care Relationships and Patient Involvement
A digitally competent professional naturally works in increasingly digital environments. The care relationship can be continued and implemented outside of face-to-face appointments, with professionals spending more time in digital work environments planning and implementing patient care. 

The effect on the care relationship can be positive when the professional manages the digital setting skillfully; conversely, it can be negative if the professional lacks digital competence, impacting the quality of patient care. Digitalization enables an increase in the patient’s own involvement, which the professional must know how to utilize while critically evaluating information produced by the patient.

## Efficiency and Future Development
The professional’s digital competence has positive effects on the implementation of patient care, manifesting as increased efficiency in service production. However, professionals must first accept the impact of digitalization on their work tasks and their changing roles. 

Deficiencies in the usability of digital tools or professional skills can cause negative feelings. Therefore, digitalization and digital health services should be integrated into the planning of education and the maintenance of digital competence. Healthcare professionals require time and opportunities to participate in the development of digital health service processes to improve usability for both patients and staff.

## Conclusion
Today, healthcare professionals cannot avoid the demands and effects of digitalization. Digitalization must offer usable tools and bring added value to patient care and professional workflows to ensure a functional and productive healthcare environment.

## Article Information
This article is based on the Master’s Thesis of Veera Rajalampi and Satu Sorila. References of this narrative literature review are available from the authors. 

**Thesis Link:** [https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051510785](https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051510785)

### Authors
* **Veera Rajalampi**, Graduated Student in Master’s Degree Programme in Digital Health, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
* **Satu Sorila**, Student of Master’s Degree Programme in Digital Health, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
* **Liisa Klemola**, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Master’s Degree Programme in Digital Health, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School
* **Elisa Snicker**, CBC, MSc (Econ and Bus Admin), MSc (Health Sci.), Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School

*Date: 23.05.2023*