Implementing regional information system for social and health care in Finland, Satakunta.

The Regional Information System, RIS is based on the open, regional architecture and it supports the regional, client-oriented seamless services in social and health care. By using the RIS it is possible for professionals for example to get an overview of the client's situation and to make a service chain plan for the client with the client's consent. The client can get access to his/her own data and to see his/her service plan, consents and log file. The development of the RIS started in the area of Satakunta in January 1999 and the implementation started in November 2001 in a national Macro Pilot project. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health prepared a special law for Satakunta to enable the handling of client data in a regional context and the developing a regional system. The Ministry selected in the Spring 2001 three regions more in Finland to develop their services within the experimental Act. These four regions are approximately 50% out of the population in Finland.