Melkas Helinä
Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation, Saimaankatu 11, 15140 Lahti, Finland. Tel.: +358 40 588 1400; E-mail:
Work. 2013 Jan 1;46(1):77-91. doi: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1470.
The study investigates ways in which technology use may help municipalities improve productivity in elderly-care services. A case study of Finnish elderly-care services provides responses concerning impacts, decisions and options in technology use.
The research data were collected during a 'smart home pilot' implemented in four housing service units. Over 60 assistive devices were introduced in the smart homes used during short-term housing periods.
Both customers and care staff's experiences as well as processes related to the use of assistive devices were investigated on the basis of survey questionnaires, interviews and feedback.
Assistive device-related operational processes were investigated with the help of concepts of 'resource focus', 'lost motion' and 'intermediate storage'. Four central operational processes were identified. Design and desirability as well as costs, such as opportunity costs of assistive devices were also a focus. Significant factors related to productivity were disclosed in this way.
Technology use versus productivity needs to be 'circled' from the points of view of individual users, workplaces, service processes, and larger technology options. There must be long-term patience to introduce technology properly into use to produce positive impacts on productivity. Customers and care staff have an interlinked, vital role to play as decision-makers' informants.
本研究探讨技术应用可帮助市政当局提高老年护理服务生产率的方式。对芬兰老年护理服务的案例研究提供了有关技术应用的影响、决策和选择的答案。
研究数据是在四个住房服务单元实施的“智能家居试点”期间收集的。在短期住房期间使用的智能家居中引入了60多种辅助设备。
基于调查问卷、访谈和反馈，对客户和护理人员的体验以及与辅助设备使用相关的流程进行了调查。
借助“资源焦点”“无效动作”和“中间存储”等概念，对与辅助设备相关的运营流程进行了调查。确定了四个核心运营流程。设计与可取性以及成本，如辅助设备的机会成本，也是一个重点。通过这种方式揭示了与生产率相关的重要因素。
从个人用户、工作场所、服务流程和更大的技术选择的角度来看，技术应用与生产率之间的关系需要“全面考量”。必须要有长期的耐心，将技术妥善引入使用，以对生产率产生积极影响。客户和护理人员作为决策者的信息提供者，有着相互关联的重要作用。
