Implementing eHealth in Kidney Transplantation in Finland.

Digitalization of health care processes is currently under rapid development. In Finland, a nationwide project called Health Village is coordinating digital health care processes. It is a digital health platform that enables health care organizations to create digital extensions of their clinics. In the Helsinki area, a new electrical medical record (EMR) system named Apotti is being developed. Apotti is based on Epic Systems, and its transplantation module Phoenix was chosen for the basement for the new EMR in transplantation. Both digital services in the Kidney Hub of the Health Village and in Apotti are combined to form the basis of upcoming digital patient care process in kidney transplantation. The Health Village project started in February 2017 to develop eHealth processes in nephrology and kidney transplantation. The decision for Phoenix was made in January 2018. Multidisciplinary teams have developed digital pathways in nephrologic patient care and kidney transplantation since then. The basic structure for eHealth pathways in kidney transplantation will be launched in October 2018. The development of the EMR system is under construction and should be finished by November 2019. Digitalization of health systems in kidney transplantation will harmonize patient care in all parts of Finland. In addition, new models of patient care are providing savings in health care costs. However, the implementation of new systems should be started ahead of time, and the whole process must be well planned to achieve the desired final purpose.