Verdal center employees find solution to Health Platform challenges in Norway

Employees at the Verdal residential and treatment center have found a solution that simplifies the use of the Health Platform. Nurse Berit Helene Hansen proudly presents a blue binder, stating, “Here are the recipes. This binder is golden.”

The new patient journal introduced by Health Mid-Norway has faced criticism for its cumbersome and user-unfriendly design. Currently, the Health Platform is only utilized in just over half of the municipalities in Mid-Norway, with aspirations to include all municipalities.

This fall, several municipalities have been invited to participate in a tender for an alternative patient journal system alongside Stjørdal and others. Responses are due by November 1. The feedback will be crucial as the Health Platform aims to unify healthcare services across hospitals, municipalities, and residents in Mid-Norway. Tor Erling Evjen, communications and marketing manager at Health Platform, is eager to see how municipal councils respond in the coming weeks, understanding the complexities involved.

The expenses for the Health Platform could exceed 5 billion NOK, far above the initial estimate of 3.7 billion. Hospital staff and GPs have reported issues with errors and reduced patient safety due to extra work generated by the system.

In Verdal, the administration has decided to continue with the Health Platform, rejecting alternative solutions after a thorough development process. This week, decisions will be made by politicians in several surrounding municipalities.

Staff at the Verdal center describe their experience with the Health Platform as improving after one and a half years of use, now feeling more efficient despite initial challenges. They look forward to the health facilities in their area adopting the same system in November, hoping it will streamline patient data management and further enhance their work efficiency.