New personal doctor model to launch at Kalajärvi health center in Espoo

In December, a new initiative will commence at the Kalajärvi health center in Espoo, aiming to establish a personal doctor model that has sparked both optimism and curiosity among residents. This pilot program, rolled out by the Western Uusimaa welfare area, will allow a doctor to work under an entrepreneurial agreement, a concept previously untried in Finland.

As part of the initiative, the physician will manage a defined number of patients, with compensation linked to various factors including the number of patients and the continuity of care they provide. The goal is to ensure that patients consistently see the same doctor, fostering longer-lasting doctor-patient relationships.

Professor Juha Auvinen from the University of Oulu noted in a previous interview that the personal doctor model could potentially save Finland hundreds of millions of euros. Residents of Kalajärvi express enthusiasm for having a consistent healthcare provider while pondering the practical aspects of this new model. Historically, the health center has had two salaried physicians, providing reliable services.

Eero Mäkelä, a local resident, raised concerns about the availability of the new doctor under this model. The entrepreneurial doctor is set to begin on December 2, partnering with a nurse from the welfare area’s payroll. The doctor will be responsible for various professional obligations, including their own training and absences.

While the physician may work remotely part of the time, it is essential for maintaining quality standards that face-to-face interactions with patients occur. This model, which has been more common in other European countries like Norway and Denmark, has received approximately 3 million euros in EU funding to potentially support ten doctor-nurse pairs in the region. The intent is to expand this initiative across the welfare area once suitable candidates are found.