Management and Financial Aspects of Social Welfare and Health Care Services

The way service processes are managed plays a key role in their effectiveness, and this is why our research also addresses the management of social welfare and health care services. Efficient resource allocation, on the other hand, requires scientific evidence on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of services. The importance of evaluating reforms is highlighted especially in view of the currently ongoing social welfare and health care service reform in Finland.

Management

The management of social welfare and health care services is closely linked with the effectiveness of these services. The viewpoints of research in the field of social and health care management sciences include, for example, integration of social welfare and health care services and service processes relating to clients and patients with multiple conditions, future competence needs, and effectiveness of management in social welfare and health care services, as well as themes relating to staff coping and workplace well-being. The importance of evaluating reforms is highlighted at the municipal, regional and national levels especially in view of the currently ongoing social welfare and health care service reform in Finland.

Knowledge using at municipal administration and at state administration regarding municipal decision making
JoVa – Effective management in social welfare and health care services
Successful Integration of Social and Health Care Research Project aims to increase understanding on how to strengthen integrated care for people who need lot of services from separate care providers (primary care, specialized care and social care).
ICARE4EU (Innovating care for people with multiple chronic conditions in Europe) describes and analyses innovative approaches in multidisciplinary care for people with multiple chronic conditions currently existing in Europe (2013–2016).
COPE (Competent workforce for the future) explores the transition in health and social services and its impact on employment, competence needs and competence development. Five sub-projects are: The changing working life, Digitalisation, Multicultural work communities, Lifelong learning, and Administration and management.
Research projects in the Department of Social and Health Management
Lean Work Gender Research Project studies how Lean production is applied and how it affects public service work from a sociocultural point of view.

Financial aspects

In social welfare and health care services, the correct allocation of services and treatments, and the efficient use of the available resources requires reliable information on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of services and interventions. Research in the field of health and social economics analyses the cost-effectiveness of social welfare and health care services, and services offered for older people, children and families, as well as the costs of medication and the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions.

APEX (Awareness, Prevention and Early Intervention) Research Project aims to promote the mental wellbeing of families, regardless of their socioeconomic environment, education, geographical location or ethnic background. Project aims to develop and study services that increase mental health literacy and low-threshold, digitally delivered intervention programs regarding maternal postpartum depression, conduct problems of pre-school children and anxiety problems among school-aged children.
EXCELC (Exploring Comparative Effectiveness and efficiency in Long-term care) Research Project compares the effectiveness and efficiency of non-institutional LTC (e.g. home care) for older adults and their informal carers in Austria, England and Finland.
STN IMPRO is a multidisciplinary research project seeking to develop new analysis methods for evaluating health and social services, and to support the development of more equal and cost-effective services. Research team analyses social welfare and health care structures, accessibility of care, care paths as well as the outcomes, costs and cost-effectiveness of care, both before and after the health and social services reform.