Advancing Medical Research and Patient Care with HUS Data Platform

Customer Overview

Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) is considered one of the world’s best hospitals and a leading medical institution in Finland, known for its commitment to research, innovation, and patient care. As a university hospital, HUS has a strong focus on data-driven healthcare and has been at the forefront of digital transformation for over a decade.

Challenge

With a vast amount of healthcare data generated across various systems, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) faced challenges in:

• Consolidating data sources: Integrating over 70 different medical record systems and operational data sources.
• Enabling advanced medical research: Supporting data-driven innovation while ensuring compliance with strict security regulations.
• Enhancing clinical decision-making: Providing a comprehensive, real-time view of patient data for clinicians.
• Scaling cloud-based solutions: Transitioning to a cloud-first strategy to support AI-driven analytics and research.

HUS needed a unified data platform that could drive research, improve patient outcomes, and accelerate digital transformation in healthcare.

Solution

To address these challenges, HUS developed its Data Platform—a secure and scalable infrastructure built to support modern healthcare needs. The platform collects and standardizes patient information from a wide range of sources into one unified system, enabling consistent and reliable data use.

It leverages AI and machine learning to enhance diagnostics and support cutting-edge medical research. A key component is the Trusted Research Environment (TRE), which provides a secure space for academic and clinical studies.

For clinicians, the platform offers a real-time, 360-degree view of each patient, helping to reduce inefficiencies and improve decision-making.

Built with a cloud-first, future-proof strategy, the platform ensures the flexibility, scalability, and computing power required to meet both current and evolving demands.

Implementation

The data platform was rolled out in stages:

1. Cloud transition: Moving infrastructure and data storage from on-premises to a cloud-based environment with cloud native data and AI technologies.  
2. Integration of clinical and operational data: Unifying over 70 different systems to create a single source of truth.
3. Development of AI algorithms: Leveraging machine learning for predictive analytics in patient care and research.
4. Trusted Research Environment deployment: Establishing a secure workspace for over 1,000 researchers to conduct advanced studies on real-world data.

Results

The implementation of the HUS Data Platform has led to significant improvements across multiple areas:

• Enhanced medical research: Over 400 annual research requests processed, driving new medical insights.
• Faster data access: Clinicians gain a real-time, 360-degree patient view, improving treatment accuracy.
• Accelerated innovation: AI-driven algorithms help researchers and doctors identify patterns, leading to earlier diagnoses and better patient outcomes.
• Increased operational efficiency: Data infrastructure now supports rapid changes, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 response.

Key Benefits

For researchers	For clinicians	For patients
Secure, AI-powered research environment to explore new medical breakthroughs.	A comprehensive patient overview, enabling more precise and timely decision-making.	Faster diagnoses, improved access to care, and potential for more personalized treatment plans.

 

Future outlook

Looking ahead, HUS plans to further expand its use of AI and machine learning by continuously integrating the latest models to improve diagnostics and patient care. The hospital also aims to strengthen data-driven management by using predictive analytics to plan and optimize resources more effectively.

In the long term, HUS hopes to serve as a model for other hospitals across the Nordic region, encouraging broader collaboration in medical research and AI development.

Collaboration with Tietoevry

HUS partnered with Tietoevry Care to co-develop the data platform, combining their healthcare expertise with Tietoevry’s deep knowledge of AI, data, and IT infrastructure.

Through this collaboration, HUS gained access to advanced analytics and predictive modeling capabilities, along with seamless integration of data across medical and operational systems.

The partnership also ensured that the platform met high standards for security and compliance, protecting patient data while enabling innovative, data-driven research.

Conclusion

HUS has established itself as a leader in data-driven healthcare innovation, transforming how medical research is conducted and how patient care is delivered. With its cloud-based data platform and AI-powered analytics, HUS is not only enhancing healthcare in Finland but also paving the way for the future of digital medicine across the Nordic region.

We are developing our data platform together with HUS and Tietoevry Care as one team, ensuring that research, clinical care, and patient outcomes continue to improve.
— Sara Kinnunen, HUS

 

 

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