South Ostrobothnia Health Care District, Finland
SO
HCD is the Health Care District of South Ostrobothnia. SO HCD is responsible
for arranging public secondary healthcare for people living in the province of South Ostrobothnia. The district lies in the south western part
of Finland and covers
26 municipalities. It has a population of about 195,000 inhabitants.SO HCD runs two hospitals: the Central Hospital in Seinäjoki and a smaller regional one in Ähtäri. The provided medical services cover most of the main specialities. There are 588 beds in the hospitals, 28 of these are in the hospital in Ähtäri. The total number of personnel is about 2,500, including 250 medical doctors and 1,400 nurses. The annual budget is about €200 million.
The highest decision-maker is the council, which has 62 political members, elected by the city councils of the municipalities. The next level of the organisation is the board, with nine members, elected by the council on political bases. Under the board is the ‘leading group’ consisting of the highest officers of the district: the general director, the medical director and the chief administrative nurse.
SO HCD aims to provide the high quality specialist healthcare services to the inhabitants of the area, employs the most up-to-date and evidence-based methods. Doctors and other employees are encouraged to take an active part in scientific research and continuous education. SO HCD has a policy of wide cooperation with the other healthcare districts and universities in different development projects. SO HCD is well known nationally for its work in preventive medicine and health promotion.
Contact
Sami PeräläSouth Ostrobothnia Health Care District
E-mail: sami.perala@eptek.fi
Internet: www.epshp.fi