Technology Healthcare Center Oulu

18.9.2009

The latest healthcare center in the city of Oulu was established January 7th 2008. In addition to the normal services of healthcare center, Technology Healthcare Center Oulu offers product testing and analyzing services to companies and research institutes. The service is called TTKaakkuri – Product Testing Service. Product´s functionality in real healthcare environment can be significantly improved by product testing. Service supports user-friendliness of healthcare technology products.

One of a kind in Finland

Technology Healthcare Center Oulu operates as a pioneer in healthcare services of Finland. TTKaakkuri Product Testing is the only place where new innovations can be tested in real healthcare environment. Personnel of healthcare center have an essential part in product testing service as an operator, tester and estimator. One of the goals in TTKaakkuri is to get product developers and healthcare professionals to co-operate which leads for better quality products. “For customers, Healthcare center´s vivacious and variable nature offers lots of possibilities to test and pilot compared to the simulated environment. From the view of personnel, it´s interesting and rewarding to be able to develop and use new healthcare innovations. Personnel can also improve their professional skills towards technology´, says Kimmo Kääriäinen, Product Test Specialist at the TTKaakkuri.

External evaluation

 In product testing service professional personnel and product test specialist creates an individual test program tailored just for customers needs. Effective and well-planned product testing process exposes problems in products usability, and allows solutions for upcoming problems before production or marketing. In this case, expenses of solving problems remains remarkably low compared to solving problems after marketing. After all, positive quality image is highly important in the area of healthcare.

 As an outcome from the TTKaakkuri testing process, customer gets a final report including improvement ideas and recommendations for further actions. Professionals´ external evaluation of products usability and required properties yields valuable feedback for the product developers. “We also test products for our own needs. If the product is good, we can take it in use for our healthcare center and recommend it for the other healthcare centers in Oulu´, Kääriäinen says.

Citizen as test-users

 Citizen of Oulu can also take part to testing processes. TTKaakkuri has tested many devices where volunteer test-users have been recruited from healthcare center´s customers. According to Kääriäinen, test users have found interesting to test brand new innovations which they can´t find from the market. They have been excited of possibility to affect product´s future.

In near future TTKaakkuri will launch a weight management group in co-operation with Competitive Health Services project and Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District. In group participators can test new healthcare devices. In addition they´ll get professional advices from the healthcare professionals considering weight management. TTKaakkuri will also launch several other projects in the autumn such as self registration machine, which utilizes palm sign certification system.

“It has been instructive to see all the innovative products we have tested. However, we can also test basic healthcare equipments e.g. instruments or working clothes´, Kääriäinen reminds in conclusion.

Read more from www.ouka.fi/ttkaakkuri uusi elementti