Coronavirus year highlights importance of diagnostics

The year 2020 in diagnostics was dominated by rapid expansion in coronavirus analytics and the sampling network, the introduction of the Siemens PACS electronic image archive and the expansion of operations to South Karelia.

The principal topic in diagnostics in 2020 by a wide margin was the coronavirus. HUS Diagnostic Center began preparing for the epidemic early on in January.

“Our virus method was finalized quickly and was available at the end of January when the coronavirus was diagnosed in Finland for the first time. We scaled up our operations in the course of the spring, and the volume increased significantly in the autumn. The recruiting of the personnel needed for coronavirus sampling was also a substantial effort,” says Lasse Lehtonen, Director of Diagnostic Services.

Our virology laboratory at Meilahti began operating on a 24/7 basis at the end of March, and the Kivihaka testing line leased from Synlab in the autumn significantly increased the testing capacity of the HUS Corona Center. We also took over responsibility for running the coronavirus sampling network from the member municipalities. We recruited about 350 new employees for coronavirus sampling.

The epidemic raised public awareness of the importance of diagnostics among decision-makers and the public at large.

“Diagnostics has never been as prominently featured in public debate as it is now. This has increased public awareness of the HUS Diagnostic Center, and it has also increased its attractiveness in recruitment, having become a workplace of interest also for other people besides professionals in diagnostics,” says Lehtonen.

HUS Diagnostic Center services 2020

Operations expanded to South Karelia

The HUS Diagnostic Centre expanded its operations to South Karelia at the beginning of 2020. We now offer laboratory and imaging services in specialist medical care and basic health care all across southern Finland, from Hanko to Parikkala.

A major IT reform was carried out in imaging with the introduction of a new electronic image archive system, Siemens PACS.

“We have also invested in research and teaching. We have increased the number of physicians qualifying as specialists in fields previously suffering from a shortage of specialists. Although it has been a busy year, our personnel satisfaction has improved,” says Lehtonen.

We foster customer satisfaction with a model where we work more with examination clients, i.e. HUS units and basic health care.