Finland’s New Epilepsy Care Pathway: Transforming Treatment and Patient Outcomes

Finland has introduced a new care pathway for epilepsy. This pathway offers a clear and organized approach to diagnosing and treating epilepsy. It combines the use of modern technology, data sharing, and support from peers. The Finnish model aims to help healthcare systems manage complex conditions like epilepsy more effectively.

Professor Reetta Kälviäinen from the University of Eastern Finland led the national work group. She believes this model could serve as a standard for other healthcare systems looking to improve their epilepsy care.

The integrated care pathway ensures consistent and effective epilepsy care for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status. It aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Epilepsy. The Finnish pathway covers all types of epilepsy, focusing particularly on rare and complex cases, in collaboration with the European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies, called ERN EpiCARE.

In 2017, the Finnish government designated Kuopio University Hospital to lead the diagnosis and treatment of severe epilepsy in Finland. A consensus panel, including specialists from all five Finnish university hospitals and representatives from the Finnish Epilepsy Association, was formed to create this pathway. The results were incorporated into the Finnish current care guidelines for epilepsy.

Key features of the Finnish epilepsy care pathway include prompt referrals, ongoing care, and better communication among healthcare providers. Patients can engage through a digital application that offers secure messaging, a seizure calendar, and remote consultations. This pathway supports virtual consultations and includes regular meetings for severe epilepsy cases before consulting in ERN EpiCARE meetings.

For more details, refer to the publication:
Kälviäinen R, Hadj-Allal Z, Kirjavainen J, Roivainen R, Linnankivi T, Peltola J, et al. Epilepsy care pathway: The Finnish model. Epilepsia Open. 2024; 00: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13093