Curricula

Objectives

The costs of individual rehabilitation reimbursed by Kela alone totaled EUR 351 million in 2018. Value for money is expected, i.e. results, efficiency and effectiveness are required from rehabilitation. Rehabilitation counselors must be aware of effective forms of rehabilitation so that they can refer rehabilitees to such rehabilitation forms and services that have been proven to be effective and efficient. During the course, the notion of effectiveness of rehabilitation will be examined, along with what kind of rehabilitation is effective and how the effectiveness can be assessed.

It is important for a rehabilitation counselor to know and understand the principles governing the planning and decision-making of rehabilitation services. It is essential to understand who makes the decisions and to know the meaning of liability while in office and the grounds of the decision-making. A rehabilitation counselor must also understand the link between different levels of management from the viewpoint of practical work and decision-making.

After completing the course, you will be able to utilize knowledge of evidence-based rehabilitation in your work. You will be able to find information about rehabilitation and its costs by utilizing open-access databases and critically assess the reliability of the data. After completing the course, you will also be able to use the concepts of social economics when discussing the effectiveness of rehabilitation. You will learn to plan your own work and services by utilizing strategy-related knowledge, and will be familiar with factors related to operational and strategic management from the point of view of your own work. After completing the course, you will be able to apply the good administrative procedure in your work and the related liability for acts in office. Based on this knowledge, you will be able to guide rehabilitees in different decision-making situations, taking into account the forms of decision-making of the operating environment concerned.

Content

During the course, the students will examine different kinds of open-access statistical databases and practice the use of the Kelasto statistical database in particular. Additionally, the students will familiarize themselves with rehabilitation impact assessment practices and search for various impact studies by using domestic and foreign article databases. During the course, the students will explore the theoretical basis of management and examine management at different levels from the rehabilitation management point of view. The students will also explore the strategic guidelines of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, among other things, and consider how they are reflected in everyday work. During the course, the students will become familiar with good administrative procedure, examining, in particular, the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003) and the ways in which the Administrative Procedure Act guides decision-making in different situations

Learning materials and recommended literature

Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003)
Autti-Rämö I, Poutiainen E, Seppänen-Järvelä R. 2022. Kuntoutuksen tutkimus ja vaikutusten arviointi. Teoksessa I. Autti-Rämö ym. (toim.) Kuntoutuminen, Helsinki: Duodecim, ss. 92–108 (pages in a printed book). The e-book can be found in Opinportti.
Strategic guidelines of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Kelasto statistical database
Different kinds of open-access statistical databases and articles of evidence based rehabilitation
Laaksonen, H. & Ollila, S. 2017. Lähijohtamisen perusteet terveydenhuollossa. Helsinki: Edita. Luettavissa myös E-kirjana.
Rissanen, S., Lammintakanen, J. & Hujala, A. 2017. Sosiaali- ja terveysjohtaminen (3. uudistettu painos.). Helsinki: Sanoma Pro Oy. Luettavissa myös E-kirjana.
Spath, P. (2018). Introduction to healthcare quality management (Third edition.). Chicago, Illinois : Washington, DC: Health Administration Press (HAP). Luettavissa myös E-kirjana.
International Journals: Rehabilitation Research and Practice, Rehabilitation, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling

Teaching methods

The entire course is carried out as online studies. The course has four webinars. In the webinars, you will become familiar with the strategic and operational management, costs of rehabilitation, effectiveness of rehabilitation and good administrative procedure.
During the course, the flipped-learning method is used, i.e. you prepare for webinars by completing a preliminary assignment and getting to know the materials of the webinar theme.
After each webinars, you will apply knowledge and theories in group assignments. All group assignments have the same group.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

There are no exams in the course.

Alternative completion methods

You can apply for credits from the course as recognition of competence. The application must demonstrate competence in relation to the objectives and contents of the course. The decision to take advantage of the course must be made before the course begins.

Student workload

Orientation 3 h
Online lessons (webinars) 4 x 3 h and preparation for webinars 4 x 2 h, in total 20 h
Learning tasks 25 h
Studying materials, literature and independent study 60 h
Total workload 108 h

Content scheduling

The course consists of four themes, which are studied in order starting with the first theme.
1st theme: Strategic and operational management (0.5 credits)
2nd theme: Costs of rehabilitation (1 credits)
3rd theme: Effectiveness of rehabilitation (2 credits)
4th theme: Good administrative procedure (0,5 credits)
Each of the four themes includes a pre-task, active participation in the webinar, and post-webinar assignment. All tasks will be done in small groups.

Further information for students

The tasks of the course are assessed on the basis of the assessment criteria of the course. Tasks are assessed on an pass-failed scale.

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Evaluation criteria, pass/failed

The student is familiar with the principles of good decision-making and administration practice and is capable of applying, in a duly substantiated manner, different forms of decision-making on example cases in which a decision is required. The student is able to name a few statistical databases on rehabilitation and is able to search for and interpret key rehabilitation cost statistics. The student is able to appropriately use the concepts of effectiveness and efficiency of rehabilitation and critically assess the results of impact studies.

Prerequisites

The student masters the principal aspects of the rehabilitation service systems, legislation, rehabilitation needs assessment, rehabilitation process and counselling work method.