Sofia, Janita and Zahra are doing a specialisation period at Malmi Hospital in Helsinki. The acute geriatrics unit invests in developing the expertise of young doctors and providing comprehensive support from senior doctors.
After graduation, Sofia Borup worked for two years as a health centre physician. For the last six months, she has been working at Malmi Hospital in Helsinki because she wanted to "try something new."
– I am a sociable people-person and like to talk to patients. The patients here are absolutely wonderful. They are genuine and grateful for the care they receive, Sofia says.
Sofia is going to specialise in general medicine and she will be able to include a work placement at Malmi Hospital in her specialisation studies. She sees the period as supporting her career.
– Our patients may have a history of cerebral or cardiac infarctions or bone fractures. We deal with surgical cases and internal medicine patients. Regardless of your specialisation, you can work with a very diverse range of patients here, Janita Sulonen says.
Janita graduated in 2024 and worked at Salla Health Station for the first few years after graduation.
– Health station appointment work was not really for me, so I wanted to work on wards, Janita says.
At the moment, Janita is most interested in gynaecology as a speciality. From the geriatrics clinic in Malmi, she will move on to HUS surgery to do voluntary studies.
– If gynaecology or surgery are not a good fit for me, then I'll probably become a geriatrician.
Two hospitals are located next to each other on Talvelantie in Helsinki, both of which use the name Malmi Hospital. The City of Helsinki Malmi Hospital has five inpatient wards with a focus on acute geriatric care and rehabilitation. The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) Malmi Hospital, on the other hand, has an emergency department, an intermediate care unit, three internal medicine wards, a laboratory and an X-ray unit.
– People do confuse these hospitals, says Riitta Rowland, a specialist in geriatrics who works as a deputy chief physician at the City of Helsinki hospital.
– But it is wonderful for the City of Helsinki hospital that HUS research facilities, such as the laboratory and imaging services, are right next door and available to us on an on-call basis around the clock.
Specialising doctors also feel that cooperation with HUS Malmi Hospital has been very smooth. Being able to consult specialists and examine patients quickly means that they can treat their patients in more depth and for longer periods of time.
– You also get to see the results of your own work in a different way, says Specialising Doctor Zahra Alimy.
Each of the five acute geriatric wards has 24–25 beds. The wards are staffed by doctors, nurses, practical nurses, physiotherapists, social instructors and social workers. The average length of a stay is 1–3 weeks. However, the length of treatment can vary from a few days to a few months if the patient cannot be discharged.
There are some absolutely fantastic senior doctors here who will help you in any situation.
Senior doctors are closely involved in patient care while guiding the work of specialising doctors. Every day, senior and specialising doctors work together to review each patient's situation. They visit each patient during a weekly joint round. Even when specialising doctors work independently, they can consult senior doctors at any time.
– For example, if our junior doctors make some changes to medication on their own, we usually go through the changes together afterwards. We talk about what led to the changes, Riitta explains.
Finland's population is ageing. Regardless of where they work, doctors will treat even more elderly patients in the future. The demographic shift makes geriatric skills even more relevant and important.
There are many aspects of caring for older people that are different from caring for people of working age. One example is medical treatment.
At Malmi, the multidisciplinary team also deals with problems that are not medical in nature. Memory issues, for example, may cause all sorts of social problems for the patient.
– In this field, we must focus on holistic patient care and remember to always treat the person, not the illness, Zahra says.
Relatives often want to be involved in the care.
Doctors often plan the discharge of their patients together with social workers. The patient's relatives are also actively involved in the treatment.
– Although we focus on treating the patient, it is important to maintain close contact with the family. The patient's care often helps the people around them, says Riitta.
You don't need to specialise in geriatrics to work at Malmi Hospital in Helsinki, although it does provide a good working environment for specialising in the field.
– Several general practitioners and doctors completing the specific training in general medical practice also work here, Riitta says.
Sofia, Janita and Zahra feel that whatever career plans a doctor has, Helsinki Malmi Hospital provides an opportunity to acquire essential skills.
– All doctors should work in geriatrics for a while, Sofia says.
There is a clear desire to support the professional development of young doctors.
In addition to strong daily support from senior doctors, specialising doctors have designated personal tutors whom they meet with 1–2 times during the working period. With the instructors, the specialising doctors discuss the objectives and progress of the training. In addition to this, specialising doctors at Malmi Hospital meet regularly for group discussions together with a doctor trainer.
Specialising doctors have been particularly impressed by the opportunity to attend various training sessions several days a week.
– Both our in-house training and the training organised in cooperation with HUS have been of very high quality. I feel that there is a desire to make sure that we really have the time and the opportunity to participate, says Zahra.
The acute geriatric wards at Malmi Hospital offer an interesting field of work and an environment for professional growth for specialising doctors. You can work with a multidisciplinary team in a hospital environment. Specialising doctors can expect strong support from senior doctors and the school as well as a deep dive into geriatric care.
Are you interested in completing a specialising period at Malmi Hospital in Helsinki or would you like to learn more about job opportunities in Malmi? Do not hesitate to contact Chief Physician Pasi Randen at Malmi Hospital in Helsinki, pasi.randen(a)hel.fi.
The City of Helsinki Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division offers many job opportunities for specialising doctors. Find out more online at hel.fi/lääkärit and contact the chief physician in charge of the service and unit you are interested in.
