In Finland, a nurse has been developing a rural care model for 13 years — YLE News
In Finland, nurse Hanna Tiihonen has been developing a model of medical and social care for residents of sparsely populated areas for 13 years. She works in Jyväskylä, including in Korpilahti and Tikkakoski, and is the country’s only rural nurse, YLE News reports.
The model is designed to bring social and healthcare services closer to people living in remote areas. Tiihonen visits clients at home and also holds appointments at village community buildings and pharmacies. Common procedures include ear irrigation, examinations for driving licences, and influenza vaccinations.
The nurse also carries out urgent interventions. According to her, she has had to help clients in the forest after they fell or were injured.
The idea arose because of a child’s illness
Tiihonen said the idea for the model emerged from personal circumstances: her child became seriously ill, and the family often had to travel urgently to hospital. She feared that she would not be able to work as an employee.
Later, the nurse learned that Sitra was seeking new innovations for villages and proposed the model to the then-chair of the North Korpilahti Cooperation Association, Poko. The organization applied for funding and received it. According to Tiihonen, nearly 200 people used the services during the project’s first five weeks.
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Initially, she worked through project funding and a small home care company. Tiihonen now operates through her own company.
In September 2026, the nurse received the nationwide Ihmisen parhaaksi award for the model she developed. The €5,000 award is presented annually by Suomen Sairaanhoitajat and the Suomen Messusäätiö Foundation for significant work in developing the care sector.
Services for older people
Tiihonen is not an employee of the Central Finland wellbeing services county but works as a private entrepreneur and cooperates with other healthcare professionals. Clients pay for treatment and can call her directly, without queues or automated services. Many of her clients are over 75 years old.
Korpilahti no longer has its own health station: services were moved to the social and healthcare station in Muurame and the social and healthcare centre in Jämsä. Anne Pil, head of outpatient healthcare services in Central Finland, described the model as progressive and important for sparsely populated areas. She noted that wider implementation of the model has not been discussed in the region, but believes it should be examined as a possible format for cooperation or independent work.
