The opening of the new Ahvenisto hospital in the Wellbeing Services County of Kanta-Häme significantly changes how hospital spaces are used. An operating model based on shared-use spaces requires new kinds of digital solutions. Our Space Resource Management application helps improve space efficiency by a proven 25-30%, enables monitoring of utilization rates, and supports smooth day-to-day operations in a modern hospital environment.
Starting in February 2026, the Wellbeing Services County of Kanta-Häme has begun a phased opening of the new Ahvenisto Hospital. The new hospital introduces a modern operating model in which facilities are used flexibly across units and among professionals.
The transition is supported by a Space Resource Management application that allows users to reserve and allocate consultation and examination rooms, as well as track their usage. The application optimizes space usage by leveraging appointment data and automated room‑allocation principles and enables data-driven improvements in space utilization. The application automatically assigns the most suitable available room based on the patient’s service needs and the movement of healthcare staff. The system uses booking and shift‑scheduling information, along with room-usage data, to optimize room allocation and improve visibility into the true demand and utilization of facilities.
Nortal has been responsible for implementing the application and worked as a development partner on the project. Previous facility‑management solutions have often relied on separate applications or Excel‑based tools, which have not met the needs of a modern hospital environment.
“The Ahvenisto hospital s a new kind of hospital environment where shared spaces and flexibility play a central role. This also requires new types of tools for managing facilities. The Space Resource Management application helps us plan the use of spaces and ensure that they serve the staff as smoothly as possible,” says Harri Halinen, ICT Project Manager for Kanta-Häme Wellbeing Services County.
The shared use of facilities can also bring significant financial benefits to wellbeing services counties. In national examples, space efficiency has improved by as much as 30–40%. When facility usage can be examined through reliable data, the wellbeing services county can identify, for example, rooms that are consistently overused or, conversely, those that remain underutilized, and develop space use accordingly.
The application has been developed over several years as part of a co‑development initiative between wellbeing services counties, 2M‑IT, and technology providers. 2M‑IT serves as the ICT partner for the overall solution and, together with Nortal, has been responsible for implementing and enhancing the Space Resource Management application. At the Wellbeing Services County of Kanta‑Häme, the application has already been used partly in existing facilities, but it has been further developed specifically to meet the needs of the new Ahvenisto Hospital.
“In a modern hospital, managing facilities is much more than booking rooms. It is about ensuring that spaces, people, and operations work together as smoothly as possible. We have developed the application in close collaboration with the customer to ensure it genuinely meets the future needs of the hospital environment,” says Mikko Lehto, Nortal Finland's Vice President for Government and Healthcare.
When the project began, there was no solution on the market that could be integrated with patient information systems while staying under the wellbeing services county's own control. In addition to the technical implementation, Nortal has also supported the wellbeing services county in developing its operating models.
“In a transformation like this, technology and operating practices go hand in hand. During the development work, we have not only built the application but also designed and clarified the operating models related to facility use together with the customer,” Lehto continues.
A map‑based booking view will also be added to the application in the spring, making it even easier to review and reserve spaces.
At the Wellbeing Services County of Kanta‑Häme, the goal of the Ahvenisto Hospital is to continuously develop its services and build a hospital environment that supports both the everyday work of the staff and high‑quality services for residents.
