Value for patients and society as a whole
Together with our healthcare partners and stakeholders, we ensure the effectiveness of urgent emergency medical services in Finland, thereby supporting the functionality of our healthcare system.
We are driven by a deep sense of responsibility towards patients and society as a whole. In helicopter emergency medical services, responsibility is a part of daily operations. FinnHEMS exists to contribute positively to Finnish society and to the wellbeing of the Finnish people. It is vitally important for us to act in a way that respects and sustains the trust of the public. We are dedicated to maintaining the medical helicopter system’s effectiveness in the long run.
Sustainability for the environment, people and society
Sustainability is essential for safe flight operations. Both treating emergency patients and operating in the air require sustainable solutions at all levels of the organisation.
We must make conscious choices to reduce the environmental impact of our operations. We strive to carry out our task in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
Collaboration plays an important role in emergency care
Emergency care and aviation involve multi-stakeholder collaboration. In addition to our own staff, we cooperate with stakeholders such as the wellbeing services counties and the HUS Group, various state administrative organisations, the rescue services, the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces, as well as with domestic and international aviation organisations.
We promote helicopter emergency medical services and emergency care in cooperation with the wellbeing services counties, the HUS Group, and other authorities, and we cooperate internationally with HEMS organisations in other countries.
Environmental responsibility:
Minimising our environmental impact
Due to the nature of our operations, most of our emissions are generated from the fuel used by helicopters. Almost all of FinnHEMS’ emissions arise from the use of fuel, energy production, and the use of fuel required for business travel and transportation.
Social responsibility:
A positive impact on staff and the surrounding community
At FinnHEMS, social responsibility focuses on supporting staff health and wellbeing, as well as safety work.
Financial and administrative sustainability:
Good governance is the basis of sustainable operations
As a state-owned company, FinnHEMS adheres to the sustainability principles set by the Finnish Government and the Ownership Steering Department, as well as principles of good business conduct, governance, legislation, and other commitments.
We strive to reduce our carbon footprint by opting for renewable fuels and sustainable energy solutions.
We take the principles of sustainable development into account as an integral part of equipment purchases. We examine the sustainability efforts of aviation, helicopter manufacturers and the fuel industry, and we look for ways to join them.
A gradual shift towards biofuels
Our ability to influence the carbon footprint in aviation is limited: we can only influence the type of fuel used, not the number of flights required to perform our tasks. We monitor the development of biofuels and other environmentally friendly forms of propulsion and their suitability for our operations.
Our goal is to gradually increase the share of biofuel so that by 2027, 10 per cent of the aviation kerosene we use will consist of fuel made from renewable raw materials.
However, the transition to biofuels is affected by financial resources, as the price of biofuel is significantly higher compared to normal fuel.
Our emergency vehicles will also gradually switch to using renewable diesel fuel. The transition is significantly influenced by the network of distribution stations near the bases.
Renewable electricity and energy
Our goal is to improve the energy efficiency of our properties and to switch to completely renewable electricity. All the energy we buy comes from renewable sources or is produced by nuclear power. The projects to build bases in Oulu, Tampere and Kouvola set renewable thermal and electrical energy as a point of departure. We require contractors to minimise the harmful environmental effects of their own work.
FinnHEMS currently consists of personnel from three different companies. We have invested in defining and internalising the common cornerstones and values of our corporate culture. We have sought to enhance communication and dialogue between personnel groups both internally and externally. The goal is to improve the flow of information and to increase the sense of community between the FinnHEMS personnel and the personnel of the wellbeing services counties working at the bases.
The FinnHEMS staff can monitor their health with the support of healthcare professionals. We measure the wellbeing and satisfaction of our staff with an annual employee survey.
Many factors contribute to safety
Safety is an important part of responsibility, and it is integral to all our activities. Promoting and maintaining safety requires effective cooperation and communication between all personnel.
The safety of FinnHEMS’ flight operations is supervised by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). We have established our own quality and safety standards that exceed legal and regulatory requirements.
A good reporting culture enables effective and proactive risk mitigation and threat prevention. We are committed to lowering the reporting threshold for our staff to enhance the sharing of safety information.
Sustainability is incorporated into the remuneration system, and specific indicators and reference values have been established to track the achievement of sustainability goals. The company’s board supervises the sustainable management of operations. For us, financial sustainability means the responsible and accurate management of publicly funded activities.
Ethical principles bind us and our partners
We are committed to sustainable development and a high level of operational ethics in accordance with our corporate sustainability principles. In our procurements, we require our service providers, suppliers, and other partners to share our commitment and to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct.
We have an open reporting channel that can be used to anonymously report suspected or observed misconduct. This link leads to the reporting channel where you can raise concerns about any unethical behaviour.
After saving the report, you will receive a password that allows you to monitor the processing of the submitted report and to respond to additional information requests that may be made by the independent processing team.
In addition, you will be notified about the measures that have been implemented or are planned to be implemented based on the report. In accordance with the Whistleblowing Directive, you will be provided with feedback within three months of receiving the report.
Principles of responsibility
The various aspects of helicopter emergency medical services, such as patient care and aviation, along with our core values of high-level safety and quality, emphasise the responsibility of our work. We are committed to operating, leading, and developing FinnHEMS in accordance with these principles of responsibility.
Our corporate sustainability principles
We adhere to the sustainability principles set by the Finnish Government and the Ownership Steering Department, as well as principles of good business conduct, governance, legislation, and other commitments. Corporate responsibility is integrated into our operations, managed with clear objectives, and regularly reported to the owner.
Our corporate sustainability principles aim to standardise practices that promote sustainability, develop our role as a partner and responsible actor in society, improve employee satisfaction, manage reputation risks, and ensure FinnHEMS’s attractiveness as an employer.
Our sustainability development goals
Our sustainability and responsibility work is based on six goals selected from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals programme which we have defined as the most essential for us.
SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing
We provide high-quality and equitable services for emergency care patients nationwide and ensure the wellbeing, satisfaction, and safety of our personnel.
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
We carry out our special task by using the resources allocated by society responsibly and efficiently.
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
We develop and build the infrastructure (aircraft and vehicle fleets as well as base facilities) for medical helicopter operations in a sustainable manner.
SDG 13: Climate action
We are reducing the emissions we produce and favour renewable energy sources.
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
We ensure and develop good governance and operate openly and transparently.