Pörhön Autoliike

Long-term systematic and goal-oriented occupational healthcare cooperation has kept Pörhön Autoliike as Pihlajalinna’s customer for a decade already. The continuous cooperation has deepened the relationship between the employees and medical staff, increased trust, and made solving even the more challenging occupational health cases easier.

Pörhön Autoliike Oy, a business providing car sales, maintenance and spare parts, operates in nine different locations across Finland. Multi-site operations require careful coordination of the occupational healthcare services to ensure that all employees receive equally smooth and fast service, regardless of the location.

“When our healthcare cooperation started, Pihlajalinna’s only location serving us was in Oulu. In other locations, we used Pihlajalinna’s subcontractors, which also worked quite well. Over the years, Pihlajalinna’s scope of operations and services have expanded so that the cooperation has grown even smoother,“ says Sari Karppinen-Mehtälä, Head of Human Resources at Pörhön Autoliike.

Occupational healthcare’s support measures maintain work ability

Pörhö has also tendered occupational healthcare providers during the decade-long cooperation, but there has been no need for a change.

“We have remained pleased with Pihlajalinna’s services and quick reaction. Stability is an important factor for the efficiency of occupational healthcare services. Pihlajalinna understands the challenges of our employees well and knows how to react to them quickly,“ Karppinen-Mehtälä continues.

Pörhön Autoliike employs around 430 people, which includes office workers, salespeople, car mechanics and vehicle painters. The work partially exposes the employees to musculoskeletal disorders, but Pihlajalinna’s preventive occupational healthcare measures have helped thwart any problems and supported employees’ work ability.

“We have resolved situations that have impaired employees’ work ability together with Pihlajalinna, who helped us quickly and preventively in these cases. Occupational healthcare’s various support measures, such as physiotherapy and application of work tasks have helped people continue their careers and rehabilitate,“ says Karppinen-Mehtälä.

Low threshold mental health services support wellbeing

Pauliina Teirikko, coordinating occupational health nurse at Pihlajalinna, says that long-term cooperation is rewarding for the medical staff, too.

“For example, when we are visiting Pörhö’s service locations to provide vaccinations during autumns, their employees might ask for help with other health problems as well. This is easier when we are familiar with each other, and many of them feel that the services they are receiving is a lot more personal during these meetings, compared to calling a service number.“

Although remote services have also received praise. Pörhö’s employees have benefited from the Mielen huoli line, which offers help with stressful life situations quickly and flexibly, even outside working hours.

“The line has lowered the threshold for accessing mental health services. It is important that we can offer our employees help and preventive support,“ says Karppinen-Mehtälä.

The occupational healthcare team also helps with emergency situations

In addition to the Mielen huoli line, Pörhö’s statutory occupational health contract has been supplemented with laboratory tests and clinical neurophysiological examinations, as well as some imaging services and minor surgical procedures.

“We have also utilised Pihlajalinna’s ergonomics consultancy, and the procurement of computer glasses, for example, is handled through occupational healthcare. It is great that we have access to a multidisciplinary team with experts for every problem.“

Pihlajalinna has also provided crisis response for those who have lost a colleague.

“The occupational health nurse quickly found the right kind of support measures. This demonstrated that not only does Pihlajalinna have high expertise, but it also has a big heart,“ praises Karppinen-Mehtälä.

Pictured left is Sari Karppinen-Mehtälä, Head of Human Resources at Pörhön Autoliike Oy, and right is Pauliina Teirikko, coordinating occupational health nurse at Pihlajalinna.

The occupational health contract will be updated based on the results and situation

Pihlajalinna and Pörhö’s cooperation will continue in the future. Shared goals and, for example, sick leaves are reviewed regularly. Moreover, the action plan and, if necessary, the service agreement are supplemented in the cooperation meetings according to the needs.

“Pörhö has a strong will to support its employees in the challenges related to work ability, and the next step could be the work ability support application. The application makes it easy and economical to monitor and manage the personnel’s work ability,“ tells Teirikko.

The Head of Human Resources says that Pörhö also utilises Pihlajalinna’s project-based occupational healthcare services, whenever needed.

“These days, a heavy workload can manifest in people in various ways, and we should focus more on issues such as sleeping problems and find treatment methods for them. It is important to have access to expertise on these issues as well.“