Military environment enhances a doctor’s competence

Captain (Med.) Jaakko Lepomäki felt drawn to the ambience of the Defence Forces during military service already. He went to Reserve Officer School and after that, with a rank of second lieutenant, worked as an instructor for a while. Then he decided to study medicine.

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After a few years in a public health centre, he returned to the Defence Forces as a doctor. He applied for a post of a senior medical officer, and since the last couple of years, Lepomäki has worked for the Defence Forces’ Centre for Military Medicine, in the Parolannummi health centre.

From clinical duties to planning for emergency conditions

Tasks of a health centre’s senior medical officer include management of the centre, seeing patients, planning of care and field training. About half of the tasks are administrative, about 40% are clinical duties. Lepomäki is involved in the planning for emergence conditions and in the medical safety activities in peacetime refresher training exercises. He is also an instructor.

According to Lepomäki, a military health centre is slightly different from an average workplace of a doctor. A doctor must have an understanding of a military environment, in which you may get to participate in a military parade or an oath ceremony during your working day. Lepomäki acknowledges that a military working community may perplex potential candidates for doctors’ posts.

– It may be unclear to them whether a doctor should be some kind of a “special ranger” or what their specialisation or disposition should be. What we actually need here is trustworthy professionals who do their job while appreciating the fact that they won’t have to be late picking up their children from daycare, Lepomäki says.

Lepomäki is specialising in general medicine and feels that his prior experience from a public health centre has benefited him a lot. In the garrison health centre, he gets to treat all kinds of illnesses, serious, too. Epidemiology is also central.

– This job provides a hands-on lesson for learning the skills that cannot be acquired in a civilian job.

Patient examination plays a critical role

Potential candidates may also worry that a military working environment kills their professional competence. Lepomäki is very clear on that.

– On the contrary; in a garrison health centre, patient examination is even more important than elsewhere. When you examine your patient carefully, you can come up with a diagnosis without any devices. This gives you professional confidence: I can do this and I can guide people.

Lepomäki also praises the resources for care. Conscripts may have mental issues, for example, but at the same time they may be motivated to continue their military service. In the garrison, they can get to see a doctor fast.

– If need be, I can control their situation week by week, and see right away how they respond to different medication and other things. We have the resources that allow proper, effective treatment, and we can see the results in a reasonable timeline.

Lepomäki considers conscript service to be a lesson of social affairs, especially for the male population. They learn to trust the healthcare system, seek occupational health services and understand that being ill is allowed and that we have services to support mental well-being. In this way, they are better equipped to take care of their well-being from early on.

– You never forget the moments when these twenty-year olds go out the door, thanking you for getting such great help with their issues and in a way, a little bit better tools for early adulthood.

Lepomäki sees some specific benefits in his job as a doctor in the Defence Forces, including the working hours fifty percent less than in the public healthcare and longer holidays. He also cannot stop praising his brilliant colleagues.

– Our personnel are resourceful and efficient with a passion for their work. There are always colleagues around when you come to work. If you need help, you just ask for it. Things get sorted, and there’s always company for lunch. I have an opportunity to improve things and also become a better superior.