The volunteers of the Finnish Pain Association voted the care team of the Exote Pain Clinic as the Helper of 2020. Awarded event arranged at Lappeenranta on 5th of October, 2020. Due to the corona situation, the awards were made at Eksote’s premises with informal cake and coffee.
The vice-president Ritva Johansson offered the Finnish Pain Association certificate of honour and co-operative organisation Tempur’s gift card for EUR 2,000. Head of Eksote pain clinic Jukka Lempinen was pleasantly surprised by the recognition given by the patients: “In recent years, we have tried to invest more in various patient group activities and in enabling peer support. Activities which the patient has been able to contact themselves without referrals.”
According to Jukka Lempinen, the fact that recognition comes from a patient organization raises the value of the award. Tapio Tiittanen, Lappeenranta regional peer group leader of Suomen Kipu ry, gave credit to the care team. As a regional leader, he works closely with the care group and values their good cooperation with the patients’ organization.
Treating severe chronic pain often requires the expertise of many professionals. This is the second year that the association’s membership has selected an entire care team as the Helper of the Year. In 2019, the award was given to the Raahe Pain Clinic.
