eLearning for Compliance Management in the Healthcare Industry

There is a wide variety of applications and benefits of eLearning.eLearning is a powerful tool for individuals, from earning a college degree or learninghow to manage a chronic disease. For healthcare organizations that must meetcompliance management goals, reduce cost, increase efficiency, and improvepatient outcomes, the power of online, anytime learning enables organizations toprioritize training needs, while allowing individuals to manage their time andlearning environment.  

In the past, compliance management in the healthcareindustry involved staff members manually managing paper-based training programsand records. This model requires a significant time investment to maintainemployee compliance, keep track of annual training requirements, acknowledgekey policies, and measure job-specific competency. This does not fit today’seconomic model of healthcare. In fact, failure to provideand document employee compliance with annual compliance training requirementscan lead to serious fines, and contribute to avoidable errors and incidents.

Healthcare organizations that want to have an organized andsystematic approach to managing compliance requirements as well as enterpriseknowledge should consider the use of a learning management system (LMS). An LMSprovides significant advantages for organizations when assigning and tracking employeetraining, including topics ranging from fire safety to best practices forimproving patient outcomes. 

Think of an LMS as an online library of course content thatensures compliance and tracks continuing education for licensed staff. An LMScan also act as the vehicle for sharing best practices throughout anorganization by simply uploading and sharing. If you have ever been through anaccreditation or audit process, you know that it’s not simply about providingcompliance training to staff, but rather how well that training is organizedand documented that results in a successful review.    

Easy set upfor increased efficiency

All deadlines for regulatory compliance can be set in the learningmanagement system for the ultimate approach to organization and efficiency.There is a great benefit when employees have anytime access to training, and whenthe LMS notifies managers that employees have completed assigned courses.Instead of requiring administrators to review individual records, an LMS shouldbe able to set reminders, reassign annual courses, and provide meaningfulreports.

Characteristicsof a quality LMS

Options

The size and unique needs of the company will determinethe LMS that is right for you. A system that has all the options youcould possibly need yet can be condensed to only what you will actually use isideal. There are many types of LMSs that include build-your-own or subscriptionaccess to course libraries and other resources. While cost is always a factor, makesure to consider the cost of not being completely compliant.

Customization

Your company may already have learning materials in PowerPointor Word format in its curriculum that can be transformed into an engagingdigital learning experience. Some companies that provide LMS access may offer aservice to convert your existing course materials, while some may not. Consideralso the ability of the company you are working with to develop custom coursesthat are based on your organization’s mission, vision, and goals. Personalized,branded training courses can engage employees with testimonials, patientpopulation statistics, and opportunities for senior leadership to share theirmessage.

Customer support

Have you ever tried to get in touch with a companyrepresentative only to find that email and chat are the only options available?When choosing an LMS, make sure you understand the cost for support and how youaccess support. An in-house eLearning development department will provide theattention to detail and customization that your company needs, along with morepersonal service that caters to your organization. Design, development, andcustomer support are also crucial should you have any questions as youimplement the program and as you identify and solve existing pain points.

Industry-specific trainings

An LMS that is specific for your industry is also anadvantage. With the healthcare industry, you must also manage provider licensureand credentialing; record-keeping in the digital age requires a company thatknows how to manage and protect your records, which has much more value thanthe self-serve or manual processes. A company that specializes in thehealthcare industry can help to create the knowledge library that you can useto improve overall organizational performance.

All-in-one learningand compliance management systems

Many organizations have multiple programs that are separatedfrom other important resources. Look for a company that has a comprehensiveoffering and select features that best meet your organization’s needs.

Take for example the OSHA requirement to train employees on hazardouscommunication. Simply assigning a course is insufficient to maintainingcompliance. If an employee is trained on hazardous communication and there isan accidental exposure, how is that information documented and managed? Maybe theincident involved a piece of equipment, but the last time preventivemaintenance was conducted on it is unknown. How about the policy on equipmentmanagement and location of the user manual? 

There needs to be an Injury and illness prevention plan (IIPP),and an exposure control and hazardous communication plan that employees caneasily access at any time. Additionally, employees must have access to safetydata sheets (SDSs) and compliance management systems (CMSs) to fulfill thetraining requirements and the systems and resources needed to report a hazardor injury when it occurs. A CMS can connect all of the important elementsassociated with a training topic and provide access to tools and documentationprocesses that create real compliance.

With the right tools, your company can simplify regulatorycompliance and training according to your specific needs so that you can focuson the more important tasks at hand. In the long run, investingin the proper LMS will not only save your company money throughbetter compliance management, but it will also establish credibility amongpatients and peers.