Elsevier MC Strategies
Administrator Roundtable
Getting the Most from Your
eLearning Program
Peggy Simpson– Director,
Learning and Development
Solutions
06/17/2010
www.mcstrategies.com
Discussion
 Defining
Program Objectives
 Gaining Acceptance
 Expanding your Program
 Let the tools work for you
Defining Program Objectives



What are the Important Initiatives?
– Compliance
– EHR or other System Training
– Licensing and Certification
– HIPAA
– Coding and Revenue Cycle
How Do You Want to Organize?
– Centralized program
– Decentralized program
Define Responsibilities
– Administrators
– Managers
– Learners
Determine Goals






You will no doubt have several goals for your learning program
Goals will change over time
Determine most important initiatives first and plan for your program
– What are the Important Initiatives?
• Compliance – training large numbers with consistent standard
• EHR or other System Training – mandatory training from 3rd party
• Licensing and Certification – recurring
• Coding and Revenue Cycle – focused departmental training first
Goals will help keep you focused on the right plan
Goals will help you define responsibilities
Goals will help you know when you succeed
Organization is Key
Two Roles are a Must

Assign a Program Coordinator or Chief Learning Officer
–
–
–
–
–
–

Program Champion
Measures Results
Promotes Adoption
Administrative Leader
Familiar with organizational goals
Good communicator
Assign a System Administrator
–
–
–
–
–
Single contact for system configuration
Works closely with Program Coordinator
Technology familiar
Analytical
Good communicator
Organization is Key

Decide How to Administer the Program
– Centralized Management
– De-Centralized Management
– Blended Management – centralized for some training,
decentralized for others

Re-evaluate your program needs over time
– Evolve management approach as program expands
Organization is Key
Centralized program
manage learning assignments from a central area
Advantages:
1. Minimal Administrator Training required
2. Communications controlled from a single source
3. Fewer mis-steps in assignments
Disadvantages:
1. Will require a full time person(s)
2. User engagement more difficult – system feels forced
3. More difficult to engage training for all needs
Organization is Key
Decentralized program
distribute assignment management across multiple administrators or
managers
Advantages:
1. Bring system responsibility closer to departmental activities
2. Allows for flexibility across departments
3. Fosters user engagement
Disadvantages:
1. Requires more adherence to process to achieve standards
2. Requires more system administrator oversight
3. Communication challenges across those making assignments
Gaining Acceptance
Participation must have value
education must be part of the culture – worth doing







Promote the program – naming contest, team challenges
Communicate – recognize success, display progress
Offer interesting, relevant and new information
Get in their pockets – quick reference cards
Find local champions
Include participation in performance evaluations
Solicit feedback for improvements
Expanding your Program

Tap into organizational activities
– Expanding services
– Patient care topics
– New improvement initiatives

Solicit needs from departments
– New equipment or systems
– Changing practices




‘Advertise’ services to the organization
Offer self-improvement courses in addition to organizational
Solicit local authors – informal  formal learning
Measure the impact of learning on performance, patient safety,
revenue/costs, and organizational goals
Let the System Help You

Announcements
– Practice Changes
– Communication – news, new initiatives, organizational announcements

Discussions
–
–
–
–
–

Collaboration
Create new content
Submit learning needs
Discuss application of learning to the unit
Document team meetings
Self-enrollment
– Offer personal development and other course ware

References
– Use the references section to link to popular sites