Published on September 10, 2014 By Chris Schukies, HR Services Client Representative
Continuing education is a fact of daily life in healthcare. From maintaining good standing with accrediting bodies to ensuring Medicare compliance, ambulatory surgery centers face no shortage of clinical, regulatory and professional training opportunities and obligations throughout the year.
But ensuring participation in these important learning programs is a continual challenge. Heavy caseloads and strained budgets mean all practices today must do more with less — and continuing education frequently falls by the wayside.
With that in mind, here are three tips for boosting employee participation:
Utilize online tools
Nearly all professional learning, compliance and continuing education opportunities today are available online. That said, not all organizations take advantage of this convenient option. Administrators benefit from the ability to standardize clinical instruction for the entire organization, while employees are free to complete these tasks on their own schedules. Quizzes typically are administered at the end of each module and comprehensive reporting capabilities are available.
In addition, course content can be customized to meet the needs of each ASC. Managers also may administer professional learning solutions to a select few employees, or customize a new course.
Communicate goals
A well-trained staff means better patient outcomes and employee satisfaction. Advanced accreditation and certifications also allow surgery centers to stay on the cutting edge of treatment advances and procedures. Communicating these goals and their rationale builds enthusiasm among employees for participating in the requisite training.
Promote professional development
While many accreditation and compliance programs are mandatory in healthcare, most professional learning opportunities are not. Still, programs covering customer service and management skills can provide employees valuable training opportunities that make them more valuable in the workplace. Examples of popular professional learning solutions include:
- Employment Law for Supervisors
- Progressive Discipline
- Time Management Skills for Employees
- Customer Service Skills
- Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace
- Regulatory Compliance for Clinical Staff
- Regulatory Compliance for Non-Clinical Staff
- Pulmonary Emergencies
- Safety and Health
For more information on professional learning solutions, please contact info@medhq.com.