The U.S. continuing medical education market was worth $2,712.55 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $3,830.46 million by 2027, according to Arizton. In the medical industry, it’s especially important that employees have access to healthcare continuing education. Staff members who are able to expand their knowledge increase their capacity to serve their patients and advance in their field. This is best done through a fully immersive LMS-based course that can be completed anywhere, anytime.
The importance of continuing education in healthcare
Giving existing staff the training to acquire the necessary licensure serves a multifold purpose. Through continuing education, the current staff becomes eligible for new positions. This way, you can fill important vacancies with existing and trusted employees instead of incurring the expenses of hiring new staff members. By going this route, you also avoid a possible bad hire. A bad hire at the executive level in the healthcare industry costs clinics an average of $3,798, according to HealthCare Recruiters International.
The benefits of LMS continuing education
Businesses in the healthcare industry should implement an LMS (learning management system) to develop their courses; it makes continuing education accessible for employees while ensuring minimal disruption to their work schedules. Create online courses that healthcare practitioners can take anytime anywhere outside of their often-unpredictable shift hours.
Here are other advantages of continuing education applicable to healthcare practitioners and clinics:
- Sections covering compliance may contain a lot of dry text. With an LMS, it’s easy to gamify these sections to make them more engaging.
- You can set up webinars that staff members can join in with a click of a button through their mobile devices.
- An LMS enables you to create flexible online learning that can be completed in increments. Students can complete one module at a time, or even save and exit mid-course, then pick up right where they left off.
How to choose an LMS for your healthcare training course
Learning management systems proliferate the market, but they’re not indistinguishable from one another. In fact, they’re quite diverse in features. Some are industry-specific, while others are applicable across niches. In any case, to build a comprehensive and integrative course, an LMS program should have the following built-in features out of the box.
Drag-and-drop course builder
A comprehensive LMS should have an easy-to-use course maker that requires zero coding skills. There should be plenty of existing templates that you can customize using an intuitive drag-and-drop feature. As the user, regardless of your experience level with an LMS, you should be able to create a course from the ground up that meets that:
- Is divided into multiple modules
- Contains diverse media, such as slides, videos, summary points, etc.
- Has a click-and-save feature, so students can pick up right where they left off
A rich suite of self-service tools
There should be a number of tools available to students to help them navigate the course. This includes features like:
- A progress feature where course-takers can check test/quiz scores, remaining modules, exam score averages, etc.
- Security settings where students can set/change their passwords and set 2-factor authentication
- A clickable print function in case students prefer a paper transcript of the course
- Schedules and upcoming web conferences
Performance metrics
A good LMS should convert raw data into a summarizable format and in the form of readable charts and graphs. Course creators can input the desired metrics, click a button, and have the data converted into a summary. In an instant, you have real-time data of key performance indicators, such as:
- Average test scores
- Average time spent on each module
- Live webinar attendance rate (vs. viewing the recorded webinar)
- Attendance via mobile device vs. PC
- Correct/incorrect ratio of individual quiz questions
- Common login hours
You may reserve the metrics for confidential eyes only or make the information available to all course-takers.
Certificate builder
Customize your own certificates of completion complete with the company seal of authenticity. Upon successfully finishing a course, students can print out their certificates. This way, they have proof of certification should they decide to continue their medical career at another institution.
Post-course survey
After completion, give students a chance to complete an optional survey. This enables you to identify what students liked and disliked with their full input in areas that can use some improvement. Refine the course and run it again for future course attendees. The LMS should include pre-made survey templates with pre-existing questionnaires and follow-up questions. This includes pulse survey templates if you choose to incorporate surveys mid-course.
Cloud networking
If multiple students are enrolled, you can create a cloud network and enable remote collaboration. Create a hub where students can discuss course material and brainstorm together for upcoming exams.
Dokeos LMS makes healthcare continuing education intuitive
Opportunities for healthcare continuing education are a great way to foster dedicated and motivated employees. It opens up opportunities for career advancement—this is a huge morale booster and encourages employees to remain with your company in the long term and move their way up the ladder.
Dokeos offers a sophisticated, highly functional LMS to help you build a tailored healthcare continuing education program for your employees. Our LMS will take you through a simple step-by-step building process so that you can get up and running in no time. With Dokeos LMS, create training and courses that ensure new and seasoned employees alike apply their training to the highest professional standards.
Create your own healthcare continuing education course today by signing up for Dokeos’ free trial. Contact us today!
