In 2024, 80% of businesses report using an Learning Management System (LMS). These businesses help train employees on various topics. That is a 10% increase from 2020, when only 70% of businesses utilized an LMS.
As more and more businesses utilize Learning Management systems, it is becoming increasingly important to understand why it is important to utilize them.
Learning Management Systems offer a large number of different training programs, making it easier for employers to manage their employees compliance. From the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training sessions, or even standard training courses. The use of LMS systems help streamline the training process, while also ensuring the employees are receiving the best training possible.
In today’s blog we will be diving into what a Learning Management System is and how they benefit the healthcare industry.
Without any further delay, let's dive into it!
Table of Contents
What is a Healthcare Learning Management System?
Now before we dive into how the healthcare industry uses LMS, let's first discuss what it is.
A learning management system also known as a LMS, is a system that helps to assist organizations to train staff on educational information. Now you may be asking yourself is there a difference between a Healthcare LMS and just a standard LMS?
When looking at the Healthcare Learning management system compared to a standard LMS system, they are practically the same. The main difference is that there are features located on the system that are Healthcare- specific.
In the LMS, the system helps manage employee certifications, compliance tracking, and assign any additional training. The system you use determines the available training you have to choose from. However, most Healthcare LMSs have HIPAA ( Health Industry Portability and Accountability Act) training.
A Healthcare LMS helps accommodate the specific needs of healthcare organizations, whether it’s a hospital, clinic, or a medical facility. Since the healthcare industry is a fast paced and highly regulated industry the use of LMS, helps ensure staff stays informed and compliant while delivering the best care possible.
Benefits of using a Healthcare LMS
Since the use of Learning Management Systems has been growing in almost every industry, healthcare organizations are beginning to see LMS as an important resource. The use of a healthcare LMS offers a large number of benefits that impact every aspect of the organizations that choose the right one.
Streamlined Training and Education
According to a survey performed in 2024, online learning and training help enhance employee performance by 15% to 25%.
When using a Healthcare LMS, the employees have constant access to the training materials. This allows them to re-read or re-watch any portion of the training they may have forgotten. The program can also notify the training staff if an employee is close to needing to reduce their training. This makes sure there are no gaps from when the employee was compliant to not.
Enhanced Patient Care
As we touched upon in the section above, the use of an LMS is vital to enhancing patient care. As the result of LMS assigned trainings, healthcare workers can easily stay up to date on any improvements in the healthcare industry, an ever-changing vertical.
Cost Efficiency
Since Learning Management Systems are completely online, they’re more cost effective.
This is due to not having to hire a person to come in to do in-person training sessions, or hiring external training instructors.
With the option of holding training sessions online, it is a lot easier to plan for how long an employee will be away from work. Having this information is vital to helping plan around when training is due, and hopefully get it done when the facility is not busy.
Improved Performance Tracking and Reporting
Since healthcare Learning Management Systems are completely virtual, management gains the ability to track the employees progress and performance on each assignment. With this information, management is able to fill any gaps in the training. Thus, ensuring that employees are getting the proper training to succeed.
With everything becoming online more and more, it’s vital that your team utilizes these resources. Using a healthcare LMS, can help enhance patient care, streamline training, reduce any additional costs, and improve tracking.
Key Features of a Healthcare LMS
Now that we have gone over what a Healthcare LMS is and what some of the benefits of using it are, let's talk about the key features to look for when evaluating one.
Compliance Tracking and Certification Management
This is probably the first thing you think about when you read “key features”, most companies absolutely need this feature when evaluating their LMS.
The right LMS, allows management to identify what employees have completed, started, or not started their training. This alone takes a weight off of management's back, but not having to constantly check to see who is compliant and who is not.
Customizable Learning Paths
In the Healthcare industry, there are different roles between nurses, doctors, and administrative staff.
Unfortunately, these all require a different level of training. The right healthcare LMS, helps management customize the training path for each role. Ensuring everyone is doing the training they need to be done and nothing less.
Interactive and Engaging content
Since LMSs are online, it can be difficult to keep the employees watching and engaged. You want to source a Healthcare Learning Management systems that includes both videos and simulations. These help keep the employees engaged, and learning without blowing it off.
Challenges in Implementing Healthcare LMS
Even though I have made the Healthcare LMS seem to be a dream, there are some challenges to keep in mind while you work through your evaluation.
Adoption resistance
Since most employees do their training either in person or in a seminar, the adoption of the wrong LMS can be hard. This is due to the change of having employees make accounts and learn how to use the system. This can cause employees to become resistant to the use of the program .
Cost and Budget Constraints
Unfortunately training requirements are constantly changing, so this will mean a change in the available programs on the system. This may require it to be constantly updated, and reviewed by an employee. There will also be costs involved with implementing an LMS, the employer will need to pay for the program, and may need to invest in company computers for the training to completed on.
Content Relevance and Quality
As we just discussed, training is always changing so it is vital that all of the content is up-to-date. It is also vital that the quality of the content is clear and easy to understand for the employees to understand the content.
In some cases it may be important to add evidence or give a retelling of what happened when someone did not follow the policy. The best example would be doing a retelling of someone breaking HIPAA, just to ensure they are understanding the topics thoroughly.
Conclusion
A Healthcare Learning Management System makes training easier and more efficient. With customizable learning paths and interactive engagement, it ensures staff receives the right training for their industry.
However, not all LMS platforms are the same. Choosing the right system is crucial for meeting compliance requirements, improving staff performance, and ensuring high-quality patient care. The best LMS should align with your organization's goals, support ongoing education, and provide easy access to training resources.
Investing in the right healthcare LMS improves operations, reduces errors, and strengthens overall patient safety. By selecting a system that fits your needs, you can streamline learning, boost staff confidence, and create a more effective healthcare environment.
