When the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world in 2020, it overwhelmed an outdated and struggling healthcare industry. It was a stressful time for many people, but those working in the healthcare industry had it especially rough. As a result, healthcare workers left the industry in troves, resulting in an 8.2% decrease in health employment.
Over time, employment in healthcare bounced back and is now growing with the same consistency as the overall job market. Modernization of healthcare practices, virtual doctor visits, and electronic learning advancements have all contributed to this resurgence in healthcare job opportunities.
What is eLearning in Healthcare?
When large in-person gatherings became a public health risk, organizations needed to create virtual learning opportunities. Electronic learning (eLearning) describes this shift from classroom learning environments to online classes.
In healthcare, eLearning gives medical students the chance to increase their professional knowledge from wherever they are in the world, whenever they have time available. For existing healthcare professionals, online learning provides continued education opportunities and the ability to enhance knowledge in certain areas.
Examples of online healthcare classes include:
Alternative medicine specialization
Nutrition and fitness education
Pharmaceutical technician courses
Ears, eyes, nose, and throat specialization
Neurology specialization
Taking additional healthcare courses can advance medical students’ specialties and provide them with new career opportunities.
Benefits of eLearning for Medical Students
Medical industry roles carry many intricacies and technical knowledge mandates. Deciding to pursue an education in the healthcare field can be a huge challenge for those who already have a different job and are trying to balance school with their existing lifestyle.
These are three advantages of eLearning for students pursuing a medical education:
Ability to Learn Remotely
In-person classroom learning environments make it necessary for students to clear their schedules at certain times, have consistent personal transportation or pay for public transportation, and hire childcare services if needed. All of these are barriers for busy individuals hoping to attain a healthcare degree or certification.
Remote learning creates opportunities for these individuals to gain the education they desire without sacrificing in other areas of their lives.
Ability to Learn at Own Pace
Everyone learns best in different ways, environments, and with different styles. Remote learning allows students to learn in the way that works best for them, at their own pace.
eLearning courses give students 24/7 access to learning materials. That means they can complete coursework after a night shift, during a break at work, on weekends, or at any other time that they prefer.
Ability to Adjust Schedule Accordingly
Trying to fit in-person classes into an already busy schedule can be frustrating and lead some students to extend the timeline of attaining their degrees. Electronic learning offerings allow students to fit school into their schedule wherever it works, speeding up their ability to complete programs.
Advantages of Healthcare eLearning for Schools
The advantages of eLearning for healthcare students are many, but there are benefits for organizations and schools that offer an alternative to classrooms as well.
These are some advantages of eLearning for medical schools:
Lower Training Costs
Preloaded online classes allow organizations to cut costs related to instructors, classroom facilities, and materials. When your organization begins cutting these costs, you’ll be able to spend money in other ways to help retain and develop employees and students.
Ability to Reach More Students
Many healthcare students already work in the medical field, which can have round-the-clock hours that make it difficult to set a class time that works for everyone. Remote learning expands the reach of your organization to students who may not have found it accessible in traditional learning environments.
Lower Travel Expenses for Educators
Without in-person workshops, your organization will save money on travel expenses for instructors. Educators can record and upload content for training modules from anywhere in the world, including the comfort of their own homes.
How Healthcare Organizations Can Use eLearning
The benefits of virtual learning in healthcare are clear, so now you must decide how to adopt it at your organization. Here are some of the top use cases for eLearning in the healthcare industry:
Onboarding New Hires
Healthcare organizations fill roles for physicians, administrators, technicians, and other support staff. All of these individuals need to be well-versed in the intricacies of your organization and the professionalism expected of them by representing the company. People seek medical intervention for highly-sensitive situations and new hires should have the opportunity to remotely learn about patient confidentiality when they are first brought on to the organization.
Employee Training/Continued Education
Whether it’s for new hires or continued education for existing employees, eLearning can cut costs related to keeping your staff up-to-date with the latest medical techniques and technology. Without continued education opportunities, healthcare organizations can become outdated and patients will opt for more modernized medical options.
Introducing New Procedures
As your organization adapts, you might introduce new policies, procedures, and technologies that staff will have to become familiar with. By introducing these changes in online classes, you provide employees the opportunity to learn the information at times that fit into their busy schedules and patient loads.
Implementing Medical Learning Management Systems
If you’re ready to introduce eLearning at your healthcare organization, the first step is to choose an agile learning management system (LMS).
Start building out remote course modules by becoming a World Education partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eLearning in healthcare improve the quality of patient care?
eLearning allows healthcare employees to stay up-to-date on certifications that can benefit the quality of care that patients receive.
Can eLearning work for a variety of healthcare professions?
Offering remote learning opportunities can benefit all different types of roles in the healthcare field including administrative, technical, custodial, customer service, sales, and physician roles.
Is eLearning more effective than traditional learning methods?
Traditional learning methods carry with them shortcomings for organizations with individuals who work different schedules and in different geographical locations. eLearning makes learning more accessible to all employees by offering courses that can be taken anywhere at any time that is convenient for students.