Learning: It’s In Your Hands

eLearning offers helpful knowledge with the click of a mouse

When Mary Jean Potylycki, R.N., told her float pool nurses about a new way to learn tips for reducing patients’ urinary tract infections, they thought the process—called eLearning— sounded challenging.

But soon they were clicking away on their computers and actively learning. “They found learning can be creative, easy and fun, even when it’s about urinary catheterization procedures,” Potylycki says.

Now you can discover the fun and convenience of eLearning too. The new eLearning (available through your computer’s SSO toolbar) puts knowledge at your fingertips through a growing catalog of online classes. You’ll use it to complete your annual core training requirements (formerly known as DeMedici) and so much more.

In the coming year, more content will be added to the eLearning system to help you develop clinical skills, keep up-to-date on protocol changes and take advantage of professional development opportunities. The system also will make it easy for clinicians to create their own courses. Plus, it’ll help clinicians track education records, keep their credentials current, and make it easy to learn the latest in patient care, such as new ways to prevent hospitalacquired infections.

What makes eLearning so unique? Here’s what people who piloted the program are saying:

It’s vibrant.
The float pool nurses’ pilot included a multimedia video component. “Adding video, sound and narration keeps you engaged,” says Carolyn Davidson, R.N., director of quality and practice research.

It’s there when you need it.
When you take your annual training this year, you can do it at a time that works best for your schedule (not at designated times as it was in the past) by clicking on your work computer’s SSO toolbar. “That’s a big deal, especially when you work nights—our staff members are especially excited about eventually being able to do their education at home,” Potylycki says.

It’s a time- (and money-) saver.
“With travel expenses at an all-time high, being able to take a required training course over lunch at your workstation is great,” says Matthew Mihoerck, applications analyst for Lehigh Valley Physician Group. “It also allows clinicians to return to patient care without missing a beat.”

It’s effective.
Charles Worrilow, M.D., director of education for the department of emergency medicine, used eLearning to create content for pediatric sedation credentialing. “It provided users with information that was practical and current—information they could use in their everyday practice.”

It’s easy to use.
David Richardson, M.D., discovered it was simple to create online content. “It worked so well, we plan to complete six more educational modules during the next 12 months,” says Richardson, associate vice chair, department of medicine.

It’s for all of us.
eLearning isn’t just for clinicians. Bryon Brinker, a senior technical analyst for information services, anticipates using it in the future to educate all colleagues on new computer applications and software. “It allows you to reach an unlimited number of people—and still get results.”

—Amy Satkofsky

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