Elearning - September/October 2008 - (Page 44)

casestudysharedlearning began with another electronic learning platform, it switched to the Blackboard system. “We needed a more robust and user-friendly platform,” says Lefebre, “especially when it came to allowing subjectmatter experts to customize content. With Blackboard, those two characteristics have really helped facilitate our ability to address the needs of a growing staff and consulting clients, like First Nations.” ACROSS THE MILES By relying on Blackboard products, Saint Elizabeth’s was able to create @YourSide Colleague, a program that has improved the speed and accuracy of training as well as clinical decisions and diagnoses. From any location with an Internet connection, staff has round-the-clock access to training and support. This includes discussion forums in which experts answer questions and give advice on specific case issues that can be viewed by the entire professional community. This is Challenge Provide a technologybased training system to maintain the expertise of health care professionals across much of Canada. Solution Implement Blackboard products, which give employees round-theclock access to training and support via the Internet. requiring corrective surgery. “There was a collective ‘gasp’ on the line, because many people were still using that treatment,” recounts Lefebre. “The literature indicates that the sooner a client has access to someone with specialized knowledge, the better the outcome. With this kind of learning, we know better care is being delivered.” MEASURABLE RESULTS Saint Elizabeth Health Care has taken advantage of the Blackboard system’s ability to track usage and performance. By analyzing user-metrics, decisions are made about what topics require additional training, modified instruction or more standardized information. “We can determine how much material to include in a module by seeing how long people are spending in a particular course,” notes Lefebre. “We also know that 80 percent are using the practice quizzes, which shows that they are really trying to apply their knowledge.” Other benefits have included support for: >> improved confidence and performance of field staff; >> reduction in cost, travel and lost clinical time associated with training; >> easy standardization of training materials throughout the organization; and >> streamlined distribution and updating of HR/ administrative policies and procedures (which have also been added to the @YourSide Colleague platform). ‘Being able to disseminate knowledge quickly and efficiently is a great benefit for us.’ —Nancy Lefebre, senior vice president an important benefit for SEHC’s staff and subscribing clients, who are spread out across nearly 1.3 million square miles. “Being able to disseminate knowledge quickly and efficiently is a great benefit for us,” says Lefebre. Images can be uploaded to the system so that “virtual” consultations can aid nurses in 44 September/October 2008 Elearning! very remote locations. Saint Elizabeth project manager Linda Forster: “These consultations make a real difference in patient care since nurses can immediately apply the feedback they get. They don’t have to wait for a physician to fly to their location. Access to expert consultation literally brings care closer to home for patients.” COMMUNITY OF LEARNING Shared learning has made great leaps in knowledge possible. In one such instance, a subjectmatter expert responded to a discussion group question by saying that the particular treatment technique that had been ordered for a patient was inappropriate and responsible for many complications, often —To learn more about Blackboard Professional Education Solutions, visit the Website www.blackboard.com/ProEd or telephone (888) 719-6123. http://www.blackboard.com/ProEd

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Elearning - September/October 2008

Elearning - September/October 2008 Contents Editor’s Note News IBM Goes Green Green Resources Deals Trendlines Learning Leader Up to Speed Cover Story: Going Green The Green Mindset? Cutting Down Turnover Tips: EET Case Study: Pacific Pulmonary Services Case Study: British Telecom Case Study: Allianz SE Case Study: LXR Case Study: St. Elizabeth Tips: Green Initiatives New Products LMS Tools Pop Quiz Last Word

Elearning - September/October 2008

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