
You may use our policy management software, or you may use another providers because you feel it was more suitable for your needs. The main thing you need to do once you have opted for your policy management software, and rolled it out, is to train your staff how to use it. We understand it can be a difficult issue to get staff to buy in for a new product, or way of working, because often people like to use what they know and are comfortable with. Through the years we have been developing our software, we have matched the investment made in our research and development with the investment we have made in client training and support. This is really important as you can make the greatest software in the world but if people don’t use it, what’s the point?
Why Is It Important For Staff To Be Trained How To Use Policy Management Software Correctly?
Top performing companies not only recognize the importance of their people but also the need to provide the right skills to enable them to do a good job. When talking about implementing policy management software the subject of staff training is not often at the forethought of peoples minds. This is shortsighted as it is actually a very important piece of this puzzle since any training is essential to make the whole implementation worth the effort, to have everyone fully onboard, and to utilize the software to the its fullest potential.
Different Types Of Policy Management Software Training
Usually, the trainees are offered 2 options; onsite or virtual sessions. It is up to the management to decide what is best option for their employees and company. The virtual sessions are helpful and more applicable to smaller groups and a specific audience. As a final step before a company goes live it is recommended that the training be onsite, with the presence of a professional trainer.
Each learner’s experience is different. One may be deeply skeptical about training based on a poor experience at a previous session, while another may have outsized expectations of the training’s benefits. Training, of course, is neither a waste of time nor a magic potion. Therefore, it is important to present training programs with honesty and transparency. The trainer needs to be sure to communicate the purpose, objectives and intended outcomes of each training session, and show the relevance training has to each individual at a healthcare facility.
Onsite Policy Management Software Training
In regards to the onsite experience, It is better when healthcare workers have hands on training, meaning that they attain more knowledge by using all the senses to affect learning, interacting to each other, and having time to not only listen, but to think. In addition to that, using the the information from their own organization, such as, policy names, committees and templates during the training, is a lot more effective.
The attendees also have a better interaction where they can share their experiences; all trainees will get more out of sessions by hearing about their co-workers’ experiences with the subject (the trainer would ask them to describe their actual process and compare to the application’s), and not just the trainer’s lecture points. Hearing different voices also keeps sessions varied and interesting. As mentioned previously, using all senses eases the learning process, and considering that not all the trainees might be tech/computer savvy, it is extremely imperative to provide them with guides and booklets where they will be able to find the topics that are being discussed during the training session.
The sessions can be customized according to the organization’s needs, for instance: having a 5-minute break could bring some benefits considering that some people leave the classroom to go to the restrooms or have water/snack and this can throw some people off, when they are extremely focused on the process.
Having the trainer going to the client site one day prior to the training session to verify the computers are set up correctly, to avoid any confusion or delay during the training sessions, is a great step that a healthcare organization can take to ensure there is less chance of technical issues on the day. People can get very frustrated and confused if they come across technical issues during the training session, believing that they will face the same problems when they start using the software.
Virtual Policy Management Software Training
Virtual sessions are extremely beneficial for smaller groups, or even single individuals. During a conference call, body language cannot be used, so the trainer needs to make sure to apply clear voice instructions, as well as explain details in an easy to understand manner, as the content is likely to be new to the trainees. The visual content exchanged in this kind of training session would be the trainer’s screen, where all the content would be demonstrated and the attendees would be able to follow along, taking notes and watching carefully.
For some learners, training creates anxiety — they fear they will be unfairly judged or evaluated during a training session. Or, they feel irrational stress during an assessment and do poorly as a result. This is natural human behaviour but something we at PolicyMedical try very hard to alleviate.
Which Type Of Policy Management Software and Training is Right For You?
Training best practices can vary depending upon the specific situation, culture and maturity of each organization. It can also vary from software to software. It might be that the best practices for a software solution, like SharePoint, is a better fit for your organization, or it may be that you feel PolicyManager is more user friendly. The important thing is to ensure that you are provided with best trainers that are well aware of the training needs before implementing any initiative. The industry is built around the belief that the process of doing, reflecting, and learning is a continuous one.
If you would like to find out more about PolicyMedical’s healthcare policy software, PolicyManager, please get in touch to find out more. We would be happy to chat through how policy management software can help bring order to your policy and procedures and the training options available. It may be that our software and training may help, or if not, we would be more than happy to point you in the right direction. Alternatively if you want to see our software, PolicyManager, in action please request a demonstration.
Written By
Bianca Zefa
Implementation Specialist
Email: Bianca@policymedical.com