Industry 4.0 technologies have reformed and transformed the healthcare industry by making integrated care the hottest trend. Businesses producing medical applications and delivering medical services keep optimizing their processes by adopting cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics.
At the same time, they have been adopting Health Care 4.0 by training, reskilling, and upskilling employees regularly. ELearning tools like learning management systems (LMS) help healthcare organizations run essential learning and development (L&D) programs like compliance, patient safety, interpersonal skill development, technology, and onboarding.
Some of these LMS systems are developed specifically to meet the L&D needs of businesses in the healthcare sector. Likewise, a healthcare organization can customize cloud-based LMS systems according to its precise needs. Providers further help businesses implement, customize, integrate, and maintain the cloud-based LMS without a dedicated IT team.
However, decision-makers like you must focus on choosing the best LMS system for your healthcare organizations. We are making it easier for you to make informed decisions by discussing key parameters for comparing healthcare LMS systems.
11 Important Parameters for Comparing Healthcare LMS Systems
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
While evaluating healthcare LMS systems, you must ensure that they deliver seamless user experience (UX) across devices. Likewise, the software features a user interface (UI) that learners can understand and navigate without requiring training and technical proficiency. The combination of UI and UX will help you choose an LMS that will enable learners to acquire knowledge at their own pace using a desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.
Multi-Format Content Repository
Working professionals these days consume L&D content in a variety of ways. Some learners prefer watching videos or listening to audio, while some still read eBooks, journals, articles, and blogs. Hence, your organization needs an LMS system that delivers content in multiple formats – eBooks, journals, simulations, videos, audio, and quizzes. At the same time, you should prioritize software that enables learners to access a digital library with content in multiple formats.
Curated Content Sharing
Healthtech and healthcare trends these days change frequently. Your L&D strategy must focus on familiarizing learners with cutting-edge healthcare technologies and emerging healthcare trends. Hence, you need to ensure that the LMS delivers curated content to learners by gathering information published and shared by experts. However, you should prioritize software that curates and shares content from various sources using intelligence technologies.
Content Authoring Tools
While strategizing L&D, you need to ensure that your in-house researchers can share up-to-date information with learners. They will need content authoring tools to create fresh content in multiple formats. Likewise, they can save time and effort by repurposing existing content. Hence, you should consider healthcare LMS systems that come with built-in content authoring tools. Additionally, you need to ensure that content authoring tools are easy to use and access.
Learner and Course Tracking
While making L&D strategies, you should focus on creating courses or training programs for various employees. Likewise, you must make learning progress monitoring and tracking an ongoing process. You can simplify leaner and course tracking by opting for an LMS that features an intuitive dashboard. The L&D manager can use the dashboard to know the real-time status of individual courses and learners. Additionally, he can evaluate various training programs by generating reports based on real-time information.
Collaborative and Gamified Learning
While shortlisting healthcare LMS systems, you must remember that over 85% of learners do not finish online courses or training programs. You must increase course completion rates by adopting trends like collaborative learning and learning gamification. You should choose an LMS that facilitates collaborative learning by providing features like discussion forums, chat, query corners, and leaderboards. At the same time, you need to ensure that the software gamifies learning experiences by offering features like badges, scorecards, and virtual coins.
Learning Analytics
Data analytics has been transforming L&D initiatives across sectors. In addition to collecting raw eLearning data regularly, data analytics solutions gain actionable insights by analyzing the data automatically. The data-driven insights help your L&D managers understand what is working and what is not. Also, the manager can leverage the insights to boost learner engagement by refining content, providing support, and sending notifications. Hence, your organization must implement a healthcare LMS system that comes with built-in data analytics solutions.
Data Security
The LMS will deliver a variety of data to learners. Likewise, it will create opportunities for researchers to share studies, information, and insights with medical practitioners. That is why you must ensure that the LMS focuses extensively on safeguarding data and protecting privacy. The software must support access restrictions to ensure that each learner can access relevant and authorized content. At the same time, you must check how the software optimizes data security using cutting-edge tools and implementing best practices.
Integration Capabilities
Your organization can build a unified L&D platform by integrating the LMS with other eLearning tools like learning experience management software and online classroom software. Likewise, it can ensure seamless data transmission by combining the LMS with enterprise systems like human resource management (HRM) software. Hence, you should prioritize healthcare LMS systems that can be integrated seamlessly with existing eLearning and enterprise tools using application programming interfaces (APIs).
Technical Support
Unlike on-premise LMSs, cloud-based LMS systems are maintained and managed by the vendor. Your team has to interact with the support executives deployed by the vendor to resolve various technical issues. Hence, you must check if the healthcare LMS system vendor provides 24/7 technical support. Additionally, you need to ensure that your team can connect with a technical support executive by making phone calls, sending emails, or using voice/video chat options.
Reviews and Awards
Reviews and testimonials posted by existing users help you evaluate shortlisted LMSs based on real-time information. Many online forums and websites create opportunities for users to review LMS systems. You must read reviews posted on reputable websites to evaluate the pros and cons of each LMS accurately. At the same time, you should not forget to check if the healthcare LMS system has won any eLearning excellence awards or certifications.
Conclusion
Healthcare LMS systems can be classified into two categories – standard and custom. Standardized LMS systems are developed by targeting various for-profit and nonprofit organizations in the healthcare sector. On the other hand, customizable LMS systems can be implemented according to the precise needs of individual healthcare organizations.
You must prioritize customizable healthcare LMS systems to meet your organization’s L&D needs over an extended period. However, it is also important to compare these customizable eLearning solutions using multiple parameters. Additionally, you must evaluate the credibility and reputation of individual healthcare learning management system vendors.
About Mintbook
Mintbook provides a unified learning platform that includes an LMS that can be customized according to the precise needs of individual healthcare organizations. A healthcare organization can further leverage robust digital library software and intuitive online classroom software while implementing this feature-rich LMS.
