Best Learning Modalities for Telehealth Training

Patient and provider demand for telehealth services is on the rise today especially during a public healthcare pandemic. This demand for telemedicine means that many providers require adequate training when it comes to the provision of effective virtual healthcare services.

Telehealth supports remote healthcare over long distances to educate patients and address their healthcare needs.

There are many benefits that come from using telehealth practices. This method is a way for workers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries to deliver effective healthcare solutions without occupying the same room as your patients.
Creating an Virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT) or eLearning

Establishing a learning plan for employees forms the foundation of your training. Consider completing a Training Needs Assessment (TNA). First, determine what is the desired outcome of your telehealth service. Next, determine the current outcome of your existing structure. Then analyze the gap between these two states. With this information you can continue to complete the other areas of a thorough analysis such as, audience, skills, performance, etc. 

Begin the training with foundational knowledge that conveys important principles and lessons your employees should know. Then build upon the basic principles through the introduction of more advanced topics.

The right training modality establishes the quality level of training that your telehealth employees will receive. With these new skills, they will become productive workers ready to meet their daily performance goals.

Not All People Learn the Same Way

It’s important for you to understand how each person on your team learns. There are a few types of learning methods, and what works well for one person might not be the right training solution for another.

Visual learners absorb information with their eyes. They prefer to see images, diagrams and other visual elements to understand a concept. Auditory learners prefer to hear what they are learning before they understand key concepts. Tactile/kinesthetic learners tend to rely on feel and touch to absorb information.

An effective way to reach all learners is modality-based instruction. This consists of creating training with the various learning styles in the instructional design process. For example, instruction should accommodate visual learners, auditory learners, tactile/kinesthetic learners and “mixed” learning styles.

Providing hands-on telehealth training

Telehealth training should provide opportunities for hands-on instruction. This is the best way that your employees can practice using your telehealth communications platform. Hands-on training helps employees adjust to using the platform. Creating a Virtual Instructor Led Training course is a great way to have a ‘hands-on’ training environment remotely. You can set up break out rooms and allow time for learners to practice in an environment where they can ask for help and feedback.

Virtual instruction

Virtual Instructor Led Training or vILT is based online and conducted by a live instructor. Employees located across the country or in different time zones can benefit from the convenience this type of instruction offers them.

Employees receive instruction through a live video stream. Virtual instructors address employee questions and concerns through a chat interface or can do so with live video. This training method creates a collaborative environment that engages the attention of the class. You can also set up interactive tools to help employees measure their levels of understanding in the material presented to them. Virtual instructors rely upon surveys, quizzes and polls to reinforce the key points presented.

If considering this method, you’ll want to think about content. Taking an existing presentation that was designed for in-class use likely won’t have the same impact in a virtual environment. It's key to design the training to fit with the method. This can include incorporating polls, quizzes, and utilizing the software features such as the raise hand functions, whiteboard, and other collaboration tools.

eLearning

Online learning systems contribute to the development of needed skills for employees. Leveraging custom eLearning can provide employees access to training when and where they are needed. Quiz platforms are part of the eLearning environment and students can learn anywhere. Also, eLearning modules an be set to automatically grade the answers to tests and quizzes – making student progress easy to track. Students receive their grades quickly after completion of the online assessment, boosting their self-confidence.


Communicating clearly with employees

Workers in the healthcare industry have the opportunity to stay current with the latest information that helps them provide the highest level of patient care. As an employer you should make sure that the selected method of training equips your employees with the skills they need to stay current in the workplace. Take the time to compare and evaluate the type and method of training that will be the most effective solution to meet the training needs for each of your employees.

A popular method of Telehealth Training is eLearning, but do you know where to begin? Download your FREE copy of

'Your eLearning Dream Team' to get started!