Choosing the right LMS for your organization can seem daunting, but keeping these 5 key features in mind should simplify the process. David Brandt, an LMS independent consultant, and author of his blog "LMS Chef" breaks it down for us. Ready? Let's dive in!

Top 5 Essential Features of a Successful Healthcare LMS

1. Learning Paths
2. Webinars
3. Blended Learning
4. Reporting and Analytics
5. Mobile Learning

We're going to see how these 5 features are integrated into 3 LMS's used in healthcare environments.

These include:

1. iSpring Learn
2. Relias
3. Paradiso

Paths are journeys that lead us to destinations. With your learning goals being the "summit," of that destination we want to make sure that no one gets lost along the way. How can we make sure that everyone arrives equipped with the skills they need while remaining committed to providing individualized instruction? Enter learning paths with iSpring Learn.

Healthcare professionals are lifelong learners due to the dynamic nature of their work. Demonstrating mastery of important health topics is necessary to ensure patient care is consistently maintained. With iSpring Learn, learning paths are designed to progressively master topics in one comprehensive course. Learners are usually grouped together based on common job responsibilities or roles that necessitate them to complete a shared learning path. This cohort style learning means that cohesive training is provided in a consistent way.

For example, nurses may need to learn how to ensure patient confidentiality is maintained or even learn how to successfully employ conflict resolution techniques to practice when dealing with uncooperative patients.

iSpring Learn allows modules, videos, and assessments to be integrated seamlessly within the learning path. Course administrators can limit course progression that unlocks sequential modules only when prior modules have been completed. Additionally, administrators also have the option to assign freeform homework assignments that gauge learner comprehension and provide immediate instructor and student feedback. Learners can also earn certificates to account for their successful completion of their learning path.

Webinars and Zoom meetings have become powerful tools for increasing online interaction with our peers. Zoom provides a pathway for connecting users simultaneously and offers both informal and formal learning opportunities. Healthcare organizations can now leverage these tech features for learning purposes and keep online learning human-centered, personal, and interactive.

iSpring Learn seamlessly integrates Zoom within the LMS, inviting users to connect independently or directly within the LMS itself. Compatible with multiple operating systems, including Android, iOS, and Windows, learners can participate anytime, anywhere on their mobile devices. Course administrators can also increase engagement by screen sharing presentations and videos with participants, creating polls to receive instant feedback, recording meetings for future playback, and even collect detailed analytics on user attendance.

iSpring Learn makes it easy to implement webinars on a local or even global scale to improve patient care here at home or abroad.

You've heard the expression, "blend the best of both worlds," right?

The same is true in learning environments where we combine our main "ingredients" of traditional face-to-face classroom learning and e-learning. Knowledge derived from online modules becomes more reinforced with in-person instruction provided within the LMS.

Relias capitalizes on this asset by equipping course administrators with course management tools designed to monitor learning within the LMS.

Key Features

• Automated dashboards that highlight each individual's status and course progression at-a-glance
• Live training events and calendars to keep track of face-to-face training sessions
• Virtual Classroom which enable live, online training for educational seminars or hosting employee onboarding events
• Learning path integration for module-based e-learning

How much are your learners retaining?

Are they excelling in some areas, struggling in others?

How are they interacting with your courses?

Reporting analytics prioritizes what you as the course facilitator need to know about your learners. And with healthcare naturally being a profession requiring high calibre skills, analytics is a must in your LMS. Let's zoom in and magnify how Paradiso accomplishes this.

Paradiso LMS Reports offers comprehensive reporting and analytics tools that can help you:

• Create customized reports or use standard templates to help organize your data reports by type, all within a detailed, at-a-glance dashboard overview.
• Monitor user engagement with analytics on their course progress, LMS activity, and assignment completions
• Integrate data visualizations, such as charts and graphs to add meaning to your data
• Export your reports as Excel or CSV files to email or share with colleagues

and last but not least...!

Mobile learning or M-Learning is now an integral instructional asset to any LMS, regardless of the discipline or context of training. Mobile learning meets the learner in their authentic context, providing them with "just in time" learning anytime, anywhere.

Key Features

Paradiso LMS and their mobile app allow learners to access their courses whenever it's convenient for the learner. Paradiso capitalizes on social learning, gamification, and blended learning to tailor the mobile learning experience for their clients. The system is integrated with multiple 3rd party resources, such as Microsoft Office 360, OneDrive, Google Apps, and Dropbox, making collaboration a breeze.

Even offline learning is feasible with data being synced once internet connection is restored. Paradiso's mobile app also reflects a responsive design by its ability to adapt to multiple operating systems and remain functional across various devices. This means greater connection and more learning opportunities available for the learner.

Ok. So now we know that these LMS's have the top 5 essential features in common. We've even looked at how they are practically applied in the actual LMS. Great!

Now let's look at what makes them unique! Consider your context and note the differences that will help you choose the right LMS for you.

Check out this comparison chart which highlights some key features among our top 3 contestants!

References

Brandt, D. (2019, October 17). LMS for healthcare: 4 Full-featured solutions. LmsChef. https://lmschef.com/lms-for-healthcare/#EthosCE

iSpring Learn. (2021). Fast LMS for your mission-critical project. https://www.ispringsolutions.com/ispring-learn

Paradiso. (2021). Best LMS for employee, customer and partner training. https://www.paradisosolutions.com/

Relias. (2021). Deliver better outcomes with our custom solutions. https://www.relias.com/