NHS on course for e-learning
The Healthcare e-Academy has staged its second best practice conference. Feedback from delegates concerning the benefits of e-learning were extremely positive.
HEALTHCARE experts have praised online learning packages developed by the West Yorkshire-based Healthcare e-Academy as a valuable training tool.
Nearly 40 delegates from the NHS and private organisations heard at a Harrogate conference how the computer-based courses are an effective way to train employees in the wide range of skills classed as "Statutory and Mandatory" by the NHS.
The courses include Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, Lone Working, Security Awareness, Quality Healthcare - Consent, Safeguarding Adults, Child Protection, and Governance and Risk.
The conference was hosted by the Healthcare e-Academy and featured five speakers who have developed and/or are using online courses.
Founded in 2003 under brand name Tiger, the Healthcare e-Academy places importance on including engaging features such as interactive quizzes, animations and video in its online training courses. The membership-based organisation is part of the Virtual College in Ilkley, which has over 250,000 registered e-learners from public and private groups nationwide.
Speaker Aideen Martin, Clinical Ergonomics Advisor with NHS South of Tyne and Wear, has been using the manual handling course for a month and said it could potentially be rolled out across 3,500 workers within the organisation.
"It works for us as part of a blended training solution because it covers the theory and frees up actual sessions for practical work, which saves a lot of time," she said.
Delegate Fiona O'Neill, of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre, said: "The e-Academy is very grounded in the realities of healthcare and very thoughtful of the different types of learners involved."
Darren Good, who has worked with the e-Academy to produce a course in conflict resolution, said: "Now IT systems have vastly improved, people are realising e-learning is a very good way forward."
Virtual College's divisional director of e-Academies, Judith Clarkson, added: "Our packages are well received because we collaborate with our members to produce what they need.
"The purpose of the day was to give examples of various NHS trust's experiences of using e-modules to support their statutory and mandatory training and induction, so others can think about how they might work for them. We're delighted to have sparked a lot of lively debate."
The academy website is http:// www.healthcareea.co.uk / or contact 01943 605976, email: [email protected]