| Information technologies have created efficiencies and | | | | Most commonly, resources to train staff are limited or |
| flexibilities in many areas of health care. By providing | | | | have to be hired from outside sources. In this way, |
| better means for data entry, data storage and | | | | financial as well as skill limitations exist in providing |
| information retrieval, informatics can facilitate health | | | | training needs. Electronic schedules and databases of |
| care information easily. One of the ongoing | | | | staff to be trained can best allow a means to |
| requirements for hospitals and healthcare facilities is | | | | effectively organize training sessions. By arranging |
| that staff receives adequate training and sometimes | | | | sessions in accordance of maximum attendance, |
| certifications in areas of care policy and practice. | | | | informatics provides an efficiency that saves time and |
| Manual logs are time-consuming, cumbersome and | | | | money. This is particularly helpful when training must be |
| prone to inaccuracies. By employing information | | | | accomplished in a short time. Data analysis and |
| technology to these areas, staff training registers can | | | | storage make this possible given the staff information |
| be completed more efficiently for everyone while | | | | inherently in the electronic system. |
| providing better use of resources and better | | | | With constant requirements for credentialing |
| documentation. In addition, better organization leads to | | | | certifications of various healthcare facilities, |
| avoidance of certification expiration's. Informatics can | | | | documentation is a tremendous need for many areas. |
| help streamline this segment of healthcare allowing | | | | Training is no exception. Files or folders of staff training |
| greater focus on direct patient care instead. | | | | records and/or certifications are a challenge in terms |
| For the staff member involved in maintaining a staff | | | | of storage ability as well as centralized locations for |
| register, it is not only time consuming but also a | | | | storage. Information technologies avoid this problem by |
| challenge. Different staff members need training at | | | | allowing electronic data storage that can be accessed |
| different times due to variations in work shifts. This | | | | from many user points. This documentation is likewise |
| must be matched with training resources as well. With | | | | easy to retrieve and organize for credentialing needs |
| informatics, this data can be loaded into a program that | | | | as they arise. The amount of time this saves is |
| can facilitate this organization and dramatically reduce | | | | significant when compared to manual efforts of |
| the amount of time it takes to structure and input | | | | documentation, not to mention the potential for |
| information. By balancing everyone's schedule better, | | | | credentialing failure due to lost training logs. |
| this promotes staff satisfaction. | | | | In summary, informatics enables smoother operations |
| For some areas of staff training, certifications are | | | | in just about all aspects of staff training. Clearly the |
| required and must be periodically updated to be | | | | ability to maintain a staff training register is enhanced |
| current. For example, CPR certification for many | | | | by electronic databases and storage, but many other |
| nurses in areas of the hospital is required. By applying | | | | benefits are evident. These include better time |
| informatics, this data can be continually updated | | | | allocation for resources and staff in scheduling training |
| monthly or quarterly to maintain a regular log of who is | | | | sessions and cost savings due to the elimination of |
| certified, who is not, and when certifications are | | | | inefficiencies. Only necessary resources are then used, |
| scheduled to expire. Alert notifications can be | | | | and staff time that had been spent on administrative |
| programmed in advance of the expiration date to | | | | aspects of logging training registers can be spent on |
| avoid lapses in skills or qualifications. In this way | | | | other areas of quality care. Information technology |
| information technology can prevent staff shortages | | | | provides a better means to scheduling, monitoring and |
| and better plan training needs. | | | | documenting staff training exercises. |
| Training staff can also be cumbersome if not costly. | | | | |