Alternative Training Methods to the On Site Classroom

1
Alternative Training Methods to the On Site
Classroom

• National Immunization Conference
• Kansas City, MO
• March 5-9, 2007

Authors W. George Hobbs, Kyle Bowers and Katie
Reed
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Partners In Health Systems

• An Information Technology Services Company
  contracted to manage, maintain, and support
  regional registries across New York State (NYS)
  since 1995
• Part of the New York State Immunization
  Information System (NYSIIS)
• Immunization Information System (IIS)
  Application, HealthyShot
• Currently active in 40 NYS counties
• Participation is voluntary, parental/guardian
  consent required
• HealthyShot and IRIS are operational in nearly
  all NYS counties (excluding NYC)
• HealthyShot accounts for
• 550 providers participating
• 4,290,443 immunizations recorded
• 394 schools and daycares

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Background

• Effective user training is paramount to the
  success of a software application
• Must provide other methods of training than the
  traditional on site, face to face sessions
• It is becoming increasingly challenging to
  provide on site training

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Challenges On Site Training

• Not enough time allotted
• Distractions in the office
• Increasing expenses
• Productive time lost in traveling
• Limited training staff
• Scheduling conflicts

5
Solutions Based On User Needs

• A variety of options for training are created as
  each user has their own needs and prefers
  different methods
• Telephone Training
• User Meetings
• Newsletters
• Cheat Sheets
• Video Training
• Remote Access

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Solutions Telephone Training

• Best used for simple functional or operational
  questions
• Low cost method
• User can ask questions as they go along
• Can be referenced to other resource materials
  after the training

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Solutions User Meetings

• Provides opportunity to utilize traditional
  face-to-face contact for instruction
• Place to demonstrate new additions or
  enhancements to software
• Group setting encourages more
• questions and conversation around
• registry usage
• Other methods need to be available
• for users who are unable to attend

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Solutions Newsletters

• A potentially low cost method to highlight the
  use of a particular function that is known to be
  more difficult
• Great way to keep the user community informed on
  upcoming releases/enhancements

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Solutions Cheat Sheets

• A way to provide concise, detailed instructions
  on the use of a particular function
• Text and enhanced screenshots are used to best
  illustrate key points
• Can be posted on a website for
• easy access and future reference

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Solutions Video Training

• Video recording of the use of the mouse and
  keyboard to perform a particular function with
  voiceover as a guide
• Text captioning can be used
• User is able to go at their own pace with the
  ability to start and stop video
• Great way to train new staff
• members

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Solutions Remote Access

• Web applications allow users to be trained at
  their own desks with their own data with a live
  instructor on the other end of the phone
• Great way to save money on travel expenses
• More immediate response to
• users needs
• Allows more flexibility for the
• user in terms of scheduling

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Conclusion

• Although on site training is a great way to get
  face to face time and is an effective way to
  train users, alternative methods have proven to
  be more cost effective and just as successful in
  training the user community.

Contact Info George Hobbs 1-800-950-1612
x7256 ghobbs_at_phs-us.com