Give your employees anytime, anywhere access to the training, education, and resources they need.
Poor or inadequate training not only affects how employees feel about their jobs; it can hurt their performance. At the same time, finding the time to identify and attend good training and educational programs can be daunting. The answer may lie in a digital library.
Also called a digital repository or collection, the digital library is an online database of materials and information that can include writings, photographs, video, audio, Power Point programs, and more. These libraries vary is size and scope, and the content can be stored locally or accessed remotely. Among the characteristics of a digital library:
· Accessible via internet connection
· 24/7 Availability
· Multiple access (many people can view/use the same information at any given time)
· Searchable (via words, phrases, titles, subjects, names, etc.)
· Few space limitations
· Added value (e.g., can be easily updated)
You don’t have to start from scratch. You can partner with services that offer databases of curated content from trusted, vetted sources (there are several digital libraries with content related to post-acute and long-term care). Whatever content source you partner with, you can use this information for onboarding, management training, skills education, advanced/continuing education, and inservice programming. The digital library enables your teams to have easy access to the resources they need without scheduling time away from work. It also saves you the expense of sending workers out for training and education or hiring trainers and purchasing training materials. Your employees will have access to a wide array of information, materials, and expert sources 24 hours a day wherever they are.
In one survey, about 30% of employees said that they were hesitant to admit that they didn’t know something necessary to do their jobs and that this led at one time or another to an error or poor performance. The digital library takes any embarrassment and fear of judgment out of training needs. Employees can access materials and information they need to beef up skills, fill gaps in knowledge, review training, or learn something new as necessary—all in the privacy of their home or office. This not only can increase their competence; it also can enhance their confidence and engagement.
