Healthcare LMS: Definition, Benefits, Features & Use Cases

When people think of the industries using learning management systems (LMS), they often default to SaaS due to its ability to decrease time to value (TTV) and the gig economy because it's the only realistic way to train a disparate workforce.

Companies across industry lines are also deploying learning management systems to onboard and upskill employees. 

One industry that hasn't traditionally been in the conversation — but is starting to insert itself — is healthcare. 

Today, hospitals and healthcare technology companies are using a healthcare LMS to train their workforce, including nurses, doctors and sellers. 

Let's explore the exciting new world of healthcare learning management systems or healthcare LMS, what they are, what features to look for, and most importantly, why you should use one. 

What's a Healthcare LMS?

A healthcare LMS or healthcare learning management system is a platform used by hospitals, practices, medical device companies, health technology companies and others in healthcare to train people on best practices, evolving technology, compliance, standards, guidelines, selling techniques and more.

Healthcare LMS Market Size

Not convinced the healthcare industry is adopting learning management systems or you need a few talking points to get your leadership team to buy in?

Consider this stat that reflects the impressive rise of the healthcare LMS market:

• The healthcare LMS market is expected to surpass $3.5b by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 22%.

What's Driving the Healthcare LMS Market's Growth? 

The healthcare industry arguably evolves faster than any other. 

Case and point: Healthcare employment is projected to grow at 16% between 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than other industries. Even more telling is the fact that the global healthcare market is worth more than $4 trillion. By 2025, that number's expected to approach $7 trillion.

The rapid evolution and constant hiring puts a premium on training in both the short and long term.  

Nurses and doctors need to be up-to-date on compliance and best practices. 

Hosptials must be able to onboard new healthcare professionals (HCPs) quickly but effectively. 

Sales teams need the latest insights into new products and technology. 

Patients need to know how to use telehealth technology as these digital interactions become more common. 

The list goes on, but the message is clear: The healthcare LMS market is here and not going away. 

Healthcare LMS Use Cases

We touch on the healthcare LMS use cases a bit above, but let's dive in deeper.

How, exactly, can the industry apply learning management systems to improve healthcare outcomes?   

Clinical Education 

Clinical education centers primarily around providing HCPs (doctors, nurses, surgeons, etc.) with the training they need to improve patient outcomes. 

This training could be related to workplace safety, compliance, device usage or best practices. For example, a hospital could use a healthcare LMS to train its doctors on its telehealth platform.

Meanwhile, a surgery center could use the technology to train its staff on new standards and procedures related to COVID-19 or cultural sensitivity to ensure they're delivering the best possible care. 

While clinical education aims to improve patient outcomes, it also plays a role in retention; knowledgeable HCPs feel valued, remain engaged and are generally more successful. Most of the time, these outcomes lead to better retention, which is especially important in the healthcare industry, given the high turnover rate of HCPs and great resignation.  

Medical Product and Device Education

Clinical education focuses primarily on HCPs. 

Medical product and device education is aimed at sellers and other customer-facing teams that rely on product knowledge to sell and improve the customer experience. 

This could mean a course demoing a new medical device — like an artificial cardiac pacemaker — and explaining its value and selling points. 

Medical product and device education could also manifest as a course on a company's ideal customer persona (ICP) and how to sell to them or one about selling techniques and strategies given the rise of digital-first selling. 

While product and device training has always been important, it's becoming even more as many sales teams transition to remote working, which means that in-person training and seminars are becoming a logistical nightmare.  

Healthcare learning technology makes the resources available whenever and wherever a seller needs them. 

Best Healthcare LMS

There are many options to consider when choosing between healthcare learning management system vendors. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most popular choices that could work for a healthcare company.

Northpass

Northpass is one of the best healthcare LMS choices for a variety of reasons. It includes features that make it easy to create and deliver content to your audience and tools for tracking engagement with your learning materials. It also makes scaling your academy simple, thanks to its cloud-based nature. Whether you’re creating a training academy for healthcare providers or sales reps selling medical products, Northpass can provide an intuitive and engaging experience for your learners.

MedTrainer

MedTrainer is a learning management system designed specifically for training and compliance in the healthcare industry. You can use MedTrainer as an easily accessible repository for important compliance documentation and information about regulations and requirements. You can also use it to administer a wide variety of healthcare workplace training modules to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. 

Absorb LMS

Absorb LMS is another LMS that could be used to deliver healthcare training to medical providers or sales reps. This LMS also focuses on fueling engagement and is designed to create the best possible remote learning experience. This feature can empower your audience to learn uninhibited anywhere, anytime.

Cornerstone Learning

Cornerstone learning is a scalable online learning platform that could also be used for healthcare training. This LMS is designed to help companies modernize the learning experience they offer their audiences. It uses a combination of artificial intelligence and self-directed learning.

Relias LMS

Relias LMS is another learning management system made specifically for healthcare organizations. Relias LMS includes features that make it easy to assess clinical skills and administer thorough compliance training. It also includes analytics tools that enable you to identify knowledge gaps and other issues.

Docebo

Docebo is a learning management system that’s built to be a flexible online training solution for all kinds of companies, including those in the healthcare industry. You can use Docebo to onboard new employees faster, develop training content and deliver the content to your audience in an easily accessible online location.

Bridge

Bridge is an online learning platform designed to manage employee development and performance. In the healthcare industry, you could use it to deliver important training modules to employees remotely and empower growth throughout the whole organization. In a medical sales context, you could also use Bridge as a performance management tool to plan and track goals for each sales rep.

SAP Litmos

SAP Litmos is a cloud-based learning management system that helps enable opportunities for continuous learning. It includes both prepackaged learning content and content management features. This LMS provides a convenient interface that healthcare organizations can use to create and manage educational content for their audiences.

Talent LMS

Talent LMS is a highly customizable online learning platform that you can use to deliver training to any kind of healthcare audience. It prioritizes a positive and intuitive online learning experience and conveniently integrates with the rest of your technology stack.

Healthcare LMS: Improving Patient and Business Outcomes

The healthcare industry hasn't always been linked with the learning management system market — until now. As the healthcare industry becomes increasingly digital and it continues to evolve rapidly, hospitals, medical practices, healthcare technology companies and everything in between will have to put a premium on training. 

A healthcare LMS is the only way to do that.