Given the push toward the use of electronic health records throughout the medical field, many who were previously on the fence are finally starting to take the notion of EHR implementation more seriously - especially given the federal incentives involved in employing systems that conform to government-issued standards for meaningful use. Of course, in order to utilize their systems efficiently (or, for the sake of keeping up with media jargon, "meaningfully"), providers must take steps to ensure that their employees are properly trained.

From nurse practitioners to administrative and billing professionals, it's imperative that everyone within a given practice learn how to utilize whatever new EHR system is put into place - which is precisely why training is so important. When searching for learning management systems that are likely to make the idea of EHR usage seem less threatening and far more approachable, providers need to focus their efforts on finding programs that employ a user-oriented approach to training - an idea that is naturally easier said than done.

While the act of distinguishing truly user-friendly EHR programs from those that instead cater to the masses can be tricky, those looking to optimize those employee training hours should do their best to allow the financial considerations of EHR instruction to fall second in line to two of the more "meaningful" aspects of learning management systems: substance and structure. After all, what makes an EHR training program successful is not simply its venue or price tag, but its actual content. Along these lines, a good learning management system will be one that allows users within a given practice to understand the scope of the EHR as it relates to various aspects of the business, from billing to scheduling to e-prescribing.

Naturally, every EHR training program is going to boast of its ability to make the implementation process easy, efficient, and affordable, but what providers need to look out for is the perfect balance of information, instruction, and user support. Additionally, a learning program that seeks to cram hours' worth of information into a couple of days of training is not one that is likely to serve providers or employees well. While EHR training should certainly be goal-oriented, providers need to realize that most employees can only absorb so much information within a certain period of time. Whereas classroom or onsite training offers the benefit of face-to-face interaction and questioning, today's eLearning platforms allow users to get educated at their own pace without feeling unduly burdened or overwhelmed.

While the venue for EHR instruction can certainly play a role in a training initiative's overall success, the key is to find a program that doesn't simply spit out information blindly, but rather, that caters to users from a variety of technological and professional backgrounds. Though it make take some up-front research - not to mention a bit more money - by focusing on learning management system content and asking all of the right questions, providers can maximize their investments and ensure that soon enough, the use of EHRs will be "meaningful" within their practices on multiple levels.