Need to Save Money? Focus on Staff Training

The economy is pinching even the most robust company today. Certainly individuals are feeling it. Companies are seeking any place to cut even small amounts from the expense side of the ledger.

One area that simply can't be cut is basic staff training. Requirements are increasing; compliance is getting tougher; licensing is focusing on staff orientation and training; liability risks increases dramatically when training is slighted.

All this leads the smart senior care operators to ask this question, "How can I save money without sacrificing compliance and quality care?"

One answer many are finding is in technology. Use of distance learning is increasing quickly in every segment of society, from universities, where it now holds the same credibility as classroom education, to business, where time and money constraints have led to massive increases in this approach to training.

Brookdale Community College (New Jersey) notes that their distance learning courses - once considered a paltry substitution for classroom courses - have experienced a "'phenomenal' growth in popularity," according to a recent news article. Convenience is the primary reason for the growth, as more and more students (and employees) are pressed for time.

In private industry, online (distance) learning is experiencing explosive growth.

Is it for you? Ask yourself these questions:

How much am I currently paying in overtime for staff training? Overtime is one of those hidden expenses that you may not count when you're considering how much your current training program costs. With online training, you can often reduce or eliminate this cost related to training - frequently more than paying for the cost of a new online program.

How much time (and money) is spent in preparing for training, presenting training and in follow-up documentation? If your community Administrator, Executive Director or other top level executive is responsible for staff training, consider the cost of this individual's time as well. Most managers aren't necessarily good teachers; their time is much better spent in managing and marketing your very valuable asset. Shifting this cost can actually save you significantly in terms of the bottom line.

Can I demonstrate, at any given moment in time, full compliance to all training requirements? At the end of the day, this is the most important question of all. Compliance is extremely hard to achieve with the standard inservice approach to staff training. Someone is always sick, on vacation, or simply forgets about the inservice. Make-up classes are time-consuming and costly. Full compliance is not met, in most cases, without focused, dedicated management attention. And that costs money - lots of money, especially if you're caught out of compliance.

Clearly, it's a good time for companies of all types to look closely at ways to cut costs, especially when they can do with without sacrificing quality and outcome.


aQuire Training Solutions - when it's TIME for truly effective staff training.

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