Have you ever sat through a boring and disengaging healthcare IT training session and felt like you were wasting your time?

Had you asked the same question to your physician or nurse, the answer would have been a definite YES.

And it’s not surprising - as professionals who work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, traditional training sessions simply don’t cut it.

And most importantly, your physicians and nurses get only 10% of their learning from the hours and hours of formal training lessons you create. Ever wondered why?

Let’s Take a Look at the 70/20/10 Learning Rule!

As someone who’s interested in education and training, you’ve probably heard of the 70/20/10 rule.

This rule was first introduced by three groundbreaking researchers - Morgan McCall, Michael Lombardo, and Robert Eichinger - at the Center for Creative Leadership in the 90s. And it suggests that individuals learn 70% from on-the-job experiences, 20% from peer interactions, and only 10% from formal training. This rule was inspired by a study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership in the 80s, which found that those who made the most significant progress in their development spent most of their time on challenging job assignments and benefited greatly from developmental relationships. Formal training accounted for only 10% of their learning and development time.

The 70/20/10 rule has since become a popular guideline for educators and trainers, encouraging individuals to take an active role in their own learning and development. This approach not only allows for a more engaging and dynamic learning experience but also ensures that practical skills are being built that can be applied in the real world. Additionally, the social and collaborative aspect of this method allows for a richer and more diverse learning experience. If you’re looking to level up your education and training, it’s time to embrace the 70/20/10 rule and start learning in a whole new way!

Time to Put This Rule Into Practice for You and Your Team

Now that you have an idea of how this rule works, let’s try putting it into practice. Here’s how the rule would work in the real world.

Meet Dr. Jones, a physician who just joined a new hospital with a different Electronic Health Record (EHR) system than what he was previously trained on. Feeling overwhelmed and unsure, he needs a comprehensive EHR training program that incorporates the 70-20-10 rule.

So, Dr. Jones would begin his EHR learning journey with 10% formal training through classes and video demonstrations that focus on the more technical aspects of the EHR system.

Then he jumps onto the 70% hands-on experience portion, where Dr. Jones is assigned to work in a test environment where he can practice using the EHR system in a safe, non-threatening environment. Once he’s gotten used to the test environment, he’s provided with a Just-in-time training and support tool like Jeeves that provides him with answers whenever he is stuck in his EHR workflow.

Next up is the 20% peer interactions and relationships part of the training. Dr. Jones is encouraged to seek out and work closely with his peers who are also using the EHR system. This creates an environment where Dr. Jones can ask questions, share best practices, and learn from the experiences of others who are using the system on a daily basis.

Through this comprehensive training program that incorporates the 70-20-10 rule, Dr. Jones gains practical skills and confidence in his abilities to use the EHR system effectively. This is key because, in most cases, training ends after the onboarding. Physicians and nurses do not go back for a formal training session after that. However, doubts still arise, and questions do need to be resolved. By taking an active role in his own learning and development, he is able to master the system and provide better patient care.

Now, because of this approach, Dr.Jones and the health system are able to achieve the following:

• Immediate feedback helps learning
• Relatable situations increase engagement and retention
• On-demand training saves money and resources
• Improved communication leads to better collaboration
• Easy access to training resources empowers professionals

How to Be Sure This Rule Is Working for Physicians and Nurses? (some real quick tips for you)

• Monitor learning outcomes: Check if physicians and nurses are effectively using the EHR system after training by identifying any knowledge gaps or areas for improvement.
• Adopt a feedback mechanism: Provide feedback opportunities to refine the EHR training program.
• Evaluate employee engagement: Monitor engagement levels of physicians and nurses during EHR training to gauge the effectiveness of the 70/20/10 rule.
• Observe the improved quality of care: Assess whether the quality of care has improved after EHR training by monitoring key indicators.