Creating a Respectful Work Environment

Trinity Health identified the need to provide training on respect in the workplace and contracted with O/E to design, develop, and program the online course. Upon entering the course, learners are presented with several situational scenarios, and asked to choose how they might respond to the situation. Upon conclusion of these scenarios, they are provided feedback based on their responses which indicates their current level of respect and their awareness of the topic. The need for this type of program in the healthcare industry is supported by some shocking national facts:

• Manufacturing and other industries have been more progressive in their approach to respectful work environments than healthcare—making them more attractive employers.
• Definite evidence indicates that disruptive or non-collaborative behavior negatively affects patient care, safety, and satisfaction outcomes.
• Over 85% of nurses experience abusive, violent, or inappropriate behavior at some time in their career.
• Studies prove that everyone wants to work in a respectful environment.

During this course, participants identify their responsibility to champion and promote a respectful work environment. They identified the personal and organizational costs associated with disrespectful behavior. Communication skills learned throughout the course help to reduce stereotypes, myths, and prejudices when taking in new information. Finally, they learn what steps to take if they are ever the victim of inappropriate behavior. Unique versions of this course were created for several audiences: Governance & Leadership; Management; Physicians; Clinical Associates; and Non-Clinical Associates.

e-Learning Standards

Being new to e-Learning and not having any particular standards in place, Trinity Health identified the need to develop e-Learning design standards to ensure the quality and consistency of their e-Learning programs. To develop the standards, O/E researched and analyzed best-in-class e-Learning standards. With the publication of the standards and guidelines, Trinity Health sets the expectation that both internal and external e-Learning designers and developers will follow consistent processes to create effective e-Learning experiences with measurable results. The standards and guidelines were written to benefit both learners and education owners throughout the system, and to support the business goals of Trinity Health.

Relationships With Physicians & Other Referral Sources

Relationships with physicians and other referral sources is one of the most challenging compliance areas a healthcare organization faces. These relationships are subject to numerous complex, and often confusing, laws and regulations. Yet relationships between physicians, hospitals, and other providers are necessary and critical to the delivery of healthcare services to patients.

Many individuals play a vital role in ensuring that Trinity Health's relationships with physicians and other referral sources fully comply with all the requirements of federal laws and regulations. These individuals must be familiar with the basic laws and regulations that apply to these relationships and understand how to avoid the potential penalties of non-compliance in these areas.

In order to protect Trinity Health's integrity and reputation, the need for a Web-based course was identified and they contracted with O/E to design, develop, and program the online course.