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![]() 258327 TRAIN: Helping the public health workforce do more with lessMonday, October 29, 2012
Public Health Foundation (PHF) is dedicated to achieving healthy communities through innovative research, training, and technical assistance. From conducting research to completing online courses, the computer is an important tool for learning in today's workplace environment. TRAIN is a unique web-based learning management solution for public health training, tracking, and reporting. Developed by PHF in 2003 in response to state requests for training that would efficiently prepare workers and track training for emergencies, TRAIN currently serves over ½ million learners with over 24,000 courses from over 4,000 course providers. Consistent, appropriate, and trackable training is key to ensuring that a workforce is prepared in case of emergency. This is particularly true for public health professionals, where practice, experience, and up-to-date knowledge are vital to successful planning, operations, and recovery efforts. However, with health departments and government agencies experiencing severe budget cuts in the face of economic uncertainty, traditional onsite training has become extremely costly.
TRAIN, the nation's premier learning management system for professionals who protect the public's health, provides a solution to these workforce development dilemmas. Analyses conducted by affiliate organizations have illustrated how TRAIN optimizes limited budgets and generates impressive returns on investment. In 2007, Kentucky conducted a return on investment analysis, determining over $3.5 million was saved by utilizing TRAIN. A 2008 analysis computed a $6.8 million return on investment. And in 2009, KY saved over $11 million by using TRAIN. This session will discuss how TRAIN is utilized by local, state, and federal organizations to provide competency-based-training, learning information, resources, and training programs to a wide public health audience, ranging from nurses, to emergency personnel, to law enforcement. This presentation will highlight the transition from traditional education practice to online learning; the cost-savings for learners and their agencies; and the importance of sharing learning information and resources.
Learning Areas:
Public health administration or related administrationPublic health or related education Learning Objectives: Keywords: Training, Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on TRAIN for over 4 years, and more than two years as the TRAIN Program Administrator. In this position, I communicate with affiliate organizations in the TRAIN network, including 21 state health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, and the Medical Reserve Corps. In this capacity, I coordinate with affiliate organizations on efforts to improve upon workforce development, share resources, and track workforce. I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.
Back to: 3136.0: Roundtable Session I - Workforce Issues
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