Articles-Thought Leadership Lifelong Learning: The Key to Remaining Relevant | Page 4

Diane has advice, including best practices, for healthcare leaders who want
to promote Lifelong Learning in their organization.
Healthcare leaders are in the best position to promote lifelong learning in their organization. If they personally value
lifelong learning principles, have experienced the positive results and outcomes of supporting lifelong learning
activities, and are in a position of influence, healthcare leaders can become a champion for change in their
organizations. Some recommended best practices include:
Start locally. Create and support a lifelong learning plan for your team with specific learning objectives and
associated initiatives.
Create awareness globally. Utilize internal communication channels to share success stories with other
organizational leaders.
Build a case for change. Use results data highlighting your team’s accomplishments and value to the
organization. Build a compelling case for an organizational-wide lifelong learning approach.
Advocate. Take on the cause and become an active supporter of lifelong learning initiatives in your organization.
Evaluate your current state of effectiveness and network with other healthcare professionals nationally to expand
awareness of best practices. Start a committee and partner with other healthcare leaders and professional
development colleagues in your organization. Act collectively.
Lastly, Diane was asked how a tool such as HealthStream’s CE Center can
help support Lifelong Learning.
HealthStream’s CE Center provides an interactive tool, easily deployed within an organization to support the lifelong
learning goals of employees. Easy access creates a 24/7 learning field. The evidence-based content within the
HealthStream CE modules support lifelong learning through on-going education requirements to maintain and
improve competency. The tool also provides education credits toward license renewal, allowing clinicians to track and
monitor progress with lifelong learning goals.
Diane is a nurse that started her career at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids,
Michigan. Her specialty background is women’s and children’s services. After
practicing as a bedside nurse, she had several roles in hospital administration
before leaving the hospital environment to work in broader roles within the
healthcare industry. She has always been passionate about quality improvement at
the point of care and has had an opportunity to work with inter-professional
teams in creating evidence-based tools to support clinicians in their lifelong learning
journey from novice to expert. She has worked with informatics and the EHR,
building clinical decision support tools, analytics and professional documentation
for point of care practice. Diane joined EBSCO in February of 2018 in the role of Editor-in-Chief and Chief
Nursing Officer for EBSCO Health. Diane provides leadership for their editorial teams and represents EBSCO
Health globally with thought leadership.
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