To make a blended eMentoring & eLearning initiative a reality, a healthcare organization would need a web-based, total communication solution which would allow individuals to collaborate anywhere and anytime for improved productivity. Specific collaboration tools would include: Email, Instant Messaging, Video Conferencing, Desktop Sharing, Co-browsing, File Sharing, Internet Phone with Voicemail, Group Collaboration, Discussion Groups, Web Collaboration, and Virtual Classrooms.
In particular, one of the challenges of any new mentoring relationship is the availability of time. Traditional mentoring requires that both parties be available at the same time to meet in person. While time is always a factor in any mentoring partnership, it is not necessary for both participants to be available at the same time in a virtual mentoring relationship. Advantages include open correspondence, access to more geographically isolated regions, and efficiency of communication.
Many healthcare professionals feel that there isn’t enough time to do patient care, let alone mentorship. That’s the harsh reality of the healthcare environment – everyone recognizes mentoring is crucial yet there never seems to be enough time. Although face-to-face mentorship programs have a variety of positive outcomes, many healthcare professionals believe they simply do not have time to make a commitment to… Continue reading
