The healthcare workforce is undergoing rapid change, and virtual training is a primary catalyst.
Why is eLearning in healthcare becoming indispensable? The answers encompass accessibility and flexibility (training can be conducted anytime, anywhere), cost-effectiveness (reduced travel, instructor, and other expenses), and enhanced immersion (interactive tools such as simulations, videos, and games, supplemented by in-person clinical training). And it can take as little as several months.
A December 2023 study examined how medical education is impacted by one digital medium, virtual reality, recognizing that “interactive VR offers a dynamic platform” for training through simulations that let students interact “within case scenarios and virtual wards, as well as with patients, colleagues, and relatives.” Improvements in VR training have facilitated its adoption “across medical and nursing fields,” helping students “gain competency and confidence as they encounter patients during their clinical rotations and clinical practice.”
This promise comes with a caveat: Not all virtual training programs are created equal. In senior care and clinical settings, especially, eLearning must create a high level of engagement, retention, and real-world readiness. When selecting a training provider, healthcare organizations must be as discerning as patients choosing the best doctor to suit their needs.
Outcomes-Driven Virtual Training
Web-based training isn’t just a good idea in healthcare – it’s a necessity. As health systems face rapid change, increasing complexity, and staffing shortages, online education provides a flexible and scalable approach to quickly onboard and upskill workers. However, the effectiveness of these programs depends not only on accessibility but also on how well they are implemented in practice.
Many of these training programs fall short by relying too heavily on passive content such as slide decks and recorded lectures. Just as many learners suffer from a lack of opportunities to apply their skills or simulate real-life scenarios. Equally as negligent are programs that overlook the importance of soft skills needed for patient-centered care, essential assets such as empathy, emotional intelligence, communication, and teamwork.
High-quality virtual training must go beyond content delivery. The most effective programs are immersive, offering realistic simulations, interactive exercises, and case-based learning. They create structured opportunities for learners to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios, build confidence in clinical decision-making, and strengthen interpersonal skills. They prepare workers for immediate roles while promoting job satisfaction and upward mobility to foster longevity.
Instructional Design Matters
In healthcare settings, particularly where doctors, nurses, and technicians are responsible for ensuring patient satisfaction and safety, instructional design should extend beyond videos and quizzes. Virtual programs can be effective by following a framework that engages learners in authentic tasks, provides real-world context, and enables repeated practice and reflection.
For over two decades, numerous learning systems have been shaped by the First Principles of Instruction, developed by M. David Merrill, a respected professor and education researcher in instructional design and technology. His core ideas for effective learning design – focused on problem-centered learning, activation of prior knowledge, demonstration, application, and integration – emphasize active, contextual, and applied learning.
With strong relevance for the healthcare field, the First Principles of Instruction are supported by twelve instructional elements that offer best practices for effective eLearning design. This “digital design dozen” includes:
- Instructor-Led Videos with Visuals
- 3D Animated Demonstrations
- Scenario-Based Learning with AI Patients
- Screen-Based Simulations for Kinesthetic Learning
- Augmented Reality for Immersive Learning
- Real-World Industry Insights
- Simulated Software Application Practice
- Task-Based Demonstrations by Practitioners
- Game-Based Learning for Knowledge Retention
- Blended Physical & Virtual Courseware
- Performance-Based Exam Preparation
- Standardized Assessments to Measure Competency
Leveraging Emerging Technologies
Virtual training – in healthcare as well as fields as diverse as aeronautics, manufacturing, and hospitality – has reached a new plateau through the evolution of augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
A June 2025 research paper validates how AR and VR are revolutionizing education by providing “immersive, interactive and engaging learning experiences,” and how both of these technologies “enable better knowledge retention and skill development in various areas like STEM, medicine, language learning and special education.” A March 2025 article in the International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM) demonstrated that AR-based designs can enhance empathy and social–emotional learning, while a Cornell University research paper found that AI agents can work to strengthen teamwork and decision-making.
One organization integrating multiple emerging technologies into its training programs is MedCerts, an eLearning provider whose instructional design team developed a 12-element framework using Dr. David Merrill’s principles in order to support various healthcare learner needs through a matrix of HD simulations, AR, and AI patient scenarios. Through these tools, combined with in-person clinical training, healthcare trainees have been able to fill allied posts within a matter of months, rather than years, ensuring a pipeline of trained professionals for staff-strapped hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities.
Content Partnerships For Diverse Settings
Most healthcare organizations lack the resources and infrastructure to develop their own training from scratch. That’s why licensing content developed by subject matter experts and instructional designers can be a cost-effective and time-saving solution. This lets internal teams focus on learner support and compliance instead of course creation.
This type of partnership is beneficial for a wide range of environments, including hospitals, clinics, and senior care facilities. With healthcare eLearning programs typically requiring 12-28 weeks to complete, they span such in-demand positions as certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, sterile processing technician, EKG technician, surgical technologist, medical laboratory assistant, geriatric medical assistant, pharmacy technician, mental health and personal caregiver, and medical billing specialist.
Like a city hiring the most qualified engineer to build a suspension bridge, healthcare providers are prudent in taking a structural approach when selecting an appropriate eLearning partner. The effectiveness of virtual training hinges on strong instructional design. Leaders in healthcare and senior care should evaluate training partners based on the rigor of their content, job relevance, and flexibility of their delivery format, rather than solely on cost. Programs should be interactive, technology-enabled, and grounded in proven learning principles.
It’s vital to choose an educational provider with care. The credentialing landscape is becoming increasingly crowded and is facing more scrutiny due to inconsistent results. By carefully evaluating training partners, healthcare organizations can better address staffing challenges and maintain high standards of patient care.
Virtual training is itself a bridge-strengthening facility, staffing, upskilling, mobility, and patient care. In the real world of modern healthcare, it’s increasingly becoming a literal lifesaver.
