What’s the benefit? Working in the healthcare system can be stressful. Because caregivers work long shifts at odd hours, it can be hard for them to stay informed about evolving practices and new equipment. To help relieve the stress of keeping up with the industry, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) have launched a new online learning management system. The website, ahcancalED, provides members with webinars, instructional videos, training courses, journal articles, and more.

Why it works: The goal of ahcancalED is to give members access to educational tools they would not otherwise have. “We created ahcancalED for our members who do not have the time or budget to develop the newest in-service training,” Dr. David Gifford, AHCA/NCAL senior vice president of quality and regulatory Affairs, said in a statement. “Our objective also was to provide the best and latest educational tools, especially as [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] increases its regulatory requirements about staff training and competency in a number of areas.”

AhcancalED lets users tailor their training to their professional needs. According to Gifford, new programs and materials will be added to keep the platform up to date with the latest caregiving innovations and insights.

Other benefits: In addition to educational tools, members of AHCA and NCAL are given unlimited access to numerous research materials, including professional publications, studies and annual reports, and webinar archives. Other perks include employee screening services, seminars, and discounted professional insurance. AHCA and NCAL encourage those interested in joining to inquire through their state’s affiliated program.

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