Remote onboarding and training of new program coordinators into the medical education office during Covid-19 social distance quarantine: process and recommendations

BACKGROUND: The Medical Education Office at Rochester Regional Health was required to remotely onboard and train its new program coordinators using telework during the Covid-19 quarantine restrictions mandating all non-clinical administrative staff work from home. OBJECTIVE: To implement a remote onboarding and training process for new program coordinators that would introduce solutions for learning new tasks, maintain business operations effectively, and prevent employee feelings of isolation. METHOD: The System Director of Medical Education implemented eight actionable items to remotely train the new program coordinators, consisting of creating a virtual workday, planning for purposeful learning, developing spreadsheets for process flow, engaging other staff for mini-tutorials, scheduling remote meet and greets, assigning supplemental self-learning modules, establishing standard virtual meeting formats, and conducting regular one to one check-ins. RESULTS: Recommendations for successful results during training are to be specific in communication, think a step ahead and reassure the employee. CONCLUSION: The Medical Education Office successfully used the eight actions as a remote onboarding and training platform for new hires.