BJC Health System (BJC) is more than just a nonprofit integrated healthcare delivery system—it’s a bustling community of dedicated employees spread across 24 hospitals and various service organizations. From neurosurgeons performing life-saving operations to groundskeepers ensuring a serene environment, BJC’s workforce is as diverse as the services it provides. Meeting the training needs of such a varied group is no small feat, but BJC has risen to the challenge with exceptional innovation.
The key to unlocking this complex training puzzle was Cornerstone Learning Management. This powerful platform has revolutionized BJC's approach to learning and development. Cornerstone has enabled BJC to construct an integrated, scalable training ecosystem that not only fulfills compliance requirements but also fosters personal and professional growth for every employee. Its collaboration with Cornerstone and the Educe Group (Educe) has allowed BJC to leverage cutting-edge technologies and tailored solutions to address their unique training needs, ensuring their staff is always prepared to provide the highest level of care.
The Nursing Career Ladder Program, accessed through Cornerstone, has been instrumental in helping to reduce turnover by 10% within one year.
The leaders drving BJC's training evolution
BJC Health System's Director of Learning and Workforce Development, Jeanne Bonzon, has been at the forefront of BJC’s learning transformation. Her vision for a comprehensive, scalable training program led her to implement Cornerstone Saba. "We've been with Cornerstone for eight years," Jeanne states. The Cornerstone Learning platform really gave us an opportunity to deliver more in an integrated way." Jeanne’s dedication and strategic approach have been crucial in driving BJC’s training programs forward.
Young Paik and the Educe team partnered with BJC to implement and customize the Cornerstone Learning platform to support BJC’s strategic objectives. "We thought Cornerstone was an exceptionally good fit because of the way it could scale and evolve with BJC's vision," Young explains. The Educe team’s expertise has been pivotal in ensuring the system meets BJC’s needs. Together, Jeanne and the Educe team have created a robust ecosystem that supports BJC’s mission of providing top-tier healthcare, and driven significant improvements in BJC Health System’s training programs, ensuring they are comprehensive, accessible, and engaging for all employees. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, Jeanne and Educe have positioned BJC as a leader in healthcare training and workforce development.
Meeting the complex training needs of healthcare
Health systems like BJC are akin to small cities, with a wide variety of employees and a constant need for compliance-driven training. "We are a 24/7 operation, and that means that the automation of online courses allows people to take learning when they need it," Jeanne highlights. This need for flexibility and accessibility was a significant challenge that required a robust solution.
Managing training for the diverse workforce at BJC was no small feat. The dynamic nature of healthcare demanded a training program capable of evolving with emerging trends and technologies. Additionally, increasing training participation among varied employee groups who were not mandated to use provided training resources was another significant hurdle. The need for a scalable, flexible, and comprehensive system that could address these challenges became evident.
“We have built an integrated learning platform that supports the personal and professional growth of our employees.”
Jeanne Bonzon, Director of Learning and Workforce Development, BJC Health System
The perfect solution for healthcare training challenges
Jeanne’s search for the ideal learning management system led her to Cornerstone. "We had outgrown our previous system, and Cornerstone offered multiple modules that truly integrated together," she recalls. The scalability, flexibility, and comprehensive features of Cornerstone Learning were a perfect match for BJC’s requirements. The system enabled them to deliver a mix of online and in-person training tailored to the specific needs of their diverse workforce.
Young adds, "Cornerstone not only gave BJC all the capabilities they needed, it allowed them to pace their implementation in a way that suited their growth." This phased approach coupled with the system’s robust capabilities, enabled BJC to deliver a mix of online and in-person training tailored to the specific needs of their diverse workforce, successfully address training challenges, and ensured high engagement and compliance across the organization.
Scaling Cornerstone Saba for success
The transition to Cornerstone Learning Management was transformative for BJC Health System. Jeanne recalls, "When we implemented Cornerstone, we had 26,000 employees. We've grown over time, and scalability was one of the factors we looked at." Today, BJC has 44,000 employees, 31,000 of which are served by Cornerstone.
Jeanne further explains, "Cornerstone Learning provides us with the flexibility to push out crucial training and compliance materials more efficiently." This was especially beneficial during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing BJC to continue its training programs and ensure uninterrupted training delivery.
The collaborative effort between BJC, Educe Group, and Cornerstone has been pivotal in achieving these outcomes. Young highlights the partnership's strength, saying, "With Cornerstone, I genuinely feel there's a level of partnership. The resources and support have been critical in helping BJC achieve their strategic vision."
“Cornerstone not only gave BJC all the capabilities they needed, it allowed them to pace out their implementation in a way that suited their growth.”
Young Paik, Partner, Educe Group
Maximizing engagement and minimizing turnover
Since adopting Cornerstone, BJC Health System has seen remarkable improvements in many areas. One area that sticks out is nurse retention. "Our nursing turnover last June was 21.5%, and this June it is 11.5%," Jeanne notes. This reduction in turnover translates into significant savings in recruitment costs for BJC. Jeanne attributes part of this success to BJC’s Nursing Career Ladder Program. The program enables nurses to review level requirements, submit projects, and view opportunities all within Cornerstone. "We have built an integrated learning platform that supports the personal and professional growth of our employees." The platform’s flexibility and comprehensive nature have been crucial in this growth. Diverse training formats have made it easier for members to access and engage with the training, leading to better outcomes.
Young admires BJC Health System’s achievements: "I really admire what they've done with the platform to make it their own. They have created a culture of continuous learning and development, leveraging Cornerstone to make that a reality." The results speak for themselves. BJC’s partnership with Cornerstone and Educe Group has transformed its training approach, ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs of its employees.
Sustaining progress with Cornerstone
By leveraging Cornerstone’s innovative platform, BJC Health System has significantly improved training participation, enhanced employee skills, and reduced turnover. Jeanne Bonzon attributes their success to the robust partnership with Cornerstone and Educe. "Cornerstone has the ability to allow us to be creative and deliver training effectively. Moving forward, it's only going to continue to get better," she concludes.
Young sums it up perfectly: "Workforce agility is empowerment. With Cornerstone, BJC can help employees navigate the future, ensuring they have the right skillsets for tomorrow." The future looks bright for BJC Health System as it continues to innovate and grow with the support of Cornerstone and Educe. This collaboration exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships in driving organizational success, positioning BJC as a leader in healthcare training and development.
