University of Texas Health Science Center Picks VIP’s Meridian LMS

Chantilly, Va. – December 15, 2008 –Visionary Integration Professionals’ (VIP) Talent and Learning Management practice – dba Meridian Knowledge Solutions - is implementing the software-as-a-service (SaaS) version of its learning management system (LMS) for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to manage an array of compliance training.  The university’s 7,200 users will have access to the Meridian LMS, also known as the Training & Resource Center (TRC), via a password-protected web site accessible through laptop and desktop computers as well as PDAs.

“Our users not only possess a wide range of computer skills but also have varying amounts of time for training.  So we wanted a training system that was user friendly,” adds Megan Williford, the Training & Resource Center (TRC) system administrator for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.  “Some workers simply want to get into the system, take their training and get out.  Others want to explore learning opportunities.  In either case, we wanted them to be able to access training with a few clicks.”

According to Williford, the university’s goal was to centralize all training across its six schools and several different institutions for research.  Prior to purchasing the Meridian LMS, the university’s schools had different systems for compliance training and leadership development.  With the Meridian LMS in place, the university has one training platform for all registration, delivery and record-keeping. 

The Web 2.0 features of Meridian’s LMS include “team rooms,” which consist of online forums that instructors and course-takers can use to review basics before the start of a leadership development class.  

“Our team rooms give instructors and employees a way to begin teaching and learning before a class meets in-person,” said Roy Haythorn, Vice President of Operations for Meridian.  “A team room combines elements of an online discussion area and a blog.”

The university’s compliance training consists of courses on HIPAA, environmental health and safety, blood-borne pathogens and standards related to the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).  Williford says it’s not unusual for 2,000 people to attempt to access the compliance training at a time. 

“With the amount of compliance training we do, it’s fundamental for our auditing process to have sound record-keeping,” added Williford.  “Automating this process with a learning management system has taken the burden of tracking off us, and given us time to improve the quality and quantity of our courses.”

With a SaaS offering in place, Williford has removed a burden from her IT office, too.  That’s because Meridian hosts the university’s new LMS off-site, ensures the system is operating correctly and protects the LMS data.  This frees the university’s IT department to focus on other projects.

“Our SaaS offering aims to give employers immediate access to the easiest-to-use LMS on the market today – Meridian Global,” remarked Haythorn.  “Our LMS gives busy healthcare workers the training they need the moment they log onto the system.”

Earlier this year, the Heartland Centers at Saint Louis University School of Public Health as well as the Institute for Public Health Practice at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health chose Meridian’s LMS. 

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About Meridian
Meridian Knowledge Solutions, Inc. (Meridian), a wholly owned subsidiary of Visionary Integration Professionals, is a leading provider of enterprise learning and knowledge management products and services. Its flagship product, Meridian Global LMS, integrates learning content management, workforce analytics, knowledge management and competency modeling in one learning management system (LMS).
Meridian serves 4.5 million users at more than 200 public- and private-sector employers. Its software is used by companies from >100 to 900,000 employees. Clients include AutoZone, Panera Bread, Sodexho, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Whirlpool and more than 80 federal, state and local governments. Meridian is the number one ranked learning-technology company for customer loyalty. For more information, please visit www.meridianksi.com.

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About VIP

Established in 1996, Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP) is a global technology and outsourcing firm that has provided solutions to over 900 clients in multiple industries as well as federal, state and local government. VIP helps companies challenge boundaries and uncover new possibilities to increase productivity, maximize revenue, improve performance, mitigate risk, and reduce costs. With nearly 1,000 staff companywide, VIP offers expertise in areas of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, SAP Integration and Consulting, Technology Integration and Operations, Talent and Learning Management, Quality Management, and Management Consulting. VIP’s corporate headquarters is located in Folsom, California with offices in Sacramento, Minneapolis, Dallas, Denver, New York City, Alexandria, Houston, and Bangalore, India. More information can be found at www.vipconsulting.com.