How 30 Minutes of Training Can Save Lives and Millions: Insights from Amplifire at LEAP HR

Dr. Matthew Hays, Amplifire’s VP of Research and Analytics, delivered a compelling talk at LEAP HR: Healthcare 2025 that challenged long-held assumptions about workplace training. His presentation, Leveraging the Science of Learning to Strengthen Your Workforce, wasn’t just about improving performance—it was about saving lives, cutting costs, and driving real change through scientifically informed eLearning.

The Stakes: Infection, Cost, and Human Lives

Dr. Hays opened with a striking example from healthcare: central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). These occur when central lines—tubes inserted into the heart for administering medication—become contaminated by healthcare providers. The consequences are severe. One in six CLABSI victims dies, and survivors often suffer long-term complications. For hospitals, each infection carries an average unreimbursed cost of almost $50,000.

According to Dr. Hays, many efforts have been undertaken to reduce CLABSI rates. Most of these efforts are unsuccessful; CLABSIs are a stubborn problem and continue to challenge providers and administrators across the country and the world. Dr. Hays then shared data about an intervention that was able to cut CLABSI rates almost in half. 

A Novel Intervention: Short, Science-Based Training

Before the training, the infection rate at one healthcare system was 1.08 CLABSI-related infection per 1,000 line days. After implementation, it dropped to 0.56—a 48% reduction. 

Hays explained that, although one might expect to see effects of this magnitude from physical interventions (e.g., bacteria-resistant lines or gloves) or pharmaceutical developments (e.g., stronger antibiotics), this reduction in CLABSI was driven entirely by training. And it wasn’t a two-week-long, intensive, instructor-led course. It was a half-hour training session, delivered online. 

This spectacular result wasn’t a one-off, either. A follow-up deployment used an improved version of the course, and compared CLABSI rates at a health system’s locations that used the training versus those that didn’t. The CLABSI rate dropped by eighty percent – but only at the locations where the training was used. Critically, all other anti-CLABSI efforts were consistent across the health system. Training alone drove the results. 

Again, this wasn’t a massive overhaul or in-person workshop. It was a short, digital module.

Beyond Healthcare: Broader Workforce Applications

This approach doesn’t just work for CLABSI. Hays shared examples from other applications:

• One Healthcare Alliance member cut onboarding time from 250 hours to 125.
• Another slashed training costs from $2.5 million to $430K.
• A healthcare system using Amplifire for their nurse onboarding saw satisfaction jump from 14% to 59%, helping reduce first-year nurse turnover to zero.

The secret? A science-backed approach to how people actually learn.

Why Typical Training Fails

Hays explained that traditional training is built according to how people think learning works – not how it actually works. In reality, many of the best ways to arrange instruction are counterintuitive and therefore require research to be discovered. Amplifire incorporates these research-based techniques to help people remember information longer and be able to apply their skills more effectively.

23 Principles of Learning—Built In

Amplifire’s platform incorporates 23 principles discovered through decades of cognitive science research. These principles are designed to correct misconceptions, reinforce retention, and prepare employees to apply knowledge in critical situations. According to Dr. Hays, learners can feel the difference; they can feel that Amplifire is delivering information in the way their brains are built to learn.

Takeaway: Smarter Learning Drives Real Outcomes

What Amplifire has demonstrated is simple but powerful: when training aligns with how the brain actually learns, it works. It doesn’t need to be long or flashy—it needs to be right. From infection prevention to onboarding, the right training can reduce costs, increase satisfaction, and improve outcomes across the board.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). CLABSI 101 (STRIVE Infection Control Training). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/media/pdfs/Strive-CLABSI101-508.pdf

Mental Health Awareness Month: Combating Burnout Through Confidence and Connection

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month—a critical time to acknowledge how burnout and job dissatisfaction are affecting employees across industries. The American Psychological Association found that 77% of U.S. workers experienced work-related stress in the past month, and more than half reported negative health impacts, including emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation.

In the healthcare industry and beyond, chronic burnout is a serious challenge. Employees who feel overwhelmed or unsupported are more likely to disengage, take time off, or leave their jobs altogether. That’s why creating a work environment that fosters confidence, clarity, and connection is essential—not just for productivity, but for mental well-being.

The Power of Purposeful Training

Training is more than a compliance requirement—it can be a meaningful tool for boosting confidence, reducing stress, and reinforcing a sense of purpose. At Amplifire, we’ve seen firsthand how thoughtful, job-relevant learning can transform how people feel about their roles.

As one leader from UCHealth shared:

“When front-end staff feel confident and empowered in their role, the whole organization benefits. With training that respects their time and expertise, front-end staff see their role within the bigger picture and gain confidence, empowering them to take charge of their careers.”

One area where this impact is especially clear for healthcare is in revenue cycle management (RCM). Non-clinical staff in registration, billing, and financial counseling often work under high-pressure conditions with little recognition. Giving them training that supports growth and interdepartmental understanding has sparked overwhelmingly positive feedback:

• “This course should be an annual requirement for all non-clinical staff.”
• “It helped me see how my role fits within the bigger picture.”
• “This was a very informative course—more than I expected to learn.”

Supporting Mental Health at Work

Whether you’re in healthcare, tech, finance, or education, the principles are the same: employees do better when they feel supported and capable. Here are a few ways organizations can improve workplace mental health:

• Offer engaging, time-efficient training that builds confidence and competence.
• Encourage cross-team understanding to reduce silos and improve communication.
• Recognize growth and effort, not just output.
• Cultivate psychological safety, where it’s okay to ask for help and speak up.

Mental health is a shared responsibility—and small changes can create lasting impact. By investing in tools that reduce stress and empower employees, companies can foster workplaces where people thrive.

References

• Workplace Stress Prevalence: According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 “Work in America Survey,” 77% of U.S. workers reported experiencing work-related stress in the past month. 
• Negative Health Impacts: The same survey found that 57% of workers reported negative health effects due to work-related stress, including emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation.

Healthcare Course Catalog

Course content has been co-developed and efficacy-tested by co-development partners at renowned Health Systems across the country. Course content can be quickly deployed as is, or there are opportunities to develop new course content, supported by a dedicated content and design team.

Recap of AONL 2025: Amplifire Highlights

The AONL 2025 event was a remarkable gathering of nursing leaders and innovators, setting the stage for the latest advancements in the nursing and medical fields. This year, Amplifire had the honor of participating and presenting groundbreaking insights on our adaptive learning platform and its critical role in reducing Hospital-Acquired Infection (HAI) rates with one of our esteemed clients, Providence. The event brought together a diverse group of professionals, all committed to improving patient care and healthcare outcomes through innovation and collaboration.

Throughout the presentation with Troy J. Larkin, PhD, RN Associate Vice President, Clinical Education & Nursing Research from Providence, we were able to emphasize how adaptive learning, with its personalized and data-driven approach, has proven to be a game-changer in the realm of clinical education. By identifying and addressing gaps in knowledge and correcting Confidently Held Misinformation™, our platform has significantly improved competency among healthcare professionals.

With improved competency, Providence saw improved outcomes. Larkin shared these substantial improvements in CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections) and CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections) rates, showcasing a 51% decrease in CLABSI rates, equating to 85 cases avoided and 21 potential deaths prevented. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of adaptive learning in enhancing patient safety and care quality.

Nurse Training at Scale: Decreasing HAI Rates with Adaptive Learning 

During the presentation, we had the opportunity to share several crucial aspects of our adaptive learning platform that have driven these impressive outcomes. We highlighted the role of microlearning, which provides quick, focused educational interventions that are easy to integrate into busy clinical schedules. The use of patented Amplifire Analytics and Gap-Finder Technology was also a focal point, demonstrating how these tools identify and address knowledge gaps at both individual and departmental levels.

We discussed how our multi-interventional approach, tailored to the specific needs of different units, has led to remarkable improvements post-COVID. This stratified approach, combined with on-site practice observations and continuous feedback, has been instrumental in driving change and improving outcomes. 

Expressing Gratitude to AONL for a Successful Event

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the AONL for hosting such a successful and impactful event. The opportunity to share our work and connect with like-minded professionals was invaluable. The AONL 2025 event not only highlighted the latest advancements in healthcare but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration that is essential for driving progress in the field.

In conclusion, our participation in AONL 2025 was a resounding success, and we are excited to continue our journey of innovation and excellence in healthcare education. We look forward to future opportunities to share our insights and collaborate with others who are equally passionate about improving patient care and outcomes. Thank you, AONL, for a great week!

4 Key Takeaways from Elevating Clinician Training: The promise of AI for Personalized Workforce Development, a conversation with Amplifire

In the face of a growing healthcare staffing shortage, particularly among nurses, the need for innovative solutions to workforce training has never been more urgent. In a recent episode of Becker’s Healthcare podcast, Bob Burgin, CEO of Amplifire, joined Lukas Voss to explore the powerful role that AI and adaptive learning are playing in reshaping how healthcare professionals are trained. This conversation highlights how personalized, AI-driven training not only addresses workforce challenges but also enhances clinical performance, improves patient care, and supports long-term healthcare system sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Complex and Evolving Healthcare Landscape

Healthcare is one of the most complex industries to manage, and with constant changes, staying updated is crucial. The stakes in this sector are life and death.

2. The Power of Personalized Learning

Research has shown that 1:1 expert training is up to two orders of magnitude more effective than standard training. While personalized expert training is impractical at scale, adaptive online learning powered by AI can bridge this gap and make it accessible at a fraction of the cost.

3. Addressing Workforce Shortages with AI

As the U.S. faces a looming nursing shortage, especially with many nurses having under 2 years of experience, there is a critical need to scale workforce training. AI can help pinpoint knowledge gaps and deliver personalized, precision training that’s easy for healthcare professionals to absorb and apply effectively.

4. AI’s Expanding Role in Healthcare Beyond Education

Healthcare leaders are increasingly using AI not just for training, but for tasks like drug discovery, documentation, and other operational efficiencies. However, true success with AI in healthcare lies at the intersection of curated content and expert systems.

The podcast delves into how AI-powered personalized training offers a scalable solution to the current workforce crisis, bridging the gap between expert-level training and everyday healthcare professionals.

Listen to the full podcast to learn more about the role of AI in healthcare training and workforce development!

Elevating Clinician Training: The promise of AI for Personalized Workforce Development, a conversation with Amplifire

Elevating Clinician Training: The promise of AI for Personalized Workforce Development, a conversation with Amplifire

In a recent episode of the Becker’s Healthcare podcast, Lukas Voss spoke with Bob Burgin, CEO of Amplifire, about the transformative role AI and adaptive learning are playing in healthcare workforce development. The conversation highlights the urgent need to address staffing shortages, particularly among nurses, and how personalized, AI-driven training is not only enhancing clinical performance but also improving patient care.

On The Floor Faster, Better Patient Care

A Non-profit Health System’s Nurse Onboarding Overhaul

In 2022, a non-profit health system faced resource-straining onboarding processes and wanted to reduce nurse turnover. To address these challenges, a revamped onboarding strategy was implemented, featuring a standardized approach and the integration of Amplifire’s adaptive e-learning platform. This overhaul was aimed at enhancing efficiency, reducing training time, and improving patient outcomes.

The non-profit health system’s streamlined onboarding process now serves as a benchmark for other healthcare organizations, demonstrating how adaptive e-learning can facilitate quicker onboarding, smarter learning, and better patient care.

2025 Healthcare Alliance Virtual Summit

On February 12, 2025, over 100 Healthcare Alliance members from over 30 healthcare organizations gathered to engage and experience the annual Healthcare Alliance Virtual Summit, Innovation Unleashed! 

The outstanding accomplishments and results of our Healthcare Alliance were thrown into the spotlight this year and it made for a memorable and exciting hour!

Learn more by downloading our Post-Summit Program below.

Redefining Epic Training in Healthcare

How UCHealth Eliminated Misinformation through Personalized Learning Paths

Traditionally, EHR onboarding training follows a “one-size-fits-all” approach, which fails to address the individual learning needs of both new and experienced clinicians and directly contributes to clinician dissatisfaction and burnout. Learn how UCHealth, a nationally recognized network of 14 hospitals and more than 33,000 employees, reimagined their EHR onboarding and training program to better meet their providers’ needs by partnering with Amplifire.

Download the study to learn more.

Clinicians are asking for better training: are you listening?

As we step into 2025, healthcare organizations are facing a mounting challenge—clinician turnover. This issue has only intensified in recent years, with factors like burnout, stress, and poor system adoption contributing to the growing instability within the workforce. However, as we reflect on how to make this year a success, one crucial element that can help reduce turnover and improve clinician satisfaction is effective training.

The State of Clinician Turnover

According to KLAS Research’s Clinician Turnover 2024 report, turnover remains a significant concern in healthcare. High levels of attrition have resulted in increased workloads for remaining clinicians, a disruption in continuity of care, and overall decreased job satisfaction. The report highlights that turnover isn’t just about clinicians leaving; it’s about the ripple effect that happens when new staff members are constantly coming in and out of organizations without the necessary support and training to succeed.

One major takeaway from the report is the importance of developing strategies to improve retention and support clinicians in their roles. A robust training program is a critical strategy to consider as the report highlights that the “lack of EHR education can be detrimental for at-risk clinicians. 40% of nurses and 59% of physicians who did leave their organization report they wanted improved education,” December 2024, Clinician Turnover 2024 – Arch Report.

When clinicians are properly trained, they’re more confident, competent, and satisfied in their roles, resulting in better retention rates.

The Role of Training in Reducing Turnover

Training isn’t just a one-time event—it’s an ongoing investment. As noted by Judy Faulkner in her blog “Hey Judy”, “Good training is one of the most important parts of installing a new system. If we teach users to do things the right way, and we teach them before bad habits get calcified in the brain, they are much more likely to use the software well and to be happy, proficient users. If the users don’t get good training, and instead bad habits get solidified, they might never catch up.”

This quote underscores the critical role training plays in the early stages of EHR adoption. If clinicians don’t receive adequate training before they get comfortable with shortcuts and incorrect processes, they may never be able to overcome these bad habits. This leads to frustration, inefficiency, and ultimately, burnout. When clinicians are unable to efficiently use the tools that are meant to help them, it adds to their already heavy workloads and increases the likelihood of turnover.

Preparing for a Successful 2025

As healthcare organizations look ahead to 2025, investing in training and development must be a top priority. If your teams are not adequately supported with comprehensive, ongoing education, the cycle of turnover will continue, and productivity will suffer. Here’s five ways that healthcare organizations can align training with turnover reduction strategies:

• Implement Continuous Training Programs: Make training an ongoing process, not just a one-time event. Regular refresher courses, support sessions, and real-time assistance can help clinicians stay up to date and prevent bad habits from taking hold.
• Tailor Training to Specific Roles: Clinicians have varying needs based on their roles, and training should reflect that. Role-specific training helps clinicians understand how to use systems in ways that are relevant to their daily tasks, ensuring they feel confident and proficient.
• Emphasize Change Management: Training should be accompanied by strong change management strategies that foster clear communication, accountability, and user engagement throughout the transition to new systems.
• Personalize the Training Experience: Clinicians’ time is valuable, so instead of offering generic training, provide personalized learning experiences that respect their time and address their specific needs.
• Measure Training Success: Regular feedback and performance metrics should be used to assess the effectiveness of training programs and adjust as necessary.

Looking Forward

As healthcare enters 2025, supporting your workforce through comprehensive training and development isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential to reducing clinician turnover and improving the overall work environment. By investing in your clinicians’ skills, you’ll build a workforce that feels valued, empowered, and equipped to deliver high-quality care.

With the right training, you’re not just mitigating turnover; you’re ensuring that your clinicians have the tools they need to thrive in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Let’s make 2025 the year that we empower our healthcare workforce with the support they deserve.