Evergreen staff: building a tree of knowledge for continuous learning.

Healthcare institutions breathed a collective sigh of relief on January 1, when efforts made for remediation, testing, and contingency planning for the year 2000 finally paid off. Now that the technology has been improved to ensure compatibility, it is important to keep the momentum going to improve efficiency and increase productivity and patient satisfaction levels. One way to incorporate organizational priorities, goals, and strategy at the departmental level is to develop an education plan that stresses mastering fundamental skills. This article explores the components and role of an education plan and identifies the types of efforts that result in the greatest return. It concludes with a case study.