Midwest Public Health Workers Prepare for Bioterrorism, Other Threats With Meridian LMS

CHANTILLY, VA--(Marketwire - September 15, 2008) - Meridian Knowledge Solutions, LLC is implementing the software-as-a-service (SaaS) version of its learning management system (LMS) for "Prepare Iowa," which is a partnership of the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Institute for Public Health Practice at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health. The Prepare Iowa LMS, delivers online training, supplies certificates of completion, archives completed courses, assesses skills and publishes a calendar of training for public health professionals.

"The Prepare Iowa LMS is open to anyone who wants training related to a wide variety of public health topics, including emergency preparedness," said Tim Beachy, LMS coordinator for Prepare Iowa. "With the Prepare Iowa LMS, the public health workforce can register for face-to-face training, as well as online training and education. They can access the system to see where classroom training, conferences and events are taking place. The Prepare Iowa LMS is about making critical training available to public health workers, on their terms."

To access the Prepare Iowa LMS, public health professionals log in online and establish an account. From there, they can find training on subjects ranging from bioterrorism to program evaluation. With the Prepare Iowa LMS administrative tools, Beachy and his colleagues can work with public health agencies to map out training plans for their employees and monitor progress. Beachy noted that people who've developed a course on a particular topic can use the LMS to post that content once it's gone through an approval process.

"The Prepare Iowa LMS also includes a powerful online tool for public health professionals to use in assessing their skills with regard to a variety of public health roles and responsibilities, such as bioterrorism," added Beachy. "The results of the self-assessments help the Prepare Iowa LMS recommend training and provide learners a way to pinpoint what training to focus on. Because of the dynamic nature of public health work we look to make the most of every minute of training we provide. The Prepare Iowa LMS helps us do that."

With Meridian's SaaS offering, Beachy doesn't have to burden his department's IT office for support. Meridian hosts the LMS off-site, which means the Virginia-based software firm can ensure the system is operating correctly and the LMS data are protected.

"Our SaaS offering is designed to give employers immediate access to the easiest-to-use LMS on the market today -- Meridian Global," said Roy Haythorn, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Meridian. "We aim to provide an easy-to-implement LMS, so the public health workforce can take training the moment they log onto the Prepare Iowa LMS."

In July, the Heartland Centers at Saint Louis University School of Public Health also chose Meridian's LMS. The Heartland Centers tapped Meridian's LMS to provide preparedness training, among other types of education, for first responders and health workers in Missouri.

About Meridian

Our flagship product, Meridian Global LMS, integrates learning content management, workforce analytics, knowledge management, and competency modeling in one learning management system (LMS). In addition to Meridian Global LMS, we provide professional services, courseware development, and hosting services.

We serve 4.5 million users at more than 200 public- and private-sector employers. And our software is used by companies that range in size from 900,000 employees to less than 100 workers. Our clients include AutoZone, Panera Bread, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Whirlpool and more than 80 federal, state and local governments.

We are the number one ranked learning-technology company for customer loyalty. Our award-winning software aims to deliver learning, distribute knowledge, and sharpen business skills, which will make you a leader in your industry. Our Chantilly, Va.-based company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Visionary Integration Professionals.

To learn more, visit http://www.meridianksi.com.

Contact Information: Media contact: Bill Perry Cell: 614 975 7538