Wanted: Healthcare PMs

  ProjectsAtWork  

A recent survey suggests that U.S. healthcare organizations will require up to 25,000 experienced project managers over the next five years to meet the demands of advanced technology initiatives and health insurance reform.

Amidst all the talk in healthcare circles lately about improving outcomes through the deployment of advanced information technology, little mention has been made about the critical role that the project manager plays in the success of these complex and costly projects. Traditionally, healthcare organizations have lagged behind other industries in adopting formal project management methodologies, as well as in engaging full-time employees and consultants with the training and experience needed to successfully plan, execute and monitor large enterprise-wide projects.

Healthcare organizations instead have relied on in house clinical or technical resources, with limited formal project management experience, to lead projects. While these people may possess healthcare and/or technical subject matter expertise, they seldom have the training, experience or temperament required of a senior project manager. Too often, this has led to projects that are poorly implemented (if they’re implemented at all), fail to meet patient or clinician expectations, and cost way too much.

The “perfect storm” of healthcare projects …

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