What a Health IT Project Manager at a Top 10 National Hospital Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Health IT Industry
Anne, a Health IT Project Manager at a top hospital, highlights the importance of operational experience alongside IT skills for success in the field, stating that "the best healthcare project managers have experience in operations," allowing them to understand "the day-to-day challenges" and translate "requirements from a provider and patient standpoint" into effective technology solutions. This nuanced understanding of clinical workflows is a key differentiator for those who thrive.
Project Management, Healthcare, Operations Management, Communication, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anne Nguyen
Health IT Project Manager
Top 10 Hospital in the Nation
UC Irvine
UCI Irvine, Masters of Public Health
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness, Technology
Operations and Project Management
LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Operational experience is crucial: Success in Health IT Project Management often comes from prior experience in healthcare operations, understanding the daily challenges faced by frontline staff.
2. Translating needs into solutions: Thriving professionals can translate provider and patient needs into effective technology solutions, requiring a nuanced understanding of medicine and clinical workflows.
3. Beyond certifications: While certifications are helpful, practical experience in healthcare operations provides a significant advantage in understanding the complexities of the field and the needs of stakeholders
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
For me, I think the best healthcare project managers have experience in operations. This is basically the day-to-day work alongside frontline staff, whether you're a coordinator or someone who works at the hospital.
Having that understanding of the daily challenges is really helpful because you have an idea of what they're going through. A lot of technology project managers have only worked in IT or tech.
I think the people that thrive are those that understand the nuance and specificity in medicine and clinical workflows. This allows them to translate requirements from a provider and patient standpoint.
There is a specific level of understanding needed to successfully communicate needs into a technology solution. Even though this isn't a requirement to be a health IT project manager, and you can just have your project management certification, I do think that being in operations is really helpful.