What are the top skills for a healthcare project manager?

Healthcare project management differs little from project management in other domains in terms of the expertise required. There is both an art and science of project and program management and modern project managers need to be able to grasp both. We now exist in project economy so being an expert in managing ExCel risk registers and MSP gant charts is no longer enough. The best Project Managers are leaders and collaborators first and foremost. They excel at building and maintaining relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. They are pragmatic and don't doggedly insist on sticking to governance for the sake of it.

In healthcare project management, you need skills and humor. Here's a quick dose: 1.Know-It-All: Healthcare savvy without the lab coat. 2.Strategic Thinker: Chess, not crowns. 3.Data Detective: No trench coat required. 4.Regulation Sherlock: Minus the pipe. 5.Risk Wrangler: Indiana Jones style, no whip. 6.Team Maestro: Conductor vibes, no baton. 7.Problem Solver: Einstein minus the wild hair. 8.Quality Guru: Gordon Ramsay minus the shouting. 9.Communication Pro: Punchlines without the punch. 10.Adaptable Acrobat: Healthcare Cirque du Soleil star.

In my experience, collective leadership is a critical skill leaders and managers should embed in their routine practice. Modern healthcare systems have diverse challenges which cannot be met by one person's expertise alone. Most healthcare organisations especially in developed world have abundance of talent. Failure to achieve and address objectives in providing high quality care is linked to lack of connection in the individuals and teams. The more comfortable and skilled leaders and teams become in working with shared values and common objectives the easier it becomes to tackle challenges and difficult tasks!

100% on point !! In the 2024 healthcare landscape it continues to show constant change and continual evolution. How we communicate has to fully embrace a collaborative, dynamic and embody an adaptable mindset. A strategic and consultative approach with strong listening skills is imperative for successful outcomes. We live in a day and age where being “Real” is Rare . We have to remember physicians and healthcare at the end of the day is about bettering patient care. Of course everyone has to find a way to make that happen and be profitable. What I find is a difference maker is being relatable but more importantly “REAL” as this seems to be a rarity these days . Stakeholders and board members in healthcare are so disconnected from reality.

Communication is a essential tool to have mutual understanding of the the end-user needs and acceptance. Effective communication is key to success in Healthcare settings

PMs that drive projects in healthcare should be well-versed in various disciplines, things to add - Having data knowledge is extremely important, PM's can use data to convey the message across, and construct the data in such a way that you can tell a story to a diverse audience, it can be used to explain the problem or to design a solution. - PM's based on their roles should be well versed with technology, use the technology before you preach your organization to build application on that technology - since PMs work with various individuals across the organization they should be able to translate the same message to various individuals and show empathy while communicating - PMs should encourage diversity

There is a frightening propensity in medicine to hide data unintentionally. Even though a large amount of information is amassed we still need more clarity on what to focus on. As methods and technology evolve, we only start to realize what data, information, and interactions in medical processes are important to test, measure and learn from.

Project managers need to be expert leaders. Too often PMs focus on building their technical tools of the trade (e.g., Project charters, Scoping documents, Gantt charts) without building their adaptive skills. Simply defined, leadership is getting people to go someplace they otherwise wouldn't have gone. Inspiring people to take a different path. There is no PM tool for that. That's leadership 101--creating urgency, building a team, communication, removing barriers, and celebrating wins. Nail that, and the technical part of the PM job becomes easy. Fail that, and you are destined to flounder.

One of the most important leadership trait in healthcare is empathy. A project manager or any leader in healthcare needs to have empathy as well as other soft skills that will drive team bonding, encourage communication and collaboration by building the team spirit.

Project management in healthcare can be particularly challenging, especially when it comes to creating enthusiasm among stakeholders. It can be very helpful. I found to help people understand the larger benefit of an endeavor. For example, I found it extremely challenging to convince ER doctors to care about new software rather than to - as they put it “safe patient lives”. Only pointing out that the new process will help them free up more time for patient care. I was able to get them on board. Effective leader ship and healthcare will except the different priorities of the different groups and include them rather than negate them.

One of the most important skills that is needed for leaders. A leader should have a growth mind set not only for the project but also for all the team member. To me a good team leader is the one who give constant encouragement with empowerment. Also providing a smooth path for the team members to make decisions and endure the consequences of the decisions. Under leader supervision I do think that these three qualities will result in building a strong team with members that have a very high self-esteem and higher productivity.

Professional Development: Attend leadership workshops, seminars, and courses to enhance your leadership knowledge and techniques. Mentorship: Seek guidance from experienced leaders or mentors who can provide valuable insights and feedback to help you grow as a leader. Feedback and Self-Reflection: Regularly solicit feedback from peers, subordinates, and supervisors, and engage in self-reflection to identify areas for improvement and personal growth. Leadership Roles: Take on leadership roles or projects within your organization or community to gain practical experience and apply leadership principles in real-world scenarios.

Training and Certification: Pursue relevant project management training and certifications, such as PMP or PRINCE2, to enhance your skills and stay up-to-date with industry best practices. Mentoring and Coaching: Seek guidance from experienced project managers to gain insights, learn new techniques, and refine your project management approach. Online Resources: Utilize online platforms, webinars, and forums dedicated to project management to access valuable resources, tools, and communities for skill development and knowledge sharing. Practical Application: Apply project management skills in real projects, volunteer for leadership roles, and seek opportunities to gain hands-on experience to refine your abilities through practice

Scope management! My opinion - this is the number one reason to hire a professional. Project creep and the willingness of clients to ask 'one more thing' for the same amount of money. Project managers do so much more than keep us all going in the same direction. Delivering projects on time and only what was contracted for is a skill beyond most of us. Hat's off to the truly talented Project Managers I have worked with. You make us (consulting team) look good.

Healthcare deep knowledge is the real asset for this specific kind of project management. Whenever it comes to quality, numbers, public health, drug development, regulatory affairs, medical writing or similia, having a great knowledge of the whole ecosystem can be the make or brake, because of the possibility of saving time, money, of drastically reducing the risk, being very much important even for the creation and execution of the project itself as a whole. Most of the times these projects are strongly connected between them and with the external, being part of a whole, very specific environment that must be known to be effective and compliant.

A PM doesn't have to be a clinician to be successful in the healthcare setting, but a deep understanding and experience in healthcare disciplines is essential. That fundamental knowledge - and willingness to drink from the firehose to gain critical knowledge to be able to support a project - can make the difference between a project that succeeds effectively and efficiently and a project that languishes to completion - if it ever gets there.

In my experiences, the best PMs actually have “in the weeds” level knowledge the equivalent to that of a frontline staff member in all areas of revenue cycle, with experience as a revenue cycle leader and demonstrated expertise as a system build analyst.

The "in the weeds" Healthcare knowledge, as one person stated earlier, is often missing with many consulting agencies today. However, having key leaders as the forefront of project management is critical to the success of the project. The team will lose respect and confidence if the key leaders don't know the regulations, compliance, and complexities of the specific healthcare industry. I have seen this happen and the project never gains traction and eventually is taken off-line.

Continuous Learning: Stay current with healthcare industry trends and developments by actively seeking out and attending seminars, webinars, conferences, and workshops. Networking: Connect with healthcare professionals, attend healthcare association meetings, and engage in online healthcare forums to exchange knowledge and insights. Research and Reading: Regularly read industry publications, research papers, and healthcare news to stay informed about the latest regulations, technologies, and best practices. Online Courses: Enroll in online courses and certifications specific to healthcare management and administration to deepen your knowledge and expertise in the field.

In my experience having an understanding of healthcare processes and clinical workflow is important. Speaking the language of healthcare professionals is important to effectively manage projects in this field.

Empathy is a essential while working with healthcare partners and stakeholders ! As a healthcare project manager, understanding the pain points, aspirations and frustrations of the project beneficiaries is often times a critical success factor.

This AI generated articles grow so tedious. It is clear from many AI hallucination examples LinkedIn is not having a human even spot check these at all. A garbage dumpling grounds to force engagement with the carrot of a shiny yellow badge. Anyway... Healthcare Management, I suppose I am an expert... but top skills for a healthcare project manager? Who cares? This is so boring. All these question are so boring. It is the same question in minor variant form every day over and over. Top skill? Know how to do stuff. Do it fast. Do it well. What job does this not apply to? Am I missing some magic secret? I see people have written tons of fancy stuff. Does any of it really have any meaning? When I bother to look often no. Just junk like mine.

It's important to understand the prerequisite systems, processes and resources required to enable success of a project. Especially on a system-wide project where there will be local and/or service variation. To get clinical engagement, clinical workflow of each area needs to be understood, as well as the operational culture and staff anxiety.

In the dynamic world of healthcare, technology plays a pivotal role in improving patient care, streamlining operations, and staying compliant with regulatory requirements. The ability to cross-over from clinician to IT professional to PM is invaluable.