The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Healthcare Project Manager

A healthcare project manager has become an ever-more important role for medical organizations and clinics. An estimated 97% of organizations now believe in the power of project management to ensure the success of an organization. As healthcare groups face the potential risks of cyberattacks, paired with the need to improve productivity, control costs, and streamline resource management, an effective healthcare project manager is needed more than ever. 

This ultimate guide to becoming a healthcare project manager will walk you through the basics while offering tips, ideas for skills development, resources, and more. You’ll also see how TempDev’s team of project management experts can help you achieve success toward your Healthcare Project Manager goals. 

What is a Healthcare Project Manager? 

Healthcare project managers prepare, strategically plan, implement, and manage the flow of projects in an organization. The project manager's role is to define tasks and ensure they are executed in a timely and efficient manner.

It is essential to rely on comprehensive services and support to help you manage your workload, stay on budget, and successfully achieve your goals by utilizing project management tools. Organizations that utilize Project Management software are 77% more likely to oversee a successful project. TempDev’s team of project managers all utilize industry standard project management software including: Microsoft Project, Asana, Trello, and Monday.

What Does It Take to Be a Good Healthcare Project Manager? 

An effective Healthcare Project Manager helps you to improve your employee engagement, staff workload management, communication with stakeholders, and budget adherence. Here are just a few of the project management skills you might need to manage your organization successfully.  

• Leadership

• Clear and concise communication 

• Conflict-resolution 

• Delegation 

• Flexibility 

• Risk mitigation

Educational Requirements and Certifications of a Healthcare Project Manager 

A healthcare project manager typically has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Health Administration, Health Management, Nursing, or Public Health Administration. There may be scenarios where you might need a more advanced background, specialized certification, or specialized degree, but that’s typically in situations that are highly competitive.  

A Project Management certification and other accredited training coursework are great ways to prove your level of specialized knowledge. Here are a few examples:  

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

• Associate in Project Management (APM) 

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) 

• Certified Project Director (CPD) 

• Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)  

• Certified Project Manager (CPM) 

• Master Project Manager (MPM) 

• Professional in Project Management (PPM)  

With all the benefits and requirements of certification, only about 56% of project managers are certified, and 70% of project managers have no certifications or special training. Of course, organizations can hire project management consultants to execute their next project successfully. TempDev’s Project Management team offers recommendations, advice, and the in-depth insights you need.  

Regulatory Requirements 

To effectively manage your organization, you must be aware of and be prepared to comply with specialized confidentiality and privacy regulations. Of course, they’re essential because they’re designed to protect your patients, but it’s also important to protect yourself from liability by avoiding any oversights or mistakes. Here are just a few of the regulations you should keep in mind:  

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)  

• Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act 

• Medicare Access & CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) Reauthorization Act of 2015 

Even as regulations change and evolve, you may know how these requirements will affect your organization. It’s all part of keeping your patients and their healthcare information safe, secure, and private. 

8 Helpful Tips for Healthcare Project Management 

Healthcare Project Management may not be the most straightforward job, but it’s not without its rewards and successes. It’s always helpful to take a systematic approach to your projects to ensure that you and your team are all on the same page. Here are a few tips.  

1. Ask questions to figure out project goals and requirements from your leadership team.  

2. Be flexible and prepared for challenges but keep moving forward.  

3. Define tasks and share them with all stakeholders. Break down large tasks into smaller and more manageable steps.

4. Develop a comprehensive strategic plan, including your goals, key metrics, resources, and timeline.  

5. Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and governance. 

6. Rank your projects and tasks in order of priority.  

7. Create a risk register and share it with the stakeholders.

8. Support and encourage open and honest communication for your project team.  

How TempDev Can Help with Healthcare Project Management 

TempDev’s NextGen consultants, developers, and trainers support Project Management needs whether you’re looking to implement, switch, or even upgrade your current system. TempDev offers custom dashboards, revenue cycle consulting, automation, and workflow redesign. You’ll find the tools and resources you need, with top tips and tricks that will ensure your success with Healthcare Project Management. 

Contact us here or by calling us at 888.TEMP.DEV to talk to a certified healthcare project manager to successfully execute your next project.