There are so many great career opportunities available in the world of healthcare. For someone with interest in pursuing a career in healthcare, it is likely that they will hear of a healthcare project manager position. Healthcare project managers play such an important role in the world of healthcare.
The demand for healthcare project managers is higher than ever. Whether learning about healthcare administration, supervision, research, or management, there is often mention of these project managers. But you may be wondering, “what is a healthcare project manager exactly? Or you may wonder “what do healthcare project managers actually do?”
Generally speaking, they handle any projects, big or small, at the healthcare facility where they are employed. These healthcare projects would be their responsibility from start to finish. Healthcare project managers would also be responsible to oversee various research, activity, or service projects provided at a medical facility. Some examples of these kinds of facilities could be healthcare clinics, hospitals, universities or similar types of settings.
Healthcare project managers would often be responsible for day-to-operations within a medical facility. Their responsibility for projects would include all aspects of the projects, from the little details to the big picture. Healthcare project managers are responsible for the overseeing of employees. They are also responsible for monitoring the progress of a project.
Knowing what a healthcare project manager is could help a person as they choose a college major. It could also help them to choose an area of focus when earning a master’s degree in a related field, such as healthcare administration.
In the following article, we will discuss in more detail the different components of what a healthcare project manager does. We will then discuss what kind of person is needed to succeed in this job. Then we will cover how to become a healthcare project manager, as well as what kinds of jobs are available in the field.
Coordinator of Healthcare Service Projects
Healthcare project managers are responsible for coordinating the projects related to healthcare services. This part of the job could look very different depending on the type of project. Because of this, these professionals are trained to handle a variety of situations.
Let’s take a project related to vaccines, for example. In this specific situation, a manager would coordinate the ordering of the vaccines, as well as the storage, delivery, and distribution to patients. They would also be responsible for coordinating the schedules for their employees. The employees who work under them would look to the healthcare project coordinator in order to know what is expected of them.
Healthcare project managers are also the ones who field questions and concerns related to the project at hand. It is very possible that healthcare project managers will need to coordinate multiple projects at the same time. An example of this is that they might coordinate a clinical trial at their facility, a research study with a faculty member as well as a drug study with a pharmaceutical company.
There are many types of projects that a health care project manager might need to oversee. Some examples of these are building projects or expansions, hiring new staff, or upgrading medical equipment. Working as a coordinator for any of these types of projects is one of the main aspects of this important and exciting job.
Developer of Project Plans
Healthcare project managers make sure that the plans for a project are in compliance with worksite rules. They must also comply to occupational safety and health regulations. The managers need to work with environmental and public health regulations as well as ethical requirements. This part of the job requires that they are up to date on what the latest codes and rules and regulations are.
Project managers are also responsible for making sure that the goals and objectives set for a project are being met. In this dimension of the job, organization is very important. Healthcare project managers also keep facility managers and their own supervisors aware of the project’s progress. They may need to meet with outside entities. Some examples of these are community service groups, nonprofit and social service organizations and government regulators. This would need to be done to inform them of the project’s plans.
Project managers must keep track of patient care or treatment records, supplies and equipment. Being able to balance all of these various organizational aspects of the job is a key component of success as a healthcare project manager.
Supervisor of All Team Members
Project managers in healthcare typically supervise a team of healthcare workers, explains the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the healthcare project managers work in hospitals, for example, they might have a team of technicians, nurses’ aides, patient care associates, registered nurses and laboratory technicians.
They may also supervise administrative employees, such as a receptionist or scheduling coordinator. How many people they supervise will depend on the size of the facility at which they are employed.
Part of a healthcare project manager’s job is to coordinate the work schedules. They are also responsible for ensuring the proper level of coverage and coordinating vacations and work hours. They need to coordinate back-up workers in the event of a person becoming sick or having a personal emergency.
Being able to effectively supervise a team will ultimately help to ensure that the projects will be done in a safe and successful manner.
Reporter of Results
Managers of healthcare projects are responsible for reporting the results of their projects. This is a very important component of the job. They provide routine status updates to supervisors as well as team members. Sometimes there are outside investors or participants, such as a government funding agency. When this is the case, they provide written or oral updates on the project.
These reports are usually done in regular intervals. Most healthcare projects require specific types of reports. These reports might include how the funds were spent. It would also include the results of the project or the efficacy of a treatment or intervention. They would also include the next steps and the level or type of impacts made by the project on the participants. Reporting results keeps the lines of communication open. It also helps the projects to get done right and on track.
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What Kind of Person Succeeds as a Healthcare Project Manager?
The success of projects within a healthcare organization can help dictate the success of the organization as a whole. With this in mind, having a good project manager is of utmost importance. When considering a career in this position, it is a good idea to think about what exactly could make a good healthcare project manager. After that, you can evaluate if you think that you have what it takes to succeed in this position.
Although many qualities would be an asset for someone in this position, there are a few important qualities that stand out.
Being a good leader is essential. It is important for a project manager to have a clear picture of the project at hand. They should then be able to successfully communicate what needs to be done. Being a good leader includes having the ability to delegate responsibility. When someone can lead well it makes those working for them eager to follow.
Another important quality for healthcare project managers is good communication skills. This would include both the relaying of information as well as listening. Healthcare project managers will usually have many employees working under their leadership. It is paramount that these employees trust and can communicate with their leader.
An additional important quality is organizational skills. Healthcare project managers will need to balance many responsibilities, plans, and employees. This would be nearly impossible to do without the ability to organize in an effective manner. A lack of organizational skills would no doubt lead to problems within the projects. Organization can keep things on track and increase the chance of a project’s success.
Lastly, problem solving skills are very important for an effective project manager to possess. When working on any project, there are bound to come some bumps in the road. Unforeseen problems are likely to arise. Someone who is prepared to change course and adapt when needed in order to solve a problem will help the entire project to run more smoothly. Not only that, but when employees have confidence in their leader’s ability to problem solve, they will more likely do their jobs in an efficient and effective manner.
These qualities, along with the healthcare administration training required for the position, will set someone up to be able to have a fruitful career as a healthcare project manager.
How to Become a Healthcare Project Manager
You’ve now learned a lot more about this exciting job. You may also be thinking about the possibility of pursuing a career in project healthcare management. The next question to ask is “How do I become a healthcare project manager?”
The minimum education requirement for this position is a bachelor’s degree. There are a lot of options for four-year degrees that could pair well with this career plan. Some examples of such degrees are health administration, health management, business administration, public health administration, or nursing.
The position of healthcare project manager pairs administration skills with the healthcare world. With this in mind, it is important to receive training in both of these areas. You should aim to choose a program that could give you a good base of medical education and terminology as well as administration and leadership training.
Although not always necessary, it is a very good idea to pursue a master’s degree as well. This degree can allow you to pursue an area of specialization. Having an area of expertise opens up the door to many more positions. Not only that, but the extra education will open the door to more leadership and administration positions. A master’s degree will allow you to be eligible for more promotions and with that, a higher salary.
Some examples of good master’s degrees to consider are healthcare administration, business administration, or project management. Many of these higher education degree programs allow you to specialize in healthcare project management. This specific and directed educational plan will equip you with the tools that you need to succeed.
Gaining experience in the field is also an important part of the pathway to healthcare project management. Thankfully, it is fairly easy to gain experience while at the same time earning a master’s degree. In fact, there are many healthcare facilities that will help pay for higher education for their employees.
One other important thing to consider is earning certifications. Although this is not required to secure a position as manager, it can help boost your resume. It will also help you to qualify for more positions. Career specific certifications can help you stand out from the others when applying for a job. According to indeed.com, the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers three valuable certifications. These are:
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Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
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Project Management Professional (PMP)
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Program Management Professional (PgMP)
There are other certifications available, as well. Each of these certifications have different requirements including education, experience and additional coursework. Different jobs have different requirements. Because of this, it is important to put yourself in a position to stand out as a candidate in any healthcare project management position that you may be seeking.
Healthcare Project Management Jobs
Another important question to ask is “what kind of jobs are available for healthcare project managers?”. There is a great need for healthcare project managers. The job of healthcare project manager is a very specific position. This means that almost all of the available jobs for qualified candidates will have the words “project manager” within the job title.
The following is a list of some examples of healthcare project management jobs that could be available at any given time.
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Group Project Manager
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Medical Device Project Manager
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Healthcare Construction Project Manager
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Implementation Project Manager
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Public Health Project Manager
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Healthcare Provider Project Manager
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Medical Solution Project Manager
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Clinical Project Manager
There are countless other similar positions available within the field of healthcare. The majority of these positions require the manager to be on-site. However, there are some healthcare project management positions that can be done remotely. This field is exciting because the job opportunities are great. Because of this, it is likely that you will be able to find a position that meets your personal qualifications and interests.
Is Healthcare Project Management for Me?
The job of healthcare project manager is a very important one. Becoming a healthcare project manager allows a person to enjoy an exciting blend of research and managerial duties. It gives leaders the opportunity to make a lasting difference.
This type of work has the potential to help people enjoy better health. It also helps to improve the delivery of healthcare services to a large population of people. All these things are so valuable to the society as a whole. More and more organizations are seeing the value of having a project manager who is responsible for their projects.
The job outlook for this position is very good. It is projected that the demand for healthcare project managers will increase at a much higher rate than the average job over the next 10 years. Project management skills are in higher demand than ever.
With this in mind, it is a good idea to consider the pursuit of this exciting and in-demand career. Even if you are unsure of the exact type of healthcare project manager position you would like to hold, you can still begin your educational track. Along the way, you will learn useful information. Meanwhile, you can earn the credentials that put you in a position to succeed later on.
Knowing the answer to the question “what is a healthcare project manager” can ultimately help you answer the question “Is healthcare project management a good career fit for me?” If the answer to this question is yes, then you are ready to begin the pathway to an exciting and fruitful career as a healthcare project manager.