Project management assignment on health information management
– Introduction to Project Management
Healthcare has evolved tremendously over the past few years to include more technology and system implementation than ever before. Among some of the most challenging areas are systems utilized and managed by health information management (HIM) professionals. Therefore, project management has become a critical component of the knowledge and skills required for HIM professionals. Effective project planning and management helps to ensure successful implementation and often makes the difference between system success and failure.
What is Project Management?
A project is a temporary effort to reach a specific objective or goal. In a healthcare facility, a project could be defined as a new system, product, change, or update to software. Project management is defined as the process to plan, organize, and coordinate the resources to successfully achieve the goals of a project. The process of implementing a system, from start to finish, requires the methods of project management. The project manager is the main person responsible for the successful completion of a project. Throughout the course, there will be references to the Guide to the Project management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). This book defines the methodology by which project management is carried out, and outlines the recommended skills and knowledge in order to do so.
PMBOK
The Project Management Body of Knowledge, also known as PMBOK, is one of the most valuable resources for setting standards in the project management industry. The guide provides a framework for describing key project management components and a variety of tools and concepts that assist project managers.
HIM Role
As a HIM professional, there are several factors that impact your role as project manager. Knowledge of the fundamentals, understanding the leadership component of managing projects, and communication and problem-solving skills are all required. As a project manager, it is critical to understand how systems work together to impact the organization as a whole, and how system implementations will drive processes within the organization. Having this level of knowledge will be significant in planning, implementing, and managing project tasks.
