Author: LBodnarchuk

Jump to:

• Why Project Management in Healthcare Matters
• 5 Project Management Methodologies Explained
• Method 1: Waterfall
• Method 2: Agile
• Method 3: Six Sigma
• Method 4: Scrum
• Method 5: Hybrid

Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. Over the decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects healthcare occupations to grow 16%, adding over 2 million new jobs to the economy. Recent U.S. census data shows that 22 million workers are employed in the healthcare industry already.

Utilizing project management is essential in such a massive industry that continues to grow at an astounding pace. Continue reading to learn more about project management in healthcare.

Why Project Management in Healthcare Matters

Besides the scale of the healthcare industry, other factors contribute to project management’s importance in healthcare.

One prominent factor is the stakes involved with patient care. There’s no denying that healthcare is an essential part of any society, ensuring its members can prosper. Further, healthcare is necessary whenever tragedy strikes. For these reasons, people depend on well-organized, quality healthcare services.

As healthcare expands and technologies develop, project management only becomes more necessary. Things like electronic health records, regulatory limitations and diverse stakeholders add countless processes and regulations around patient safety, privacy and quality of care that healthcare project managers need to be mindful of. Also, the many parties involved in healthcare interactions further complicate matters.

In any given healthcare transaction, notable parties include:

• Patients
• Nurses
• Physicians
• Health insurance providers
• Government agencies

Whereas many other industries have more simplistic buyer and seller relationships, healthcare has added complexities. Thus, project teams must be diverse and adaptable enough to consider all views, concerns and party interests.

To summarize, healthcare project management is essential because of:

• Industry scale and accelerated growth rate
• Stakes involved with patient care
• Expanding technologies
• Increased regulations
• Diverse stakeholders
• Complex relationships are involved with healthcare transactions

When done well, project management in healthcare can provide the following benefits:

• Improved quality of care
• Improved communication among healthcare workers, patients, management and shareholders
• Improved organizational planning, budgeting and productivity
• Decreased risk of lawsuits and malpractice claims

5 Project Management Methodologies Explained

Project management methodologies are established principles and techniques that project developers and managers use to develop, carry out and manage projects. Here are brief explanations of five of the most popular project management methodologies:

1. Waterfall

The waterfall method is the most straightforward, linear and traditional approach to project management. It consists of several distinct phases that flow one after the other, just like a waterfall. Project managers using the waterfall method wait until each step is complete before moving on to the next one. Each phase is mapped out with clear expectations and desired outcomes and the project team regularly documents progress throughout each stage.

A key characteristic of waterfall projects is the use of Gantt charts. Such charts provide a visual overview of the project timeline with information on how long each phase will take. The waterfall approach is excellent for presenting a project to senior leadership and stakeholders.

The waterfall technique is also ideal for projects that require a rigid structure. Still, they can present difficulties for the project team to stick to the sequential, step-by-step process from beginning to end in process improvement projects when challenges inevitably arise.

2. Agile

Where the waterfall approach is slow and sequential, agile project management is fast and flexible. Agile methods follow an iterative approach of continual process refinement. The agile approach is much more open to change than waterfall project management, so long as it improves the process.

With project team structure, agile methods involve cross-functional team members who collaborate to drive the project forward. In this way, agile projects continually evolve as teams progress toward the end goal.

Still, a con of this approach is that it’s easy to get lost in minor details that provide minimal value to the project’s big picture. Agile projects especially run into this problem if the project’s big picture is vague to all team members. In the same way, they may seem less convincing to stakeholders and senior leadership when first pitched if the project’s big picture appears disorganized or lacks direction.

Agile projects involve stakeholders in project execution more than waterfall projects, which can prove beneficial if you can get past the first hurdle of getting approval. With that in mind, the agile method is great for industries with room for uncertainty and innovation.

3. Six Sigma

The Six Sigma process is all about continual process refinement. The main focus of the Six Sigma method is identifying and removing causes of defects and suboptimal efficiency in projects.

The results that the Six Sigma process aims to achieve are stable and expected. For this reason, Six Sigma project managers rely on quality management, empirical statistics and expert personnel in specific disciplines to bring the project to fruition.

Six Sigma projects require everyone from top to bottom to sustain project quality. This method works best in larger organizations.

4. Scrum

Scrum is a variation of agile project management involving project phases divided into short sprints. In contrast with the agile method, the scrum approach has smaller deliverables and more specific roles.

The lead role of a scrum project team is the scrum master, who forms and unites the group. Before each sprint, the scrum master assigns roles by asking each team member about their commitments and what they’ll accomplish concerning the project.

During each sprint, the scrum team holds daily scrum meetings to connect on progress, review commitments and address impediments. These meetings aim to sustain morale, ensure team members fulfill commitments and remove any obstacles to success. The scrum team also holds retrospective meetings at the end of each sprint to review accomplishments and what members can incorporate into the next sprint for continual process refinement.

The scrum method is great for projects that prioritize teamwork, quickness and efficiency.

5. Hybrid

The hybrid methodology merges the waterfall and agile methods, attempting to leverage the best of both. That said, the day-to-day operations of hybrid methods have a heavy focus on agile methods.

Hybrid methods use waterfall planning to present a clear roadmap to stakeholders and senior leadership for gaining approval. Having a clear roadmap also helps the execution team stay focused on the project’s big picture.

For example, a hybrid project may involve a structured rubric to present to stakeholders and senior leadership. That rubric is then broken down into detailed sets of tasks for the execution team. In this way, hybrid is a suitable method for projects that focus on improving outcomes.

Project Management with ProspHire

ProspHire is a solutions-based healthcare consulting firm that will do everything in our power to help your organization thrive, expand and maximize ROI while remaining compliant with all regulations.

Contact ProspHire below to learn more about project management methods and start your project management strategy.

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Jump to:

• What Is Project Resource Management?
• Who Is Involved in Project Management?
• How Does Project Management Work?
• How Is Project Management Beneficial for Healthcare?
• Importance of Resource Management in Healthcare
• Effective Resource Management Strategies

As any healthcare executive knows, running a healthcare organization is complex and fast-paced, with many moving parts and minimal margin for error. A robust project resource management system is essential to respond to this tension well.

Hospitals and healthcare organizations provide essential services in any society, keeping us healthy, helping us live our lives well and providing care when we need it most. Learn more about the importance of project resource management for hospitals and healthcare organizations below.

What Is Project Resource Management?

Project resource management helps organizations control costs, reduce risks and improve outcomes. In the late 1960s, when project management emerged through a non-profit organization called the Project Management Institute (PMI), its initial goal was to:

• Advance careers
• Strengthen organizational success
• Teach project management professionals new skills and enable them to maximize their impact

Even as new technologies have caused project management to grow exponentially, those goals remain relevant today. 

Who Is Involved in Project Management?

Strong project management involves several individuals working to streamline workflow. Significant positions within project management include:

• Project managers: A project manager helps plan, organize and oversee the daily workflow of a particular team. Their guidance advances specific projects so the organization can achieve its goals in efficient ways. 
• Project sponsors: A project sponsor initiates the project and defines the desired outcomes. Sponsors also liaison with stakeholders and provide resources so the project team can fulfill their role.
• Project teams: The project team involves any individuals who carry out work related to the project. These individuals include the project manager, sponsor and any non-management workers involved. 
• Project stakeholders: Any person that the project impacts is a project stakeholder. Stakeholders can include investors, customers, patients, employees or other organizations. 

How Does Project Management Work?

The four phases of traditional project management are: 

1. Project initiation: When a project begins, the project sponsors review background information, market research and other pertinent data. After defining and aligning goals with organizational aims, the sponsors send the goals to relevant stakeholders for approval. Once the sponsors receive approval, they select a project manager to develop a project team and vision for execution. 
2. Project planning: The project manager reviews the project goals that the sponsor has highlighted and develops a step-by-step execution plan. This plan outlines the budget, project-related activities and all individuals necessary to carry it out.
3. Project execution: While the project team carries out the activities, the project manager measures progress. The manager also monitors any significant deviations from the plan and responds appropriately. 
4. Project closure: The project manager and sponsor review the results and report them to relevant stakeholders and team members. If necessary, they create an updated budget and timeline to compare to the original project scope. 

Depending on the method used, a project management team may reorder or add to these phases to achieve the desired outcome. At ProspHire, our approach to project management is:

1. Project initiation: We align our approach with the business case and organizational benefits.
2. Project planning: We define the scope and project management strategy.
3. Project execution: We develop cadence with leadership and deliver the product.

Our outcomes include an improved speed to market, better communication models, stakeholder alignment and increased productivity. For example, we helped a managed care organization complete a large-scale software migration. Our oversight and expertise helped the client complete the project on time while staying within their scope and budget. As a result, they received a 2-3x return on investment. 

How Is Project Management Beneficial for Healthcare?

While project resource management is beneficial for every industry, some of project management’s benefits for your hospital or healthcare organization include: 

• Enhancing patient care quality by streamlining processes involved in providing patient care.
• Increasing productivity and sharpening communication among healthcare staff.
• Strengthening organizational planning and refining budgeting to align resources with high-priority work.
• Augmenting processes designed to decrease lawsuit risks through improved quality of patient care.
• Improving relations with stakeholders such as insurance companies, clinicians, patients, caregivers or government agencies. 

Importance of Resource Management in Healthcare

Healthcare is one of the U.S.’s largest growing industries and foundational to any well-functioning society. Effective resource management can prepare healthcare organizations for crises and help all patients receive adequate care. 

As the U.S. population ages and more Americans obtain health insurance, the need for efficient and effective healthcare delivery processes increases. Additionally, crises like the COVID-19 pandemic or an economic recession can lead to patients delaying or canceling procedures. With less income from elective procedures, hospitals can lose revenue and struggle to provide adequate care to all patients. A robust project management system can help healthcare workers meet these inevitable challenges with readiness and confident action. 

Medical error accounts for over 22,000 deaths per year, often due to miscommunication, mismanaged data or faulty processes. An effective project resource management system can help reduce errors by putting sound processes in place, upgrading facilities and software and improving staff training for best practices. 

Effective Resource Management Strategies for Healthcare

You can choose from several resource management methodologies and strategies depending on what works best for your organization and project. Some standard resource management methods include:

• Waterfall method: One of the most common project management methods, the waterfall method organizes projects in a sequential and linear pattern through several phases. Because the project team completes each stage before starting the next, the waterfall method offers fixed costs and predictability. 
• Agile method: Planning and execution co-occur in the agile method. Project teams collaborate with customers to break objectives into smaller tasks and rank them according to importance. The agile method is more versatile and adaptable than the waterfall method, allowing you to adjust your parameters and strategies as you go rather than following a linear path to reach your goals. 
• Hybrid method: The hybrid method combines the waterfall and agile approaches to bolster adaptability with effective planning. This method usually relies most on agile methodologies, incorporating waterfall methods at strategic phases. 
• Scrum method: Scrum is an agile methodology that organizes project tasks into “sprints” lasting one to four weeks. The Scrum master is the project manager, tasked with removing barriers and protecting the project team from outside forces that may impede progress. Regular team meetings to review the progress of each “sprint” are a defining feature of the scrum method.
• Six Sigma method: While waterfall focuses on defined steps and agile emphasizes adaptability, Six Sigma is statistically driven. This method has a more hierarchical structure than other methodologies, prioritizing a standardized process by reducing defects and increasing the repeatability of optimal results. 

The methodologies above are only a few examples of the many project resource management strategies used for hospitals and healthcare organizations. Our project management professionals at ProspHire have extensive knowledge of each method. Our team understands the ideal circumstances for each one and the most effective strategies for implementing them. 

Optimize Your Project Resource Management with ProspHire

If your healthcare company could use enhanced project management strategies, our professionals at ProspHire would love to speak with you! We are committed to delivering results that provide value to every sector of your organization so you can give the highest quality of care to your clients and patients. We welcome you to fill out our contact form below to get in touch with us and learn more about how we can optimize your project resource management.