This book focuses on providing information on project management specific for software implementations within the healthcare industry. It can be used as a beginners’ guide as well as a reference for current project managers who might be new to software implementations. Utilizing the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) methodology, the defined process groups and knowledge areas will be defined related to implementing custom and Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) software. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a standard for developing custom software, but can also be followed for implementing COTS applications as well. How will the system be set-up from an architecture and hardware standpoint? What environments will be needed and why? How are changes managed throughout the project and after? These questions and more will be reviewed. The differences between types of testing are defined as well as when each are utilized. Planning for the activation and measuring the success of the project and how well the strategic need has been met are key activities that are often not given the time and effort to plan as the other parts of the implementation project. This new edition updates the current content to better align with the newest version of the PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), the latest technology and concepts. In addition, this new edition includes additional chapters covering security and privacy, contract management and system selection and transition to support.

A Proven, Integrated Healthcare Information Technology Management Solution Co-written by a certified Project Management Professional and an M.D., Project Management for Healthcare Information Technology presents an effective methodology that encompasses standards and best practices from project management, information technology management, and change management for a streamlined transition to digital medicine. Each management discipline is examined in detail and defined as a set of knowledge areas. The book then describes the core processes that take place within each knowledge area in the initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing stages of a project. Real-world examples from healthcare information technology project leaders identify how the integrated approach presented in this book leads to successful project implementations. Coverage Includes: Integrating project, information technology, and change management methodologies PMBOK Guide process groups--initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing Project management knowledge areas--integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resource, communication, risk, and procurement management IT management knowledge areas--user requirements, infrastructure, conversion, software configuration, workflow, security, interface, testing, cutover, and support management Change management knowledge areas--realization, sponsorship, transformation, training, and optimization management

The rapid growth of software applications within healthcare organizations has made it essential to have defined methodologies and formal processes for the management of the entire Information Technology (IT) portfolio. Utilizing a portfolio management framework throughout an application’s lifecycle will provide the necessary structure to ensure that all new applications are properly evaluated, and, once implemented, remain relevant while continuing to meet organizational requirements. While an organization may have a few large "organization-wide" systems such as the Electronic Health Record (EHR), lab or radiology systems, they also have a large quantity of other clinical, administrative, and research systems. Some larger organizations now have hundreds of software applications to support and manage. The IT staff must be able to implement new requests while still maintaining the current application portfolio. Utilizing a standard repeatable process will help to manage these large portfolios of software applications. This book reviews the management of applications throughout their lifecycle, from initial request through disposition. Best practices dictate that every newly requested application undergoes analysis followed by an approval decision from the organization’s governance committee. The initial implementation project must include activities to prepare for ongoing support while ensuring the application is compliant with all security, privacy, and architecture requirements. An application spends years in operations and maintenance where changes occur regularly through configuration and release management, or additional projects. The cycle continues until disposition. Understanding when to dispose of an application is just as important as deciding when to implement a new one. A defined process for disposing of an application ensures all parts are properly removed or destroyed.

Health institutions are investing in and fielding information technology solutions at an unprecedented pace. With the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine around information technology solutions for patient safety, mandates from industry groups such as Leapfrog about using infor mation systems to improve health care, and the move toward evidence based practice, health institutions cannot afford to retain manual practices. The installation of multi-million dollar computerized health systems repre sents the very life blood of contemporary clinical operations and a crucial link to the financial viability of institutions. Yet, the implementation of health information systems is exceptionally complex, expensive and often just plain messy. The need for improvement in the art and science of systems implemen tation is clear: up to 70-80% of information technology installations fail. The reasons are multi-faceted, ranging from the complexity of the diverse workflows being computerized, the intricate nature of health organizations, the knowledge and skills of users to other reasons such as strategies for obtaining key executive support, weaving through the politics peculiar to the institution, and technical facets including the usability of systems. Thus, the art and science of successfully implementing systems remains deeply layered in elusiveness. Still, given the pervasiveness of system implementa tions and the importance of the outcomes, this is a critical topic, especially for nurses and informatics nurse specialists.

An EHR transformation touches virtually every aspect of a medical practice and brings about an entirely new way of thinking and managing a practice. Regardless of where you are at in your EHR implementation journey--adopting a new EHR or trying to optimize an existing EHR, this book explores the process in a practical, easy-to-follow way, offering proven strategies for success. Readers will learn methods for developing an implementation plan and project budget, selecting the right vendor and preparing your medical practice for transitioning from paper records. This book also addresses federal standards and policies to ensure readers fully understand compliance requirements and the opportunities to take advantage of financial incentives for implementing an EHR.