What is included in the EHR project manager role

Practices in the early planning stages of an EHR project often appoint a project manager, either from within their organization or from the outside.

This role has been linked to a greater chance that the project will be successful; a 2015 study showed that among respondents involved in an EHR implementation project, management was viewed as one of the keys to success.

A 2024 systematic review echoed these findings,  identifying that centralised project management is beneficial in large-scale EHR implementations.

This role is all about bridging the gap between technical teams and clinical staff. The main goal is to make sure the system improves patient care while fitting smoothly into existing workflows.

What skills should an EHR project manager have?

As aforementioned, a project manager can be found in-house or hired as an outside consultant. In any case, they should be skilled in the following areas: 

1. Understanding, communicating, and aligning key stakeholders with project goals. 
2. Communicating the project vision to stakeholders involved in the project. 
3. Organizational and critical thinking skills. 
4. Knowledge of the organization’s clinical and operational goals, as well as its processes and challenges. 
5. An understanding of the fiscal impact of the project over the short and long-term. 
6. The ability to work through conflicts 

What are the responsibilities of the EHR project manager role?

The project manager’s roles are many and varied, and should be involved in an EHR project from the early planning process to go-live. In sum, the project manager’s services are the glue that binds the many complex areas of an EHR project together to ensure its success.  

Most importantly, their responsibilities center on creating an implementation plan and ensuring the EHR project will further a practice’s strategic goals.

The alignment of the EHR project with strategic goals requires the project manager to first articulate the implementation plan and make certain that all of an organization’s resources are being used in a way that furthers the plan.

Put simply, a project manager is responsible for making certain the plan on paper is put into practice. Translating a plan to practice involves communicating with the various stakeholders the importance of the project and what role they can play in its success. In a sense, a project manager must act as a champion for the EHR project.

Additional responsibilities

In addition to the broad responsibilities above, a project manager will also have specific responsibilities such as setting deadlines, assigning responsibilities, and monitoring the project’s progress.

Lastly, a project manager’s responsibilities require the individual in this role to be familiar with the fiscal aspects of the project and be able to make sure the project is also aligned with the practice’s budget.

Final thoughts

The use of an EHR project manager should be viewed as a key component of a successful implementation.  Along these lines, even smaller-scale practices that may not have the resources to hire a project manager should consider in-house project management as an investment in ensuring the probability that an EHR project will be successful.