Software developer, digital health leader, and Health Informatics and Health Information Management (HIHIM) associate teaching professor John Hartgraves details the appeal of project management as a career. His courses provide students with hands-on project management experience.
In his 30+ years working in project management and health care IT, HIHIM associate teaching professor John Hartgraves took on ambitious projects for health care organizations, from pioneering computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and Electronic Health Records (EHR).
“These projects involve millions of dollars and numerous stakeholders. Their success or failure carries significant weight, particularly because they directly impact health, introducing a critical safety component,” Hartgraves reflected.
With such high stakes, having a capable project manager at the helm is critical. Project management and direct involvement in implementing digital health solutions has become an increasingly popular career choice for both undergraduate and graduate students in the HIHIM programs. Digital health requires professionals who have mastered project management as well as domain-specific knowledge.
“Formal project management is understanding how to organize a project, how to break down a project into phases, and how to create a schedule. But more importantly, it’s two things: It’s managing risks…and it’s stakeholder management—it’s all about the people,” he said.
“As the cost and complexity of delivering health care skyrockets, health care systems are increasingly looking at digital augmentation and automation as part of their strategic planning. As health care evolves, so too must the discipline of project management.”
– John Hartgraves
In his courses, students refine their project management skills through simulations that explore various implementations, from IT solutions to new health care policies. These simulations guide students in planning and evaluating complex projects. The final project involves conducting a detailed feasibility study, which serves as a precursor to a potential implementation initiative. In this study, students assess both the risks and benefits of the proposed solution. Working in teams, they select a project manager to assign roles and oversee the process. Hartgraves notes that the complexity of planning such a feasibility study can itself become a significant part of a major project initiative.
Hartgraves has witnessed a radical change in the field of project management. Traditionally, managers plotted out each stage of a project in a linear, “waterfall” approach. But increasingly, managers favor a more “agile” and feedback-oriented approach.
“As the cost and complexity of delivering health care skyrockets, health care systems are increasingly looking at digital augmentation and automation as part of their strategic planning. As health care evolves, so too must the discipline of project management. In their feasibility studies, students adopt a hybrid approach, tailored to the project, that incorporates both agile and traditional project management disciplines,” Hartgraves explained.
In their feasibility studies, students develop a hybrid between the waterfall and agile processes.
Project managers can attain several certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP), which requires a certain number of years of industry experience, and the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), which relies only on an exam. HIHIM graduates commonly seek one or both certifications.
Sabrina Matlock, an MHIHIM graduate and an Informatics Project Coordinator at the American Immunization Registry Association, recalls the impact of her project management classes.
“After completing the program’s project management course, my goal was to earn the CAPM certification. Although I needed more hands-on experience to qualify for the PMP, I was determined to leave the course with a credential,” said Matlock. “The course not only prepared me for the exam but also included a unit on agile methodologies, which proved essential for passing the CAPM. The faculty’s industry expertise ensured the course content was up-to-date with current trends. Earning the CAPM significantly boosted my job market prospects, enabling me to speak confidently about my project experiences and take on larger responsibilities. Since then, I’ve gained the hands-on experience required to qualify for the PMP.”
Today, health care faces myriad challenges, from mounting costs to cybersecurity threats. As Hartgraves explained, expectations of health care are also shifting, with younger generations clamoring for more convenient, flexible, and digital options (such as telehealth). He believes HIHIM graduates can fill a critical niche within this confusing landscape.
“What health informatics students do, more than anything, is they’re problem solvers. They don’t do direct patient care, but everything they touch impacts direct patient care,” he reflected.