THE EMERGING ROLE OF THE PROJECT ARCHITECT
By Janice Macdonald, MS, PT
We look to experience to guide us in many things. When a hospital chooses a new IS System or application, it
is typical to visit or speak with others who have gone through the same or a similar experience. Someone who
has gone through the implementation process and is currently using the application can provide guidance to those
about to embark on this process. An experienced consultant can be a valuable asset to any healthcare IT
project, especially a project that has high visibility, risk or impact.
The Project Architect serves as a coach to the internal project manager and an experienced resource to
project team, as well as the super users throughout the course of a project. The project advisor also assists
with the coordination of vendor resources and activities in a customer advocate role.
Depending on the requirements of the facility or the project at hand, the engagement of a project advisor
provides clarity in executive level communication, as well as significant value in the following areas.
Project Management Support, including but not limited to
- Development or review of key project documentation:
- Project Charter
- Project Plan
- Project Critical Path
- Task scheduling and timing
- Development of team structures and skill sets
- Development of project communication plans
Work with Hospital business leaders to:
- Complete Current to Future State Analysis
- Optimize Revenue Cycle processes
- Optimize Supply Chain
- Optimize Financial Reporting systems
- Optimize Clinical system workflows
- Offer Best Practice recommendations for clinical and business processes
Work with Project Team Leaders and Super Users to:
- Translate workflow into buildable application design
- Develop understandable documentation and training for all end users
- Oversee Data Conversion and integrated testing
- Develop new work flow documentation
- Provide application build oversight
- Create effective and understandable reports
Provide Vendor Management to:
- Negotiate a complete and high probability project charter
- Oversee the Change Management process
- Establish an effective escalation path
- Set and supervise Personnel Change policies
- Review upgrade documentation and version Release notes
- Set high probability “Go Live” policies with sufficient vendor presence
- Review and set the Implementation to Support path
Choosing a project architect to oversee the pitfalls of a complex project complements both the internal project
manager who is focused on various day to day project tasks, as well as the application experts. Hospital IT projects
today have multiple moving parts and an experienced project architect can help to navigate the path to a successful
outcome!
If you would like more information about this topic please feel free to call Vitalize Consulting Solutions, Inc.
at (610) 444 - 1233 or email us at vcs@getvitalized.com.