Last year, my company HealthIT Project Managers, in partnership with Jackson Healthcare (our parent company), conducted a national survey of CIO's, Healthcare Project Managers, and other personnel within hospitals who are in charge of or serve in project management roles. The questions centered around better understanding what types of projects are taking place in hospitals right now, whether technical or clinical. Additional questions focused on the impact of expansion and new construction on hospitals.
The results indicated that while Electronic Medical Record (EMR) efforts dominate the time of most hospital technical teams, an array of other projects are still continuing.
Detail:
In July, 2011, HealthIT Project Managers, in cooperation with Jackson Healthcare, conducted a survey of U.S. hospitals with the following objectives:
- Understand the array of technical projects currently being managed
- Measure the degree to which staffing challenges contribute to missed deadlines
58 hospital CIOs/CTOs and department leaders completed the survey.
Key Findings:
Hospitals are working on multiple projects beyond EMR / meaningful use:
- 40% have 10-25 non-EMR projects in progress
- 38% have 25 or more non-EMR projects in progress
- 73% are currently undertaking capital projects
About 50% of respondents report EMR implementation at Stage 4 or higher
Challenges Caused by Staff Limitations
Despite having a robust staff, many hospital IT departments report needing additional assistance from project contractors:
- 53% of respondents report at least 50 FTEs
- 57% of respondents employ a blend of FTEs and contractors
64% of respondents report at least one project with funding allocated, but no available staff. The projects affected are:
- Clinical (47% of the time)
- Technical (38% of the time)
- Facilities-based (15% of the time)
Most respondents believe project managers are vitally important and in short supply
- About 66% say a lack of project managers has resulted in missed deadlines, including the postponement of project start and end dates
Data of Surveyed Hospitals
- Hospital respondents by number of beds:
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- 40% have between 100 and 250 beds
- 17% have between 250 and 350 beds
- 41% have more than 350 beds
- Hospital respondents by location:
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- 40% Urban
- 24% Suburban
- 36% Rural
- Hospital respondents by facility type:
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- 45% Teaching / Academic
- 42% Specialty
- 21% Children's Facility