One of our goals is to continue work on the web site to make it an instructive communication tool which will help bring us closer together as a group, so we are more a community not just an organization. Coming together as an informed, unified and engaged body will be our strongest asset in the future. We hope to create an atmosphere of quality and effective project management in healthcare by fostering excellence and professionalism. The web site should function as another vehicle for us to stay informed about the most current aspects of healthcare project management.

There are several free webinars already in the member’s only section of our web site. Make sure to visit the site regularly and listen to some of them. You get both PDUs and knowledge to help you in your project management role.

If you have any ideas for webinars or anything else you would like to see in the future, please let me know! Your feedback is welcome and necessary to help us serve you better.

Michele Mills, PMP
Healthcare SIG President

Nominations Now Being Accepted for 2007 Healthcare SIG
Project of the Year Award

Past President Adam Birnbaum presenting the 2006 Project of the Year Award to Myra Ricceri.

The Heatlhcare SIG is seeking nominations for its 2007 Project of
the Year award.

Project of the Year Award
Purpose
To recognize and honor the accomplishments of the Healthcare SIG Project of the Year, and the project team involved, for superior performance and execution of exemplary project management in the healthcare industry. This is not related to the PMI® Project of the Year Award.

Eligibility
Healthcare projects from everywhere in the world are encouraged to participate, regardless of size. The project must be accepted as complete by the Owner/Client within the last 3 years prior to nomination. There can be no restrictions on the use of the submitted information after the final date of submission.

Download the Project of the Year nomination application.

Nominations must be submitted by August 1, 2007.

"Transforming Healthcare with Effective Project Management:
Case Studies, Lessons Learned & Skill Development"

Symposium Date: Friday, May 18, 2007 Hours: 8 AM - 2:45 PM Location: Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI Early Bird Registration for PMI and HIMSS members is NOW OPEN! Price: $125 for general public, $95 for PMI and HIMSS members.

View more details

Register now to reserve your spot

Healthcare SIG to Support National Health IT Week

In May, the Healthcare SIG will join approximately 50 public and private sector organizations in Washington, DC, to participate in the second annual National Health IT Week.

National Health IT Week is a collaborative forum where organizations with diverse perspectives on healthcare unite to send a powerful message on the importance of fostering widespread health IT adoption. Associations, payers, provider groups, vendors, consumer organizations and research foundations work together under one banner with the goal of accelerating change to improve healthcare efficiency, quality, cost-effectiveness and patient safety in the US.

The week consists of several partner events, including:

• HIMSS Advocacy Day (May 15, Washington Court Hotel/Capitol Hill)
• National Health IT Week Networking Reception (May 15, Capitol Hill Club)
• US Senate Healthcare Quality Improvement and IT Caucus Technology Demonstration Showcase (May 16, Dirksen Senate Office Building)

The SIG is proud to support National Health IT Week, and we hope you will join us in this milestone event - visit www.HealthITWeek.org for a full list of partners and a calendar of the week's activities. Working together, we will transform healthcare for all.

The United States is in the "middle of the biggest hospital-construction boom" in more than 50 years. The hospital industry has spent almost $100 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars in the past five years on new facilities, a 47% increase from the previous five years, with spending likely to reach a record $23.7 billion in 2005, according to the Census Bureau. According to USA Today, the "money is being spent on more luxurious buildings packed with advanced equipment," with a focus on profitable treatments, such as heart surgery and neonatal care, that are reimbursed at higher rates by private health insurers and Medicare. In addition, hospitals have begun to move from inner cities to the suburbs, a trend that "threatens to reduce medical care for the poor," USA Today reports. (USA Today, 1/3/06).

Symposium Date: Friday, April 27, 2007 Hours: 7:30 AM - 4 PM Location: Denver Marriott, West, Denver, CO

View more details

Register today

New Online Course Available

Managing a Picture Archive Communication System (PACS) Project

Presented by Karen A. Jennings, R.N., M.S.
University of Utah Health Center

This course, from a project manager's perspective, discusses the funda-mental steps required to successfully manage and implement a Picture Archive Communication System (PACs), when converting from a film environment to a digital imaging environment. Areas discussed during the course include defining the scope of the project, modality considerations, network requirements, project team member considerations, training, communication to the end-users, reading room redesign as well as change management for file room staff, radiology technicians and physicians.

Specialty areas such as emergency departments and operating rooms are discussed.
1 PDU offered upon completion.

About the Speaker
Karen Ameloot Jennings, RN, MS, is a Nurse Informatics Specialist in the Information Technology Services department at the University of Utah Health Science Center, and an Adjunct Associate Instructor in the Clinical Informatics program at the University of Utah, College of Nursing. Karen's clinical experience ranges from intensive care to trauma, with a specialty in the treatment of burn patients. Karen's Informatics experience includes software development, implementation of decision support systems, implementation of an ambulatory electronic medical record system, and currently as the manager of medical imaging systems for the hospital enterprise. As an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Utah, College of Nursing, Karen has taught the Systems Analysis course, has been a guest lecturer as well as a mentor for student practicums. Karen's goal is to build a bridge between information technology and the end-user so that the end-user can work efficiently while the system captures the essential data. Her focus of study is in system development of decision support systems and picture archive communication systems (PACs).

To play the audio conference, login to the Healthcare SIG "Members Only" area by entering your last name and PMI ID #.

This course is free to all PMI Healthcare SIG Members. Non-member course fee is $40.00

PMI-NJ 2007 Regional Symposium

"Sustainable Project Management - The Future is Now!"

7 May, 2007 - Skylands, Randolph, NJ

The work of project management involves sustained effort to achieve objectives; in turn, project management assures results that sustain the business. The results of projects produce lasting outcomes that may also have unintended consequences. Project managers are obliged to consider the social, environmental and economic context in which their projects are planned and implemented; assessing impact to assure that the desired outcome is produced. Project managers must also sustain themselves and their teams throughout the project life cycle!

The 2007 Symposium will feature an engaging program with dynamic keynote speakers, a variety of track sessions and ongoing opportunities to interact with poster presenters, vendors, and PMI local interest groups. In addition, you'll be able to network with other project management professionals.

Register Today!

Go beyond the hype! Attend the 2007 Clinical Automation Summit and get credible information on strategies for Electronic Health Record success. Produced by Health Data Management, this important event will be held September 17-18, 2007 in Chicago, IL.

For more information, visit the conference web site.

Healthcare Project Management Jobs

CareFirst Seeks Program Management Support
CareFirst is developing Centers of Excellence around four pillars within their Project Management Office. Those pillars include:

• Claims, adjudication and process optimization
• Revenue generation and new product support
• Physician and Provider Network Technology
• Enterprise System Integration and Infrastructure Support

In each of these areas, CareFirst is seeking specific Program Management Support. Learn more about this position.

Catalyst Project Solutions Seeks Project Manager for Offices in Bangkok
Catalyst Project Solutions is looking for an experienced project manager with extensive knowledge in application system implementations, client/user interactions, project management methodology, process analysis and technical documentation. Heavy background in healthcare industry with some experience in facilities management and financial processes. Learn more about this position.

First Care Group is Looking for a Program Manager in Denver
First Care Group is looking for an experienced Meditech Program Manager to join its PMO team. This position will be located in the Denver, CO area for approximately one year, with extensive national travel - to various client sites - required after this engagement is completed. Learn more about this position.

Interested in posting a position?
If you would like to post a position description in HealthcareSpeaks, please email information to projects@pmihealthcare.org.

Industry News

Payer Starts Real-Time Adjudication
The UnitedHealthcare division of UnitedHealth Group has launched real-time adjudication of claims submitted through its physician Web site.

Medicare Adds Reporting Measures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has added eight new measures to its 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative.

Healthcare USB Device Group Formed
The USB Implementers Forum Inc. has formed a Personal Healthcare Device Working Group with the initial goal of defining a USB Personal Healthcare Device Class Specification. The specification will enable USB health-related products, such as blood pressure cuffs and exercise watches, to transport standardized messages and data to facilitate improved communication between patients and care givers.

Buy Expands Clearinghouse's Reach
Gateway EDI, a St. Louis-based claims clearinghouse serving providers across the nation, has acquired the claims clearinghouse of Professional Management Group of Virginia Inc., based in Richmond. Acquisition terms were not disclosed.

HIMSS Survey: EMR Use Growing
Thirty-two percent of provider organization respondents to a recent survey reported their organization has a fully operational electronic medical records system. That figure compares with 24% reporting full operational status last year in the same survey, and 18% in 2005.

Teleradiology Vendor Buys Again
NightHawk Radiology Holdings Inc., a vendor of off-hours teleradiology services, has made its third acquisition of a domestic competitor.

View Updates on Veterans Hospital initiatives

Webinar Available on HIPPA and AHA Endorsed Secure Messaging

Project Managers Surge in Numbers and Stature

Volunteer Opportunities

Discussion Board Monitors
Do you have experience in moderating online discussion groups? We are looking for one or two volunteers to monitor discussion groups and encourage networking between the Healthcare SIG members. Contact the director of membership services for more details.