We found that project management is a critical component of many Healthcare interface projects and one that is frequently overlooked. We’ve found that as the complexity of an interface project increases, the need for project management increases exponentially.

For example, adding a new ADT interface when you already have live ADT interfaces may require little or no project management. On the other end of the spectrum, the integration component when you are putting in a new PACS (Picture Archiving) and Radiology system, with ADT, Orders and Reports interfaces will fail or drag out unnecessarily for many months without strong project management. Also, a project that involves bi-directional interfaces or simultaneous interfaces between more than 2 systems/organizations will typically fail without capable and experienced project management.

Our project managers have many successful projects under their belts. Some highlights from our approach to Project Management are the following:

	At the start of each project, our project managers develop a detailed systemdiagram showing interfaces, data flows and key information about the sending and receiving systems. This becomes an invaluable resource throughout the project
	Project managers gather specification documents from each vendor at the onset of a project and create mapping templates for each type of message that will be included in the project (ADT, Orders, Results, etc.). This documentation is crucial to identifying potential issues in messages that need to be transformed using scripting.
	Project managers hold periodic virtual status meetings with key personal to keep the project on schedule.
	Following each status meeting, the project manager sends out a Call Summary, which is an email document summarizing the meeting and listing action items, due dates and deliverables for each person or organization.