What does an EHR project manager do?

Curious about what goes into EHR project management roles, such as an EHR project manager?

This article has all the info you need.

There are many career opportunities within the healthcare space, both clinical and administrative. If your career aspirations lean towards the administrative side, one opportunity you may want to explore is a role as an EHR project manager.

EHR project managers play a critical role in the successful implementation and management of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare organizations (for example, private therapy practices).

But, what exactly does that role entail?

Let’s take a deep dive into EHR project management, including project manager EHR implementation duties and responsibilities, what kind of opportunities there are in the EHR project management space, and what you need to do to break into the field and land a job as an EHR project manager yourself.

What is EHR project management?

Before we jump into what EHR project managers do, let’s quickly touch on what EHR project management actually is.

“Managing EHR projects is about overseeing the challenges of implementing, refining, and maintaining electronic health record systems in healthcare organizations,” says Simon Lee, CEO of mobile app development company Glance and a seasoned software engineer with experience leading projects integrating EHRs into healthcare workflows.

Essentially, EHR project managers are in charge of any and all things related to EHRs within the organization. And while this role is definitely a technical one, it also requires deep insight into and experience into private practice and/or the healthcare space.

“The focus of EHR project management isn’t solely on the technical aspects—it’s equally about understanding healthcare processes, complying with patient privacy laws, and recognizing the impact these systems have on everyday healthcare activities,” says Lee.

Duties of an EHR project manager

As the job title suggests, EHR project managers are responsible for implementing and overseeing EHR functions within a private practice or healthcare organization.

But, what does that actually look like? Or, in other words, what do EHR project managers actually do?

“In the position of EHR project manager, you’re the key intermediary between IT, healthcare providers, and compliance standards, ensuring that the systems not only function, but also foster improved patient outcomes and operational efficiency,” says Lee.

An EHR project manager is a fairly senior role—and is ideally suited for someone that enjoys taking ownership of projects from beginning to end.

“As an EHR project manager, you take on a leadership role—steering cross-functional teams, overseeing budgets and deadlines, evaluating risks, and ensuring the system meets both healthcare compliance and clinical needs,” says Lee.

Effective communication skills are also a must for an EHR project manager to successfully see the implementation project through to completion.

“Efficient communication during all phases of EHR implementation can guarantee the least disturbance and complete efficiency of the system,” says John Russo, VP of Healthcare Solutions at OSP.

Some of the main job duties of EHR project managers include

• Evaluating EHR options
• Contributing to the creation of an EHR implementation plan or EHR implementation checklist
• Creating and assigning tasks to other team members
• Overseeing the implementation plan to ensure the project is on schedule
• Creating status reports or hosting status update meetings
• Managing cross-functional communications between key stakeholders (both internal and external)
• Coordinating staff training and onboarding
• Scheduling and overseeing key implementation-related tasks events (for example, data migration or testing)
• Troubleshooting issues
• Maintaining a list of issues that need to be addressed—and following up on those issues to make sure they’re resolved
• Ensuring the project is on time and within budget
• Gathering feedback from users
• Continually overseeing and optimizing the EHR implementation as needed
• Communicating any EHR-related issues to leadership and/or the EHR provider
• Regularly providing updates to leadership and other stakeholders

Essentially, the EHR project management role “calls for oversight across all aspects, from implementing the system to training staff and resolving any issues that emerge,” says Lee.

Ideal qualities of EHR project managers

So, what kind of people thrive in EHR project management roles?

To be successful in EHR project management, you need to have the qualities of an ideal project manager—ideally paired with experience working in the healthcare field.

These qualities and skills include:

• Organizational skills
• Strategic thinking skills
• Flexibility
• High attention to detail
• The ability to effectively balance multiple priorities, tasks, and people
• Deep industry and software knowledge
• Leadership qualities
• People management skills
• Effective decision-making skills
• Works well under pressure
• Adheres to deadlines

How much does an EHR project manager make?

One big question that many people exploring a career in EHR project management have is related to compensation—how much do EHR project managers make?

And the answer is: it depends who you ask.

For example, according to information from Salary.com, the average salary for EHR project managers in the United States is $117,345—although typical pay can range anywhere from $102,348 to $132,459.

However, according to information from Glassdoor, total compensation (which includes base pay and other compensation, like bonuses) for EHR project managers typically falls between $126,000 to $214,000 per year.

Clearly, there’s a wide discrepancy in reported salaries for EHR project management roles.

That being said, there’s no definitive one-size-fits-all salary number for any role—including this one. EHR project managers may make more or less than the above-listed salaries based on a variety of factors—like location, company, and experience level.

How to become an EHR project manager

Think a career in EHR project management is right for you?

Here are some steps to help you along the way.

Research EHR project manager jobs

There are lots of different opportunities for EHR project managers.

For example, you might work for a small group therapy practice, a larger healthcare organization, or with the EHR provider in a consulting role, working on-site with clients to manage the implementation process.

Research the different roles available and then build your job search around the roles that feel like the best fit.

Network

Want to learn more about EHR project management—and how to score a job?

Then start networking!

Connect with other EHR project managers and/or people that work for your target companies and see if they’d be open to answering a few questions about the role, organization, and how you might go about getting a job.

Who knows? You might even be able to get a personal referral.

Consider certification

While certification—either for project management in general or for specific platforms—isn’t always required to land an EHR project management role, it can help you better prepare for the role and stand out against other candidates.

“When they hold certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) or have expertise in EHR platforms…these professionals are well-equipped to serve as a liaison between IT and healthcare teams,” says Lee.

Sources

• HealthIT.gov. Creating a Leadership Team for Successful EHR Implementation.
• CIO.com. 20 traits of highly effective project managers.
• Salary.com. EHR Project Manager Salary in the United States.
• Glassdoor. EHR Project Manager Salaries.

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