Introduction

Over the last year, I have identified a number of new industries, or existing industries that are changing rapidly, that represent “new frontiers” for projects and project management. Some of these frontiers are in newly emerging industries, such as nanotechnology, earth sciences, humans in space, etc. Others are in well established industries and fields, including basic human services such as agriculture, energy, food production, healthcare, housing, security and transportation, where technology is now being rapidly incorporated and massive investments are occurring.

Healthcare, medicines and medical treatment is one of those sectors that is growing rapidly, due to demographic changes, increased use of technologies, and fundamental changes in health and medical organizations and industries alike. Like other industries, healthcare, medical treatment, medicines and pharmaceuticals, and disease management are becoming more project-oriented. That is, every drugs, healthcare and medical organization in the world now has many programs and projects to plan and manage, representing trillions of dollars of investment each year and a dramatically growing need for program and project management.

In addition, medical emergencies can also require rapid responses, programs and projects, and the need for critical PM-related support services. This month as we go to press, the world is facing a Flu Pandemic, with the World Health Organization (WHO) raising the pandemic level this week to 5 (with 6 being the highest). The H1N1 Flu Virus (also known as the Swine Flu) that began in Mexico two weeks ago has now killed 180 people, spread across Mexico and to ten US states, and has been identified in least a dozen other countries. While the death toll has not risen too high or too fast, this virus is new, humans have no natural immunity to it - nor a vaccine, and the risks of further transfer is highly likely according to international health organizations, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the USA.

For that reason, and because I have some experience in this area, I thought it time to address project management in the healthcare and medical sectors in an editorial. This is big topic, however. Therefore I propose to discuss this general topic in a series of editorials (papers), perhaps something like the following:

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