Letter to the Editor:
On the Subject of the May Edition

May 04, 2009

Dear David

Congrats on a terrific issue! I have not read the whole thing as yet, but plan to do so. PM World Today is becoming THE place to get published in project management!

Your editorial on PM in the health industry is excellent. I hope you are able to cover all the topics you listed in the next few issues. This certainly fits well with President Obama's initiative on health care in the USA, especially on his emphasis on digitalizing health records.

Your description of the work you and David Mathie did with that Texas regional health facilities network is very useful and informative. I would be interested in having an update on:

• when you did that assignment?

• what changes were implemented as a result of your work; for example, did they establish a PMO, and if so at what level(s)?

• what is going on there today as a result of that assignment.

I hope this email finds you in good health and spirit. I look forward to hearing from you both and meeting you in Helsinki for the Congress.

Thanking you and looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
Russ Archibald
San Miguel de Allende
Mexico

Editor’s response: The work for the regional health care organization occurred during 2000-2001. Good results were achieved initially, including integration between the project portfolio management and strategic planning processes. Before the system could be fully implemented, however, a new president was hired who immediately reorganized and stopped the strategic project management effort (investment). The VP Facilities left the organization shortly afterwards, we lost our internal champion, and we lost touch with the hospital. Nevertheless, the experience provided good perspective on the nature of projects in hospitals and health care organizations, some of the challenges, and the tremendous potential for better project and portfolio management in the healthcare sector.

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