Clinical Informatics Certification Project Management in Health IT 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A hospital's EHR implementation is behind schedule due to unexpected interface build complexity. Which project management response is MOST appropriate?
- Extend the go-live date without stakeholder notification
- Conduct a formal schedule compression analysis using fast-tracking or crashing (Correct answer)
- Remove scope items without change control approval
- Reassign all interface tasks to the project manager
Correct answer: Conduct a formal schedule compression analysis using fast-tracking or crashing
Schedule compression techniques (fast-tracking parallel tasks or crashing by adding resources) are the standard PM response to schedule variances.
Question 2: Which document formally authorizes a Health IT project and identifies the project manager's authority level?
- Project scope statement
- Work breakdown structure
- Project charter (Correct answer)
- Risk register
Correct answer: Project charter
The project charter formally authorizes the project, names the project manager, and defines their authority.
Question 3: During an EHR go-live, end users report that the downtime procedures are unclear. Which risk response strategy was most likely inadequate?
- Risk avoidance
- Risk transfer
- Risk mitigation (Correct answer)
- Risk acceptance
Correct answer: Risk mitigation
Inadequate downtime procedure training represents a failure of risk mitigation, which should have reduced the likelihood and impact of this known risk.
Question 4: A clinical informatics project manager is using Earned Value Management. If SPI = 0.75, what does this indicate?
- The project is 25% under budget
- The project is progressing at 75% of the planned rate (Correct answer)
- The project will complete 25% early
- The project is spending 25% more than planned
Correct answer: The project is progressing at 75% of the planned rate
SPI (Schedule Performance Index) of 0.75 means the project is only accomplishing 75 cents of work for every dollar of work planned, indicating it is behind schedule.
Question 5: A steering committee requests a new reporting module be added mid-project. What process should the PM initiate?
- Implement immediately to satisfy the sponsor
- Submit an integrated change control request for evaluation (Correct answer)
- Reject the request to protect the schedule
- Document the request in the risk register
Correct answer: Submit an integrated change control request for evaluation
Integrated change control ensures all change requests are formally evaluated for schedule, cost, and scope impacts before approval.
Question 6: Which quality management concept focuses on designing quality into Health IT systems rather than inspecting for defects after implementation?
- Quality control
- Quality assurance
- Quality prevention (Correct answer)
- Defect repair
Correct answer: Quality prevention
Quality prevention (or quality by design) embeds quality into the process, reducing the cost and risk of finding defects post-implementation.
Question 7: A project manager notices that two department heads are in conflict over workflow redesign priorities. Which conflict resolution approach is MOST likely to produce lasting resolution?
- Smoothing/accommodating
- Forcing a management decision
- Collaborating/problem solving (Correct answer)
- Avoiding the conflict temporarily
Correct answer: Collaborating/problem solving
Collaborating or problem solving addresses root causes and reaches a mutually acceptable solution, producing the most durable resolution.
Clinical Informatics Certification Project Management in Health IT 2
A hospital's EHR implementation is behind schedule due to unexpected interface build complexity.
Which project management response is MOST appropriate?