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Hi Product People,

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Healthcare technology presents product managers with a unique set of challenges, from regulatory requirements to the practical needs of care providers. As technology advances, navigating these complexities has become essential.

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In this week’s Product Thinking episode, I spoke with BJ Boyle, a product leader with over two decades in health tech, who now serves as Chief Product Officer at PointClickCare. BJ shares his experience balancing healthcare product development with strategic business objectives. Our conversation looks at how product teams can connect tech innovation with the real-world needs of healthcare professionals.

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BJ highlights the importance of staying connected with end users. At his company, product managers gain practical experience by shadowing healthcare providers, like nurses and doctors, which helps them understand the daily challenges in healthcare. By engaging directly with these users, product managers can create tools that support, rather than disrupt, care workflows.

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We also discuss the balance between subject matter expertise and core product skills. BJ explains how blending product managers from different backgrounds has allowed his team to approach healthcare product challenges effectively, keeping quality and relevance at the forefront.

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One of the exciting areas we covered is the potential of AI to reduce administrative burdens in healthcare, such as through smart documentation. For BJ, this mission is about improving patient care by allowing providers to spend more time with patients instead of handling paperwork. AI is helping move the industry from focusing on compliance to enhancing care through predictive tools and responsive technology.

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If you work in product management or are interested in health tech, this episode provides practical insights into leading in a space where technology meets high standards of care and precision.

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Have you encountered similar challenges in your work? I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to respond to this email or my LinkedIn post!​

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P.S. We’re excited to announce that our new course, Mastering Product Strategy, is live and ready for you! For a limited time, use code HOLIDAY to get $200 off when you enroll. Plus, take advantage of our LEARN2024 promotion—gain access to all courses, including Product Strategy, for $1999 when you sign up before the end of the year.

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Also, did you catch my latest podcast appearance on Lenny’s Podcast? We dove into navigating SAFe and explored the real impact of the product owner role. Listen now to get the full insights!

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You’ll hear us talk about:

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07:45 - Bridging Product Teams with Real-World Market Insights

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BJ discusses the critical importance of exposing product managers to real-world market scenarios, especially in the complex world of health tech, where user personas like nurses and doctors don't operate in the same way as everyday consumers. He explains that getting product managers out into the field—shadowing nurses or interacting with real users—is key to driving better product outcomes. Through customer advisory boards, partnerships, and the work of a growing UX research team, PointClickCare is ensuring its product managers are connected with the actual environments their products serve. This approach helps them better understand user pain points and needs, even in highly regulated industries like healthcare.

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22:15 - Balancing Subject Matter Expertise with Product Skills

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Here, BJ highlights the challenge of balancing domain expertise with product management skills in the healthcare industry. He explains that early in his career, many product managers came from user roles, like nurses or business managers, which resulted in strong domain knowledge but a lack of core product management capabilities. As a solution, BJ discusses the importance of blending product managers from various backgrounds, including those with classical product training and those with domain expertise. This mix allows teams to execute more efficiently and avoid the pitfalls of either too much backlog or not understanding the healthcare space enough to make informed decisions.

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39:53 - Embracing AI to Solve Staffing Challenges

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BJ expresses excitement about the potential of AI and technology to transform healthcare, especially in addressing staffing shortages. With AI-driven tools like predictive models and smart documentation, he sees an opportunity to alleviate administrative burdens on healthcare providers, allowing them to focus more on patient care. He discusses how the industry is evolving from simply meeting regulatory requirements to leveraging technology to improve staff efficiency and patient outcomes. He also shares his personal connection to healthcare, which fuels his passion for enhancing care transitions and eliminating outdated practices like relying on fax machines.

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​Episode Resources:

• ​BJ Boyle​
• ​PointClickCare​

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Other Resources:

• ​Angel Squad​
• ​Productinstitute.com​

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LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST

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