If you are thinking about working in health technology, but you are not sure where to start, becoming a Subject Matter Expert is a great entry point. You may now be wondering: What the heck is a Subject Matter Expert?

A Subject Matter Experts – or SME for short (pronounced ‘smee’) – is essentially what it sounds like. It is someone who is has a deep understanding of an area, like Cardiology or Care Management, and does not require a technical background. This person is placed on technical teams because they have real world experience.

Subject Matter Expert is often the first role healthcare professionals have when starting a career in health technology because it leverages their clinical skills and experience. Many of the Informatics Nurses I know started as Subject Matter Experts on technology project teams and never left.

Unfortunately, not many technology projects take time to train Subject Matter Experts on their role and how to be effective. The skills needed to be a great SME are not taught in Nursing or Medical School.

For some people, the experience of being dropped into a role they know nothing about with no guidance on how to be effective leaves a bad taste. Healthcare misses out on these folks who could add tremendous value to health technology. For this reason, it is important for healthcare professionals to understand the Subject Matter Expert role, and how they add unique value.

What does a Subject Matter Expert do?

A Subject Matter Expert has extensive experience in a particular job, process, department or function that makes them the expert. Because of this, they are often used in technology and software development because they understand how the tools will be used.

SMEs may sit on the technology team full-time or part-time depending on the size of the software project. They are called upon to help technical members of the team solve certain problems or better understand a part of the job being performed.

Other industries have Subject Matter Experts, such as when lawyers need them to serve as expert witnesses in trials. But the meaning in technology development is often more hands on. As part of a technical team, a Subject Matter Expert may help with:

• Explaining the steps of a process.
• Clarifying what decisions are made during the process
• Describing what information decisions are based on.
• Gathering information, templates, and guides used by their work unit.
• Deciding what is required versus what is ‘nice to have.’
• Confirming if the technology is correctly supporting the process.
• Working with the end users to teach them how to use the technology and answer questions.

One limitation for Subject Matter Experts is they may be so specialized in their role that they have trouble explaining what other people do. For example, someone who is a supervisor of staff makes for a great Subject Manager Expert if the software is focused on management. However, that same person may not be able to describe the process from the ground level.

A good Subject Matter Expert knows when they need to call in others who know more than them about a specific topic. This is one of the ways SMEs can add value.

Is being a Subject Matter Expert its own job?

Yes, it can be. If you do a google search for ‘healthcare subject matter expert jobs,’ you will find thousands of jobs, especially with consulting firms.

There are a number of companies out there who do not have the right experience in their staff. These companies may hire Subject Matter Experts who can be dedicated to projects needing their expertise.

The salary varies widely based on where you are located and the type of expertise you bring. However, ZipRecruiter puts the national average salary for a Subject Matter Expert at $115,000.

What skills do Subject Matter Experts need?

In addition to being an expert in a particular area, there are certain skills that make some people better Subject Matter Experts than others. Five key skills that make for great SMEs include:

Skill #1: Communication

It may sound cliche, but there is no point in having an expert on the team who cannot communicate what they know to others. Their whole reason for existence is to be able to share their expertise with others.

Being able to speak and write clearly, in language both the technical team members and end users from that expert’s area can understand, is critically important.

Skill #2: Organization

Time management is an important skill for SMEs. Even though there are other members of technical teams who will organize project milestones, it is still important to have Subject Matter experts who understand how to meet deadlines and manage their time.

In addition, any information the SME is responsible for gathering will need to be organized. It relieves the burden on other team members if the SME already knows how to keep information organized.

Skill #3: Ability to work ‘above the noise’

Implementing a technology project can result in a lot of change for an organization. For that reason, there can be many opinions about how the technology works and what it should include.

Subject Matter Experts need to be able to function using the 80-20 rule: pay attention to the things that impact 80% of the work, come up with ways to handle exceptions for the remaining 20%. The worst systems are the ones that are too complex. A lot of the complexity comes from people trying to account for any and every possible scenario.

Subject Matter Experts should determine if something comes up only once in a blue moon, and can therefore be handled as an exception instead of a rule.

Skill #4: Ability to stay calm

Technology projects can also be stressful, with deadlines and milestones causing tempers to flare. It is important to have Subject Matter Experts on the team who know how to stay calm under pressure. People who tend to get emotional, angry, or lash out at others will not make for good SMEs when the going gets tough.

Skill #5: Ability to compromise

Even though Subject Matter Experts are valued for their expertise, it is important not to confuse that with keeping things the way they are. Technology projects require changing how things are done, hopefully in a way that makes processes easier and of higher quality.

One trap SMEs can fall into is to stick as closely to their current way of working as possible. They may not be able or willing to think differently or consider new ideas that transform their work environment. An ability to compromise is critical for new, innovative ideas to be incorporated.

5 ways Subject Matter Experts can add value:

It may seem obvious that just by being present, a Subject Matter Expert adds value. However, that is not a given. There is more involved in being a great Subject Matter Expert than simply knowing a lot.

1: Provide insights and your unique perspective.

Worry less about people pleasing, or, on the other end, always being right. You are there to provide perspective and insights, so be truthful about those. If you do not know something, say so. Reach out to your peers who may know and bring back information.

If you are being pressured to align with an answer you know is wrong, do not do it – politely and professionally push back and provide your reasons for doing so.

2: Explore new ideas and stay curious.

Read up on your area, do not allow your knowledge to stagnate. Explore new ideas and look for new ways to creatively solve problems.

3: Stay in touch with your peers.

Keep up with your peers who do this work each day. Actively participate in events and forums so you can learn the latest. Nurture your network – make sure you stay in contact and do not lose touch with the area in which you are supposed to be an expert.

4: Understand the bigger picture.

The best Subject Matter Experts can see how their function or specialty fits within the bigger picture. They understand how they impact the business, and the put the business needs ahead of their own.

This requires taking an ‘us’-first rather than ‘me’-first approach.

5: Cooperate with others.

I have seen some SMEs dig their heels in at every suggestion to change or do something differently than they did in the past. This made them terrible SMEs. Instead, focus on being helpful, sharing knowledge, and explaining concepts to others.

You are part of a team that is trying to add value to the company.

Key Takeaways:

A Subject Matter Expert (SME) is someone with extensive experience and knowledge in a particular area. They are included in technology teams to help solve problems based on their insight. This can be a stand-alone job and there are many companies out there recruiting Healthcare Subject Matter Experts. But simply knowing an area of healthcare well does not mean someone will be a good SME.

The skills that make someone a good SME are:

• Communication
• Organization
• Ability to work ‘above the noise’
• Staying calm
• Willingness to compromise

To add value, companies look for SMEs who:

• Provide insights and unique perspective.
• Explore new ideas and stay curious.
• Stay current with what their peers are doing.
• Understand the bigger picture.
• Cooperate with others.

Subject Matter Expert is often the entry point for many healthcare professionals who want to transition into health technology careers. These tips should help make that transition a bit easier.