You've done the research. You've identified a POCT solution that could genuinely improve patient care. The clinical evidence is solid, the business case stacks up, and you know it would work.

So why does it feel like you're pushing water uphill?

If that lands — you're in good company. After 15+ years implementing POCT solutions across Irish and UK healthcare settings, I've watched brilliant, highly qualified medical scientists hit the same invisible walls, again and again. It's not a knowledge problem. It's a skills gap — and nobody talks about it.

The Skills Gap Nobody Prepares You For

Your medical science degree trained you to think analytically, evaluate evidence, and present data with precision. And you're excellent at it.

But here's the thing: 90% of successful POCT implementation has nothing to do with the technology. It's about people, politics, and positioning.

Your stakeholders don't make decisions based on your data alone. They make decisions based on how your project makes them feel about risk, cost, and change.

The Finance Director is watching budget exposure. The IT Manager is worried about integration headaches. The Clinical Director has ten competing priorities landing on their desk this week. Each of them is speaking a completely different language — and they're all waiting to see if you speak theirs.

Three Patterns I See Over and Over

These aren't rare edge cases. They show up in almost every project that stalls:

1. Leading with features instead of outcomes

You're excited about the analyser's precision and two-minute turnaround. Your ED Consultant cares about reducing patient wait times. Your Finance Director cares about cost per test. Same technology — completely different value propositions. When your pitch leads with specs, you lose them in the first minute.

2. Treating all stakeholders the same

A one-size-fits-all presentation that worked for your lab manager will fall flat with a Chief Executive. Every stakeholder group needs a tailored approach — one that addresses their specific concerns in language that resonates with them.

3. Underestimating the human side of change

Even when people agree with your proposal on paper, they can resist when it comes to implementation — because change is emotional. Fear, competing priorities, and past bad experiences all play a role. Technical excellence alone doesn't move people.

The Good News: These Are Learnable Skills

This is where I get genuinely excited — because none of this is out of reach.

The frameworks that help you map stakeholders, speak to their priorities, manage risk perceptions, and build the kind of momentum that gets projects approved? They can be learned. You don't have to spend years piecing it together through trial and error across different roles.

That's exactly why I built the Stakeholder Engagement and Management course on Labwise — a practical, structured approach to the people side of POCT projects, developed from real-world experience in clinical settings, sales, project management, and regulatory affairs.

And if risk management is the hurdle in your organisation, the Risk Management as a Lever for Project Approval course is built specifically around turning compliance thinking into a strategic advantage — one that strengthens your business case rather than just ticking a governance box.

Start Here: Free Tools to Get You Moving

Not sure where the gaps are in your current approach? The Stakeholder Engagement and Mapping Mini Toolkit is a great place to start. It's free, practical, and built around the four stakeholder types most commonly found in POCT projects — the Risk Gatekeeper, the Budget Holder, the IT Blocker, and the Clinical Champion.

When you know how each person thinks, what they're protecting, and what success looks like from their seat — everything about how you communicate your project changes.

Why This Matters Right Now

POCT adoption is accelerating. Budgets are tighter. And competition for internal resources is fiercer than ever.

Medical scientists who can navigate stakeholder relationships effectively aren't just getting projects approved — they're becoming indispensable. They're the ones their organisations turn to when something complex needs to get done.

Effective stakeholder engagement throughout implementation also dramatically reduces delays, budget overruns, and the post-go-live problems that quietly erode confidence in POCT programmes. The difference isn't just getting a project installed — it's getting it truly adopted.

About Carole

I'm Carole, founder of LabWise and a medical scientist with 15+ years of experience spanning clinical POCT implementation, diagnostic device sales, regulatory affairs, and project management. I currently work in healthcare change management and run LabWise on the side — building practical resources, focused on delivery, for POCT professionals who want to move their projects forward with more confidence.

LabWise is a growing platform of courses, toolkits, and resources designed specifically for medical scientists and POCT professionals. I'd love for you to explore what's available at www.labwise.ie and come find me on LinkedIn.

If anything in this piece resonates with where you are right now or you have a question about your own project,

feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to chat.

Happy learning!

Carole.

© www.labwise.ie — All rights reserved