Limited Clinical Staff Availability

• Clinical personnel have primary patient care duties
• Cannot participate full-time in project teams
• Subject to unpredictable clinical demands
• Shift work complicates consistent participation

Team Stability Issues

• Agile processes rely on stable teams
• Part-time team members create discontinuity
• Fluctuating availability complicates planning
• Knowledge gaps during absences

Domain Knowledge Transfer

• Technical teams may lack clinical context
• Clinical staff may lack technical understanding
• Terminology differences between domains
• Different risk perceptions and priorities

Pragmatic Solutions

• Plan clinical subject matter experts as intermittent participants
• Schedule key ceremonies around clinical availability
• Clearly prioritize when clinical input is needed
• Appoint deputies for critical roles

New Bridging Roles

• Create Clinical Product Owner roles
• Partially release clinicians for project work
• Develop clinical informatics specialists
• Employ nurse informaticists or physician informaticists

Alternative Involvement Models

• Regular user testing sessions rather than daily participation
• Recorded demos for asynchronous feedback
• Dedicated office hours for clinical consultation
• Sprint reviews scheduled around clinical availability

"Finding the right balance of clinical involvement requires creativity and flexibility, but is essential for delivering solutions that truly meet user needs."