Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Epic Analyst
💰 $75,000 - $125,000
🎯 Role Definition
This role requires a detail-oriented and analytical Epic Analyst to join our dynamic healthcare IT team. In this pivotal role, you will be the subject matter expert for one or more Epic modules, responsible for the analysis, design, build, testing, and support of our Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. You will collaborate closely with clinicians, operational staff, and IT professionals to translate business needs into effective system solutions, optimize workflows, and ensure the integrity and performance of the Epic platform. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with a passion for improving patient care through technology.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Clinical Professional (e.g., Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Lab Tech)
- Healthcare Operations Specialist (e.g., Patient Access, Billing)
- IT Help Desk Analyst or Junior Systems Analyst
Advancement To:
- Senior Epic Analyst or Principal Analyst
- Epic Team Lead / Supervisor
- Epic Application Manager or Coordinator
- IT Project Manager (Clinical Systems)
Lateral Moves:
- Business Intelligence Developer (Healthcare)
- Healthcare Data Analyst
- IT Training Specialist
- Interface Analyst (HL7)
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Perform in-depth analysis of clinical and business workflows, data collection processes, and reporting requirements to identify system optimization opportunities.
- Design, build, configure, and maintain Epic application components based on functional specifications and stakeholder requirements.
- Act as a primary point of contact for troubleshooting and resolving complex application issues, incidents, and user-reported problems in a timely manner.
- Collaborate with clinical, financial, and operational stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into detailed system requirements and design documents.
- Develop, execute, and document comprehensive test plans and scripts for system changes, upgrades, and new implementations to ensure system integrity.
- Create and maintain clear, concise system documentation, end-user training materials, tip sheets, and knowledge base articles.
- Provide critical go-live support during new implementations and system upgrades, including on-site and remote assistance to end-users.
- Manage system build and configuration activities within the development, testing, and production environments, utilizing change control best practices.
- Participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation to provide after-hours support for critical production system issues and ensure continuous system availability.
- Analyze and evaluate the impact of system changes on various departments and downstream applications, communicating potential impacts to affected teams.
- Guide end-users and departmental leaders through complex application functionality to maximize their effective use of the EHR.
- Lead small to medium-sized projects, or specific workstreams within larger projects, from conception through implementation and post-live support.
- Create and modify custom reports using tools like Reporting Workbench and Radar Dashboards to meet the data needs of operational and clinical leaders.
- Ensure system configurations and workflows are compliant with organizational policies and regulatory standards such as HIPAA.
- Coordinate the installation of software updates, patches, and releases from Epic, managing the testing and validation process.
- Develop and maintain dedicated training environments (MST) to support new hire training and ongoing education initiatives.
- Work closely with interface teams to ensure seamless data flow between Epic and third-party systems, troubleshooting any integration issues.
- Mentor junior analysts and new team members, providing guidance on best practices, system build, and problem resolution.
- Serve as a key liaison between end-users, internal IT teams, and Epic corporate technical support (TSS) to manage and resolve issues.
- Conduct regular system audits and performance tuning to ensure the Epic application remains stable, efficient, and secure.
Secondary Functions
- Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis for operational and clinical inquiries.
- Participate in the development and maintenance of comprehensive test scripts and testing scenarios.
- Contribute to the team's knowledge base by documenting resolutions, workflows, and configuration best practices.
- Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies as part of the application development lifecycle.
- Provide on-call support on a rotational basis to ensure 24/7 system stability and user assistance.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Epic Certification: Active certification in at least one Epic module (e.g., Cadence, Prelude, Ambulatory, Beacon, Willow, Resolute, Bridges, etc.).
- Epic Build Tools: Proficiency in Chronicles, Data Courier, and other Epic build and transport utilities.
- Reporting Tools: Experience with Epic reporting tools like Reporting Workbench, Radar Dashboards, and SlicerDicer.
- SQL: Foundational knowledge of SQL for data validation and analysis.
- Project Management: Understanding of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall) and tools (Jira, ServiceNow).
- Interface Standards: Familiarity with HL7 and other healthcare interface standards is a plus.
- Change Management: Experience with ITIL-based change management processes and tools.
- Testing Methodologies: Ability to develop and execute functional, integration, and regression test plans.
- Workflow Analysis: Strong ability to diagram and analyze complex clinical and business workflows.
- Microsoft Office Suite: High proficiency in Visio, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint for documentation and presentations.
Soft Skills
- Analytical & Problem-Solving: Exceptional ability to analyze complex problems, identify root causes, and develop effective solutions.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
- Collaboration & Teamwork: Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with diverse stakeholder groups.
- Customer Service: A strong commitment to providing outstanding service to end-users and stakeholders.
- Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple priorities, work in a fast-paced environment, and adapt to changing requirements.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to system configuration, testing, and documentation.
- Time Management: Strong organizational skills to manage tasks and projects effectively and meet deadlines.
- Stakeholder Management: Skill in building rapport and managing expectations with clinical and operational leaders.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or an Associate's degree combined with significant, relevant clinical or IT experience.
Preferred Education:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Health Informatics / Clinical Informatics
- Information Systems / Computer Science
- Business Administration
- Clinical fields (e.g., Nursing, Pharmacy)
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
- 2-7 years of experience in a healthcare IT setting, with at least 1-3 years of direct, hands-on Epic build and configuration experience.
Preferred:
- Experience working in a multi-facility, large-scale health system.
- Prior experience as a clinical or operational end-user of an EHR system.
- Experience with a full-cycle Epic implementation or major upgrade project.
- Multiple Epic certifications are highly desirable.