I am going to the Epic Corp soon to start working on my certification for the Epic System. I have been working as an Epic Analyst/Trainer for a short time, and no one in our group has their certification yet. The agency I worked with was small, and they have recently been bought out by a large health system.
The new health system has offered to send us to WI. for the certification, and we should start in the next month or so. We have been told it is a four part process, but very little else.
Is there someone who has been thru the process, who could tell me more?
Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on this process.
I am a new nurse. I am interested in learning more about "epic analysts" and related jobs. It's interesting because before I became a nurse I switched my majors three times... Fine Artist (oil on canvas)---> computer graphic design artist--->business/sales--->RN. I have have accumulated soooo many wasted units, and it would really nice to be able to use them all toward something substantial. If anyone has any advice for me I'm open ears.
It sounds like perhaps you should spend some time as an RN prior to attempting to switch gears too quickly.
What I would suggest is what others have previously -- if there's an EHR at your hospital, see about becoming a Superuser and getting as much training and know-how about your system. Then you can see about switching to some type of IT/RN position if you are still interested.
By doing so, you'll ensure that you actually want to be in this field. You don't say that you accomplished degrees in those other majors, so a solid background in either IT or nursing would be a good start. Since you don't appear to have the IT background, then knowledge of the nursing/hospital workflow would be extremely helpful.
My organization is in contract negotiations with Epic right now. Plan is to attend Epic training in Feb. 2010. Do you have any advice for a first time Epic user? I am an ED RN. Last 3 years I have supported ED PulseCheck (Picis) in our ED.
If you wouldnt mind.. could you give me some insight on what the exam/tests entail. I havent gone to Epic for training yet but I am in a little panic mode since I heard they are difficult and I do not have a technology background. I dont mind studying hard but wonder why only 50% pass.
Looking for EPIC Certification Prelude .. Iam not into Healthcare IT industry but working as a software engineer for the past 15 years . I like to know where i can get training for "EPIC Certification Prelude & other Software products " ? I know EPIC systems Home office is in Middleton , WI .. I checked with them about certification, they mentioned they will give training for only people who are being referred by company . I want to learn/ get certified as private consultant . Any ideas ??
Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.
There are only 2 ways (to my knowledge) of getting certified in any Epic app -
1) work directly for Epic
or
2) work for a healthcare organization (hospital, physician practice, home health agency, etc) or a consulting firm and be sent by that organization for Epic training.
Short of the above one does not get training on Epic apps as a "private consultant"
Looking for EPIC Certification Prelude .. Iam not into Healthcare IT industry but working as a software engineer for the past 15 years . I like to know where i can get training for "EPIC Certification Prelude & other Software products " ? I know EPIC systems Home office is in Middleton , WI .. I checked with them about certification, they mentioned they will give training for only people who are being referred by company . I want to learn/ get certified as private consultant . Any ideas ??
Thanks for your response . EPIC should make private consultants to learn also .. that's monopoly :)-
There are only 2 ways (to my knowledge) of getting certified in any Epic app -
1) work directly for Epic
or
2) work for a healthcare organization (hospital, physician practice, home health agency, etc) or a consulting firm and be sent by that organization for Epic training.
Short of the above one does not get training on Epic apps as a "private consultant"
Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.
Technically the type of "monopoly" to which you are referring - control of market supply: "a situation in which one company controls an industry or is the only provider of a product or service" ...........
does not apply in this situation, as Epic does not control the entire HIS industry nor all HIS applications. There are multiple HIS vendors and as in any other free market industry they can decide who they will sell and or allow to "distribute" their product.
In this case the knowledge of the Epic app is part of the product. Epic requires that a consultant obtain that "product"/knowledge directly from an organization Epic has authorized to purchase the product and training.
As I wrote earlier, there are consulting firms that will pay for their consultants to obtain primary Meditech, GE, Epic, etc training but that is becoming rare as its easier to hire someone who already has the specific vendor app training and expertise and or even send that same person for additional vendor training (Epic, Meditech, etc,) rather than someone who has no previous Epic experience......its just good business......
So the above is no more "a monopoly" than Epic requiring all its employees to live in Wisc. Very similar to Cerner's requiring it's staff to live in Kansas City, MO. Good Luck!
Thanks for your response . EPIC should make private consultants to learn also .. that's monopoly :)-
Thanks for detailed explanation . i was jsut thinking in terms like " SAP" , Oracle financial applications/software which everyone can learn from any college/technical Institution.
Technically the type of "monopoly" to which you are referring - control of market supply: "a situation in which one company controls an industry or is the only provider of a product or service" ...........
does not apply in this situation, as Epic does not control the entire HIS industry nor all HIS applications. There are multiple HIS vendors and as in any other free market industry they can decide who they will sell and or allow to "distribute" their product.
In this case the knowledge of the Epic app is part of the product. Epic requires that a consultant obtain that "product"/knowledge directly from an organization Epic has authorized to purchase the product and training.
As I wrote earlier, there are consulting firms that will pay for their consultants to obtain primary Meditech, GE, Epic, etc training but that is becoming rare as its easier to hire someone who already has the specific vendor app training and expertise and or even send that same person for additional vendor training (Epic, Meditech, etc,) rather than someone who has no previous Epic experience......its just good business......
So the above is no more "a monopoly" than Epic requiring all its employees to live in Wisc. Very similar to Cerner's requiring it's staff to live in Kansas City, MO. Good Luck!
If you wouldnt mind.. could you give me some insight on what the exam/tests entail. I havent gone to Epic for training yet but I am in a little panic mode since I heard they are difficult and I do not have a technology background. I dont mind studying hard but wonder why only 50% pass.
thanks
Bake 40,
I went to Madison WI 2 weeks ago and started the steps for ambulatory certification. It depends on what your being certified in. Epic is not the certification but the different areas within your hospital and what you are planning on being certified in.
With my course, i have 3 trips to Madison each lasting about 3 days. After the classes you are tested on the material from that class, the reading materal and additional information on there web site. The project is actually "doing" the things you learned in class on a training web site. I got the stats at the last class and the numbers were much higher for pass rates. The instructor told us people take the test and if they do poorly they can retake it. a 50% and a 100% give the pass rate of 50%..one passed and one didn't...but that was the same person. Can you see how things can look off with the numbers. Hope this helps.
I also have been given this opportunity to work with EPIC as an analyst however the pay is a decrease for me and I need to make a decision very very soon. They would also like me to certify in ONC specialty. I feel like this is a nice oppurtunity and I am interested in this field. I would be going from Analyst 1 to 2 soon. any opinions would be appreciated.
WDWpixieRN, RN
2,237 Posts
It sounds like perhaps you should spend some time as an RN prior to attempting to switch gears too quickly.
What I would suggest is what others have previously -- if there's an EHR at your hospital, see about becoming a Superuser and getting as much training and know-how about your system. Then you can see about switching to some type of IT/RN position if you are still interested.
By doing so, you'll ensure that you actually want to be in this field. You don't say that you accomplished degrees in those other majors, so a solid background in either IT or nursing would be a good start. Since you don't appear to have the IT background, then knowledge of the nursing/hospital workflow would be extremely helpful.