An Epic Analyst is a health IT professional specializing in Epic, an EHR company based out of Verona, Wisconsin. Epic is integral to many aspects of patient care, from clinical documentation and imaging to pathology and claims management. Essentially, Epic is the heart of a hospital's information system.
To become an Epic Analyst, you need to get certified in specific modules. Each module corresponds to different specialties, like Beacon for oncology and Radiant for radiology. Health systems sponsor candidates to travel to Verona for training, which usually lasts about a week. After completing the training and passing a test, you get certified.
In contrast, a Health Data Analyst doesn’t specialize in just one software. They work with various data sources, including EHRs, wearable devices, and genomic data. Their job involves collecting, analyzing, cleaning, and visualizing this data to solve real healthcare problems.
Health Data Analysts don’t need specific certifications, but they do require skills in statistics, programming (Python, SQL), and data visualization. These skills enable them to dig through dirty data, create insights, and share their findings with key stakeholders to inform organizational decisions.
An Epic Analyst focuses on one software, making it potentially easier to learn. However, this specialization can also limit you to a single platform. On the other hand, a Health Data Analyst works with multiple platforms, offering more growth opportunities and the ability to utilize coding to overcome software limitations.
Epic Analysts need technical skills in troubleshooting Epic-related issues. Health Data Analysts require skills in data analytics and data science, including programming and statistical analysis.
To be an Epic Analyst, certification is mandatory, creating a barrier to entry. Health Data Analysts don’t need specific certifications, although certifications like the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) or the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) can be beneficial.
Epic Analysts generally earn higher initial salaries, ranging from $70,000 to $120,000, due to the certification barrier. Health Data Analysts start with slightly lower salaries, from $60,000 to $100,000. However, there is more room for growth, as they can transition to roles like Health Data Scientist, potentially earning over $150,000 in healthcare organizations like the Mayo Clinic.
Deciding between becoming an Epic Analyst or a Health Data Analyst depends on your career goals and skills. If you prefer working with a single software and don't want to learn programming, an Epic Analyst role might be for you. However, if you enjoy working with multiple data sources and coding, then a Health Data Analyst could be a better fit.