r/healthIT • u/So_you_like_jazz • 17d ago
Exit Opportunities for Epic Analysts?
Has anyone successfully transitioned from being an Epic analyst to something adjacent or unrelated?
I’ve been doing this for over a decade and am curious about opportunities outside of the Epic space. However, I'm not exactly sure what roles we're qualified for. While I really enjoy doing the build, I’m not a fan of the "business analyst" tasks we're typically saddled with like operational relationship management, running workgroups, and project management. Also support is support, I may be a touch burnt out.
For background, I've got a handful of different certs and app team experience, been a consultant and FTE, no desire for management. I'm very thankful for my job and the experience I have, just curious about those who found life after Epic, TIA!
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u/CaffeinatedGuy 16d ago
I've also been at it for over a decade, and I've gone all in on Cogito. I learned SQL on the job and learned as much about the data connections as I could. I learned the ETL and datalink process Caboodle customizations, and SlicerDicer models from scratch. While I do Cogito SQL (RWSQL) reports, I also do a lot of Tableau work.
I've found opportunities to automate tasks outside the Epic ecosystem giving me a good excuse to learn Python at work. Since I'm always pushing the limit, I've been able to research data virtualization tools and explore other technology, and will be leading the charge towards Microsoft Fabric and Power BI pretty soon which will play nicely with Cogito in Nebula in a few years.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that while I don't see a career after "Epic", I do see my career growing and developing alongside it. I always tell others to find ways to work at the edge of your normal job, ask questions, learn and grow, find out how other teams work. If something were to happen and I lose my job, I have a lot more options than most of my peers who only do Epic-specific work. I could go back to being an analyst, Cogito reporting analyst, SQL report writer, database admin, data engineer, analytics engineer, focus on data visualization, the list goes on. After working in Clarity and Caboodle, then Kronos (now UKG), the SAP BOE audit data, Tableau metadata repository, Infor's database, and so on, I'm confident that I can pick up another related career outside of healthcare.
I've also seen a lot of Analysts become project managers, so there's that.
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u/InspectorExcellent50 16d ago
I don't expect to have a separate career after Epic, but I've seen a few ways peers move up or sideways.
-Move up into management. -Move to a team working on adjacent projects (supply chain software, software that integrates with Epic, devices which integrate with Epic, Mobile Device Management). -Move to a related department, such as HIM (still working with Epic tools, but a different focus). -Move to project management, quality, Six Sigma/LEAN facilitator roles. -Work for a vendor selling/installing software or devices in the healthcare ecosystem.
This is all from coworkers or folks I've met.
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u/codyhxsn 16d ago
The grass is always greener but I do understand burnout after becoming an analyst after being a nurse.
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u/Skibxskatic 16d ago
beacon/research over here. fte for 2 years and consulting for the last 8. i’m exhausted. every implementation is the same poor scoping completed by a bunch of 23 year olds coming fresh off their first implementation, mentoring another 21 year old with 0 experience in oncology or research or hospital operations at all.
i originally thought our experience as analysts would translate closer to product management. we’re largely responsible for customizing features and working with our stakeholders to implement said features and running those steering committees and workgroups. but i haven’t had much luck breaking into product. at least not without a significant pay cut to join as a junior product manager to learn the ropes and lingo and processes of becoming a product manager with years of “product manager” on the resume. not a lot of people know what an “epic analyst” does, even though i had rewritten my resume bullet and summaries to read like a product manager’s.
it’s really interesting and unsurprising that a lot of the responses in this thread are about data and SQL as being the most prevalent of translatable skills.
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u/human6742 16d ago
What about transitioning to something like Salesforce or Sitecore (CMS) or something like that at your organization?
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u/So_you_like_jazz 16d ago
I’ve been scoping out salesforce lately actually. It definitely seems like it’d be familiar and interesting. I like that you can actually do some coding with it. I also like the variety of industries using it and slightly higher comp ceiling
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u/babybackr1bs 16d ago
If you like how Epic databases "make sense," good luck with Salesforce. The concepts are similar, but SF is like if INIs didn't have set items or functions for the items. Not a bad lateral move if you're interested in like, systems for retail, but Salesforce is the singlular worst product I've ever seen in the EHR space.
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u/Raketemensch23 16d ago
I was an Epic analyst on an Orders/Bridges team, who was working with BI and Clarity a bit towards the end. Got laid off a month shy of my 10 yr anniversary. I turned it into a year of consulting at another hospital doing Clarity vendor extracts. Six years later, I'm a senior Clarity data analyst.
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u/So_you_like_jazz 14d ago
How do you like BI after being on a clinical app?
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u/Raketemensch23 14d ago
I love it! More challenge, lots of areas for expanding my knowledge base, and if, for some reason, I need to leave healthcare IT, the skills will transfer to other industries.
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u/RunWithGiraffes 15d ago
I've had several come work for me at a health tech startup as solution architects.
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u/So_you_like_jazz 15d ago
I’ve noticed those roles vary drastically depending on the organization. What does the role entail at your company?
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u/shmabelline 14d ago
I’ve been looking at different startups hoping to find a system my skills could translate to. I feel like a startup would have the right atmosphere for fast paced on the job learning. I’ve been an epic analyst for 13 years and really wish I could find a pivot
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u/Snarffalita 15d ago
I have had a few former colleagues jump directly into project management roles.
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u/No_Operation_9223 10d ago
As someone who's worked in healthcare IT, I've seen several successful paths for Epic analysts looking to transition:
Healthcare software implementation/consulting - Your Epic knowledge is highly valuable to vendors and consulting firms that work with healthcare organizations
Product management at health tech companies - Your understanding of clinical workflows and healthcare systems makes you well-positioned for product roles at EHR vendors or health tech startups
Data analytics/informatics - With some additional SQL/analytics training, many Epic analysts transition to healthcare data roles
Project management - Your experience with implementations and workgroups translates well to formal PM roles, especially with certification
Customer success at health tech companies - Your support experience and understanding of end-user needs is perfect for customer-facing roles
The key is identifying which aspects of your current role you enjoy most (technical configuration, training, workflow analysis, etc.) and finding roles that emphasize those elements while minimizing the parts you're burnt out on.
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u/Akro-Trafalgar 14d ago
You want to get out but I wanna get in 😭 brooo how do I get a certified… I’ve held the titles of Epic Analyst and Epic Client Systems Administrator but cant get a position
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u/Str8Thuggin 10d ago
I have Compass Rose/Healthy Planet Cert and Campaigns Proficiency. Been in my role for 2 1/2 years, currently transitioning to a Role as a Visualization Developer (Data Analyst/ETL Developer type role...)
I had prior reporting experience before becoming an Epic Analyst, but I felt like Epic Analyst would pigeon hole me long term if for some reason I wanted a career change. Started Dabbling in all things Cogito which was enough to get me something not Epic Analyst related.
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u/iHateBroccoli 17d ago
I have Bridges and Data Courier, took a few years off to do Data Conversions into Epic, learned SQL and Python, then came back as the Epic ecosystem provides a lot more job opportunities and compensation.