Credentialing 101

Epic is a cloud-based Electronic Health Record (EHR) designed for hospitals and clinics, offering functionalities that support daily operations such as clinical documentation, billing and revenue management, and patient portals (EHR in Practice, 2019).

As part of the implementation process, employees participate in a comprehensive training program on the system. This training may be conducted in person or virtually, and its duration and delivery format can vary across healthcare organizations. However, one aspect that remains consistent is the type of instructor delivering the content. Epic authorizes only two types of trainers to present their material.

The first is the Epic Principal Trainer (PT). PTs are responsible for developing and maintaining course content. They may also teach courses, manage Credentialed Trainers (CTs), and support end users during the implementation process. The second type is the CT, who is primarily responsible for delivering training and providing support to end users as needed. To become a PT, one must be certified by Epic. In contrast, to become a CT, one must complete a six-week training program specific to the application they intend to teach, pass all required assessments, participate in a Train the Trainer course, and successfully deliver a lesson to a panel of Epic-qualified experts. This is a standard process created by Epic to ensure quality trainers.

This program equips trainers with both system knowledge and an understanding of the organization’s goals and operational workflows. The final presentation, also known as the panel, consists of two 20-minute lesson demonstrations delivered to a group of certified co-workers—including a representative from Epic—in the application the trainer is seeking to be credentialed in. During this presentation, panelists have the opportunity to ask questions to test your knowledge and understanding of the material.

I have gone through this process four times with four different hospital systems, and the panel process remains one of the best assessments I have experienced to date. The process itself was presented in a simple and clear manner, you needed to learn the material, practice teaching it, and then prove to those in charge that you can teach it by successfully passing your panel. One aspect I particularly enjoyed as a part of this assessment process was the use of Teachbacks throughout the six-week program. Teachbacks were snippets of lessons that CTs would present to the PT along the way to reinforce understanding and prepare for the panel. These formative assessments gave CTs an opportunity to learn and grow.

After each Teachback the PT provides the CT with detailed feedback—both positive and constructive.

Using an Epic-provided rubric (the contents of which I am unable to share), CTs are graded on a 4-point Likert scale:

1 – Does not meet expectations

2 – Approaches expectations

3 – Meets expectations

4 – Exceeds expectations

This was also the same scale that was used during the panel presentation, so they were no surprises.

Thus, when the final summative assessment happens, the panel presentation serves as a perfect combination of the intended learning objectives, content knowledge (knowing specific information in your content area) and pedagogical knowledge (knowing ways to teach and engage learners).

To date, this has been my favorite way to assess my knowledge because I was tested in the same format I was expected to teach.

References:

EHR in Practice. (2019). Epic EHR Software - Pricing, Demo & Comparison Tool. Ehrinpractice.com. https://www.ehrinpractice.com/epic-ehr-software-profile-119.html

*This blog post was edited for clarity and flow with the assistance of AI.