Epic Skills Assessment Epic Skills Assessment: Software Development 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Epic's security model, what is the difference between a 'Security Class' and a 'SubTemplate'?
- A Security Class groups users by department while a SubTemplate groups by job role
- A Security Class defines what a user can access, while a SubTemplate is a reusable component that can be embedded in multiple Security Classes (Correct answer)
- A Security Class applies to Clarity reporting access and a SubTemplate applies to Hyperspace workflow access
- A Security Class is assigned per patient while a SubTemplate is assigned per encounter
Correct answer: A Security Class defines what a user can access, while a SubTemplate is a reusable component that can be embedded in multiple Security Classes
Security Classes define the overall access profile for a user type, and SubTemplates are modular, reusable security building blocks that can be shared across multiple Security Classes.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the 'Epic Data Courier' (EDC) tool?
- Automating nightly data extracts from Clarity to Caboodle
- Moving configuration records between Epic environments such as development, test, and production (Correct answer)
- Encrypting and transmitting patient data to external partners via SFTP
- Synchronizing user account settings across multiple Epic instances
Correct answer: Moving configuration records between Epic environments such as development, test, and production
Epic Data Courier (EDC) is the tool used to transport configuration records from one Epic environment to another, such as promoting builds from test to production.
Question 3: When should a developer use a 'Scheduled Job' (SJB) record in Epic rather than a standard batch process?
- When the batch process needs to run on a recurring schedule defined within Epic's configuration layer (Correct answer)
- When the batch process must interact with external systems via HL7 v2 messaging
- When the batch process needs to access Clarity SQL data directly during execution
- When the batch process must run only during scheduled downtime windows
Correct answer: When the batch process needs to run on a recurring schedule defined within Epic's configuration layer
SJB records allow developers to define recurring automated tasks within Epic's scheduler, controlling when and how often background jobs execute without external cron dependencies.
Question 4: A custom Epic BPA (Best Practice Advisory) is firing too frequently and disrupting clinician workflow. What is the first configuration element to review?
- The BPA's trigger event and firing criteria, including frequency limits and context filters (Correct answer)
- The user's Security Class to check if they have BPA suppression rights
- The Chronicle record type associated with the BPA's data source
- The Interconnect server's caching policy for BPA evaluation results
Correct answer: The BPA's trigger event and firing criteria, including frequency limits and context filters
Overfiring BPAs are almost always caused by trigger criteria that are too broad — reviewing and tightening the firing conditions and frequency limits is the correct first step.
Question 5: In Epic's MyChart patient portal development, what authentication protocol is used for third-party app integrations that access patient data?
- SAML 2.0 with XML-based assertions
- OAuth 2.0 with SMART on FHIR scopes (Correct answer)
- Kerberos-based single sign-on via Active Directory
- HTTP Basic Authentication over TLS
Correct answer: OAuth 2.0 with SMART on FHIR scopes
MyChart third-party app integrations use OAuth 2.0 combined with SMART on FHIR scopes, which define granular permissions over specific clinical data categories.
Question 6: What does 'pulllist functionality' refer to in Epic's inpatient pharmacy module?
- A scheduled report that lists all pending medication orders for pharmacist verification
- A workflow that batches and routes medications to be dispensed to specific patient care areas (Correct answer)
- An automated refill request sent to the wholesaler when inventory falls below a threshold
- A list of controlled substances pulled for reconciliation during a shift change
Correct answer: A workflow that batches and routes medications to be dispensed to specific patient care areas
Pulllist functionality in Epic Pharmacy batches medication orders and routes them to the appropriate dispensing cabinet or nursing unit, streamlining medication delivery workflows.
Question 7: A developer needs to create a calculated column in Clarity that combines two existing fields. Which SQL object type is most appropriate?
- A stored procedure with an OUTPUT parameter
- A computed column defined in the table's DDL
- A view that SELECTs and concatenates the two source columns (Correct answer)
- A CLR (Common Language Runtime) function written in C#
Correct answer: A view that SELECTs and concatenates the two source columns
In Clarity, creating a view that selects and combines source columns is the standard approach for derived data, avoiding changes to base table DDL and remaining maintainable.
Epic Skills Assessment Epic Skills Assessment: Software Development 4
In Epic's security model, what is the difference between a 'Security Class' and a 'SubTemplate'?