Epic Skills Assessment Epic Skills Assessment: Software Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Epic's development environment, what is the primary purpose of the 'Chronicles' tool?
- A version control system for Epic source code
- A logging and debugging framework used to trace application events (Correct answer)
- A build automation tool that compiles Epic modules
- A testing harness for running unit tests against Epic APIs
Correct answer: A logging and debugging framework used to trace application events
Chronicles is Epic's logging framework that developers use to trace application events, errors, and diagnostic information during development and production.
Question 2: When developing a custom Epic report using Crystal Reports, which data source connection type is most commonly used to access Epic data?
- Direct ODBC connection to the Cache database
- Epic's Hyperspace Reporting Workbench API
- Chronicle Extract files exported as flat CSV
- An OLE DB connection through Epic's Clarity data warehouse (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An OLE DB connection through Epic's Clarity data warehouse
Custom Crystal Reports in Epic typically connect via OLE DB to the Clarity SQL data warehouse, which mirrors operational data in a relational format.
Question 3: What does the term 'INI' refer to in Epic's software architecture?
- An initialization file format for configuring Hyperspace startup parameters
- A master patient index record type in the Chronicles database (Correct answer)
- A type of Epic interface engine message acknowledgment
- A security group that controls access to installation modules
Correct answer: A master patient index record type in the Chronicles database
In Epic's Chronicles database, INI (master file records) are top-level record types that store configuration and reference data used across the system.
Question 4: A developer needs to expose Epic clinical data to a third-party application. Which modern standard should they prioritize for this integration?
- HL7 v2 ADT messaging over MLLP
- SOAP-based web services using Epic's WSD layer
- FHIR R4 APIs via Epic's App Orchard platform (Correct answer)
- Direct SQL queries against the Clarity database
Correct answer: FHIR R4 APIs via Epic's App Orchard platform
FHIR R4 APIs available through Epic's App Orchard are the modern, preferred standard for exposing Epic clinical data to third-party applications.
Question 5: In Epic's testing methodology, what is a 'regression bundle'?
- A compressed archive of Epic source code changes ready for deployment
- A predefined set of test scripts that validate core workflows after an upgrade (Correct answer)
- A database snapshot used to roll back failed upgrade attempts
- A collection of interface messages replayed to test HL7 parsing logic
Correct answer: A predefined set of test scripts that validate core workflows after an upgrade
A regression bundle is a curated set of test scripts covering critical workflows, run after each upgrade or patch to ensure existing functionality remains intact.
Question 6: Which Epic programming construct is used to define the business logic that fires when a specific field value changes in a record?
- A Protocol
- A Decision Tree
- A Calculation
- A Rule (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A Rule
In Epic's configuration layer, Rules define conditional logic that fires in response to specific triggers such as field value changes within a record.
Question 7: When an Epic developer uses 'Caboodle,' what type of system are they working with?
- Epic's real-time operational Cache database
- Epic's enterprise data warehouse for analytics and reporting (Correct answer)
- A middleware integration engine that routes HL7 messages
- A workflow engine that manages BPA (Best Practice Advisory) firing
Correct answer: Epic's enterprise data warehouse for analytics and reporting
Caboodle is Epic's enterprise data warehouse (EDW) platform, built on SQL Server, used for analytics, population health, and operational reporting.
Epic Skills Assessment Epic Skills Assessment: Software Development 2
In Epic's development environment, what is the primary purpose of the 'Chronicles' tool?