User Guide

The Applied Epic browser interface provides anytime, anywhere access to Applied Epic’s core capabilities through standard browsers on a Windows operating system for designated users in your agency.

Besides enabling you to perform key Epic workflows at your convenience from any Windows PC with an internet connection, the browser interface also gives you access to new, exciting features and redesigned screens that are not available in the Applied Epic desktop interface.

The browser interface mirrors your Epic security and structure settings, as it uses the same infrastructure and business logic as the desktop interface. Because it leverages the same server footprint with comparable use of your organization’s system resources, it likewise provides the same performance and scale as the desktop interface.

Contents

• Getting Started
  • Applied Epic configuration
  • Browser configuration
  • Additional system configuration
  • Installing the Applied Epic Connection Suite
  • Differences in functionality
  • Unavailable functionality

  Getting Started

  To access Applied Epic from a web browser, you must request a unique URL for your organization. If you are authorized to make this request, complete the Applied Epic Browser form to request the URL. Once you receive it, you can share it with any users in your agency who will be using the browser interface. You may also want to share your Enterprise ID and the name of the Database they will be accessing, as they need to enter this information the first time they log in.

  Applied Epic supports the most recent versions of the following browsers and leverages HTTPS/TLS 1.2 to encrypt all data in transit, as well as using random session identifiers.

  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge based on Chromium
  • Mozilla Firefox

  Applied Epic does not support other browsers, such as Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge (legacy), or mobile devices. You can access Applied Epic using a supported browser and install the Applied Epic Extension on a macOS or Linux workstation. However, all other Connection Suite functionality (such the Applied Epic Desktop Connector and Applied Epic Outlook Add-in) requires Windows . You cannot install these components on a macOS or Linux machine.

  Applied Epic configuration

  If your agency has enabled Single Sign-on (SSO), select either the Require password authentication or Allow Active Directory and password authentication radio button in Configure > Security > Logins for all Applied Epic browser interface users. However, note that some features are unavailable if you have enabled the option to allow Active Directory authentication.

  Browser configuration

  Configure the following browser settings on each user’s workstation to ensure full Applied Epic functionality. If they work in multiple browsers, make sure to update the settings for each one. The Knowledge articles linked below provide detailed instructions.

  1. Popup settings
  2. Cookie settings
  3. PDF settings
  4. Performance settings ( Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge only)

  Additional system configuration

  Depending on your organization's firewall configuration, your administrator may need to allow access to specific internet domains and modify native messaging settings on each user's workstation to enable full Epic functionality. Refer to these Knowledge articles for details:

  • Required Internet Domain Access for Epic Browser
  • Required Local Access to Browser Native Messaging for Epic Browser

  Installing the Applied Epic Connection Suite

  For full functionality, we recommend installing the Applied Epic Connection Suite. The Applied Epic Extension and the Epic Connection Suite Package are required for many capabilities throughout the system. Depending on the functionality your organization has chosen to use and the workflows your role requires, you may also want to install the Epic Quotes Live Fill Applet .

  Your organization’s IT staff can install the components en masse on all applicable workstations. Once you download the Epic Connection Suite Package installer, you can use off-shelf tooling to distribute the file to all applicable workstations to facilitate mass installation. Distribute the Applied Epic Extension first, then the Epic Connection Suite Package, then any optional components.

  The Connection Suite Installation document provides detailed installation instructions. The Configuring the Applied Epic Outlook Add-in section below provides additional instructions on setting up the Microsoft Outlook integration.

  If your organization allows individual users to install software and browser extensions on their local machines, you can also allow them to install the Connection Suite themselves. They must have the Connection Suite security permission granted from Program Access > General > General to access the Connection Suite page and install the components. Upon login, users receive on-screen notifications when updates are available for any of the components, but must have the Connection Suite security permission to install the components themselves.

  If users do not have permissions to install software for themselves and your organization does not use off-shelf tooling, an administrator must perform the installation on each applicable workstation.

  Connection Suite Components

  The table below lists the Connection Suite components required for specific Applied Epic workflows. Please note the following dependencies, as the table does not list the requirements exhaustively:

  • All workflows listed require the Applied Epic Extension.
  • Any workflow that requires an optional component also requires the Epic Connection Suite Package.

  Batch printing (various workflows)

  Configuring the Applied Epic Outlook Add-in

  The Applied Epic Outlook Add-in is required for email functionality in the browser interface. You must also select Outlook as the Email Integration Default in Configure > Email > System Settings (if you manage this setting system-wide), or direct users to select Outlook as their default in Configure > User Options > Email (if you allow them to select their own default).

  The Applied Epic Outlook Add-in is included in the Epic Connection Suite Package installer (the MSI file) on the Help > Connection Suite page. Whenever the Epic Connection Suite Package contains an update to the Epic Outlook Add-in, Applied recommends closing Microsoft Outlook before installing the package to prevent errors during email workflows after the update.

  When you install the Epic Connection Suite Package on a workstation for the first time, you must enter your organization's Applied Epic URL at the beginning of the installation. When you install package updates, however, you can leave this field blank. Leave the default selections for Connection to Applied Epic and Default Browser . If you use a browser other than your system default to access Applied Epic, however, select this browser from the Default Browser dropdown.

  You can also modify the Applied Epic Outlook Add-in Configuration settings manually if necessary:

  

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook and click the Applied Epic Outlook Add-in button in the Applied section of the ribbon.
  2. In the Applied Epic Outlook Add-in Configuration pop-up window, select the Desktop or Browser radio button (depending on how you are currently accessing Epic). If you frequently switch between the desktop interface and the browser interface, you must update this selection each time you switch.
  3. In the Epic Browser Settings frame, copy the URL from a browser in which Applied Epic is already open and paste it into the Applied Epic URL field. Microsoft Outlook uses this URL to connect to Epic.
  4. Select your Default Browser from the dropdown menu. Make sure your selected browser has all required Connection Suite plugins installed.

  All changes save automatically when you close the Applied Epic Outlook Add-in Configuration pop-up window.

  Using the Browser Interface

  You may only have one instance of Applied Epic—either browser or desktop—open at once.

  For the most part, Epic looks and functions just the same through your browser as through the desktop interface. However, a few workflows available in the desktop interface have not yet been enabled in the browser interface, and some have slight functional differences. Many workflows are only available with Connection Suite components installed. Like the desktop interface, the browser interface may also leverage additional software on your workstation, such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Word .

  The two tables below highlight the system areas that function differently in the browser interface and the system areas that are not yet supported. These tables assume that you have the Applied Epic Extension, Epic Connection Suite Package, and all applicable Optional Connections installed. If not, additional functionality may be unavailable.

  Differences in functionality

  • Add Attachments
  • Import Additional Interests
  • Import Holders
  • Custom Form Import
  • Policy Attachment
  • Import Contacts
  • Configure > User Options > Field Defaults > Attachment/Activity Add Workflow

  The Delete original after attaching checkbox remains available when you attach received email messages from Microsoft Outlook to the corresponding Applied Epic account using the Attach to Epic option in the Outlook ribbon.

  The Spell check , Undo , Cut , Copy , Paste , and Select all options are available when you right-click an item; you can access all options except Spell check using their standard Windows hotkeys.

  Users with permission can click Edit in the menubar to enable Manage Required/Desired Fields . Then an alternate context menu displays when you right-click on a field, where you can designate it as Desired or Required . You must disable Manage Required/Desired Fields from the Edit menubar option to return to the standard right-click context menu.

  You cannot define Required/Desired Fields on the Add a Client page. Use the desktop interface to define Required/Desired Fields for this page.

  A transformed Add a Client page displays for Applied Epic organizations who do not use Active Directory authentication (that is, the transformed page is available to users who are prompted for a username and password when signing on to Epic).

  The Add a Client page is dynamic and only displays relevant fields based on your earlier selections. The system checks for duplicate accounts automatically once you have completed several key fields and displays the likeliest matches in a pop-up window.

  Suggestions for verified street addresses and Agency Defined Categories display dynamically as you type in these fields.

  If you select the SMS checkbox in the Phone frame, a prompt displays to ask if you want to enable Conversational SMS.

  In the browser interface, the Import Scans page replaces Batch Scans . On this page, you can import PDF or TIFF files that you have scanned outside of Applied Epic. The system processes these import jobs in the background so you can continue working. As in the desktop interface, you can include barcodes to route the page(s) or file(s) to the appropriate locations automatically upon import.

  Likewise, you can scan and save documents locally and drag them into the appropriate list in your browser to add the as attachments (in place of the Attachments > Acquire and Attach an Image option available in the desktop interface).

  Unavailable functionality

  System area	Capability	Notes
  System-wide	Epic Document Writer
  Accounts	Real-Time Web Edits
  Accounts	Modify Required/Desired fields on transformed screens
  Configure	User Options > Print Destination

  Uninstalling the Applied Epic Desktop Client

  Once you have implemented the Applied Epic browser interface, your organization’s IT staff can uninstall the Applied Epic Desktop Client from users’ workstations en masse via command line using this command:

   C:\ASI\SMART\Software\UninstallTier.exe ASI.TAM Epic ThinClient NO_UI_WRITE_STATUS "C:\EpicRemoteInstall”

  You can substitute a different location for C:\EpicRemoteInstall if you prefer to write the status elsewhere.

  If your organization allows users to install and uninstall software on their own workstations, they can uninstall the Applied Epic Desktop Client from Windows > Settings > Apps .