If you work directly for a health system (vs. for Epic) as some sort of Epic Analyst you might enjoy some semblance of contributing to patient care without detracting from it. Epic is a leach on the health care system just like the other EHRs that cost tens of millions to install for institutions (that are actually helping people) that run on 0-10% margins. They provide clunky software (grass is greener - being the best major EHR is not an impressive feat), and don't talk to other EHR systems.

In order to do that...find a way to get certified. But then once you get your foot in the door at that institution...learn how to put data to use to help patients.

Here's the catch...as far as I know, you need to be sponsored by an institution to get Epic Certified.

--If I were you?? Take the time you were considering using to study for this Epic Certification...and learn statistics, how to code, and how to use data. Get an MS in something (maybe HIM, but maybe data science or something really useful). This will put you in a place to really help people (which I assume is why you want to go into Health care).

Good luck!! Best wishes. Rant over. Hoping the best for you.