Mendry · Florida 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Veteran-Built & Independent

Mendry

DCSP Hub · Hub 08

Role

of 09

Health IT, Informatics & Telehealth Operations

The technology layer behind every modern practice

HIMSS

CPHIMS · CAHIMS

AMIA

Clinical Informatics

(ISC)²

HCISPP

AHIMA

CHDA · CHPS

State Boards

Telehealth Licensure

01 Clinical Informatics Specialist A Clinical Informatics Specialist works at the intersection of clinical practice and… Series 02 Digital Health Coordinator A Digital Health Coordinator manages the patient-facing digital health technologies that practices… Series 03 EHR Administrator An EHR Administrator manages the operational life of the electronic health record… Reading 04 EHR Implementation Specialist An EHR Implementation Specialist leads or supports the implementation of new EHR… Up Next 05 Healthcare Cybersecurity Analyst A Healthcare Cybersecurity Analyst protects healthcare systems and data from cyber threats… Series 06 Healthcare Data Analyst A Healthcare Data Analyst extracts, analyzes, and reports on healthcare data across… Series 07 Practice Management Software Specialist A Practice Management Software Specialist works the practice management (PM) systems that… Series 08 Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Specialist A Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Specialist manages the operational layer of remote… Series 09 Telehealth Coordinator A Telehealth Coordinator manages the operational layer of telehealth services — provider… Series

DCSP Hub · Health IT, Informatics & Telehealth Operations

Role

of 09

EHR Administrator

An EHR Administrator manages the operational life of the electronic health record system after it’s installed — user management, system configuration, performance monitoring, upgrade coordination, vendor relationship management, and the daily work of keeping the EHR running for clinical and administrative staff. Where Implementation Specialists install EHR systems, Administrators operate them. The work is technical, operational, and constant. Strong EHR administration creates the digital infrastructure that clinical workflow depends on.

How This Work Happens

EHR administrator work happens in three places: as a hospital or health-system employee, as a contractor working through a practice management or services company, or as an independent business owner. This page covers all three so you can choose the path that fits your life.

Mendry supports the third path. We are a Florida 501(c)(3) membership platform full of opportunities — not an employer, not a placement agency. We list independent professionals so the practices that need them can find them. Your business. Your contracts. Your rates. Your decisions.

MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Membership in Mendry’s DCSP Network is built on these understandings about your business.

Fifteen points. Read carefully. This is the agreement.

You set your own rates. Mendry does not suggest, publish, recommend, or facilitate the sharing of rate information between members.

You bill your own clients and collect your own payment. Mendry does not invoice, collect, hold, distribute, or process payment between you and your clients.

You hold and maintain current professional liability and errors-and-omissions insurance appropriate to your specialty. Mendry does not insure you, indemnify you, or provide coverage of any kind.

You handle your own taxes as an independent business. Mendry does not withhold, report, file, or remit taxes for you. You are responsible for federal, state, and local tax obligations including estimated quarterly payments.

You sign your own contracts directly with your clients. Mendry is never a party to, signatory of, or guarantor of your client agreements, and Mendry does not negotiate, review, or approve your contract terms.

When your work touches Protected Health Information (PHI), you execute a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) directly with each client before beginning work. Mendry is never a party to your BAAs, and Mendry’s website never touches, stores, or transmits PHI.

You hold and maintain all federal, state, and local business licenses, registrations, and certifications your business and work require. Mendry does not verify licenses on your behalf or vouch for your licensure status.

You complete the continuing education your credential requires and maintain current documentation. Mendry does not track CE on your behalf, report CE to credentialing bodies, or guarantee that your CE meets any specific requirement.

You carry full professional responsibility for the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of your work product. Errors, omissions, missed deadlines, and quality disputes are between you and your client. Mendry does not mediate, intervene, indemnify, or carry any liability for your work.

You market your own business and represent yourself accurately to clients. You do not represent yourself as employed by, certified by, endorsed by, or operating under the authority of Mendry. You may accurately state that you are a listed member of the Mendry DCSP Network.

Your professional relationships are with your DCP clients. You do not have a direct service relationship with veterans through Mendry, and Mendry does not refer veterans to you as patients or clients.

You maintain your own client records, working files, and business records on systems and tools you control. Mendry does not host, back up, store, or have access to your client files or business data.

Your membership in the DCSP Network is conditional on maintaining current credentials, insurance, licenses, and good standing. Mendry may suspend or terminate your directory listing if these standards lapse.

Your membership fee pays for your listing and the educational resources Mendry provides. It does not buy referrals, leads, work, or placement, and is not refundable based on the work you do or do not receive.

You are a member of an independent professional directory. You are not an employee, contractor, agent, partner, joint venturer, or representative of Mendry. Mendry does not direct, supervise, control, schedule, or assign your work.

What This Really Means

The same fifteen points — explained the way a friend would explain them.

01 You decide what to charge.

You research what other professionals in your specialty charge. You look at job boards. You ask peers. You decide what your work is worth, and you tell your clients that number. Mendry does not tell you what to charge. We do not share rate information. That keeps us out of antitrust trouble and keeps you free to price your work the way you choose.

02 You send the bill. You collect the money.

Every month, you send your client an invoice. The client pays you directly — usually by ACH bank transfer or check. Mendry does not touch the money. We never see your invoices. We never collect for you. Money flows from client to you. Period.

03 You buy your own insurance.

Professional liability insurance protects you if a client says your work cost them money. Errors and omissions insurance protects you if you make a mistake in your work product. Every working DCSP needs both. You shop for it. You pay for it. You keep it current. Mendry does not insure you, and the directory does not list you as covered by us.

04 You pay your own taxes — four times a year.

As an independent business, you pay estimated taxes every quarter — April, June, September, and January. You file a Schedule C with your tax return. Mendry does not withhold anything. We do not report your income to the IRS. You are responsible for tracking your income, your expenses, and your tax payments. A bookkeeper or CPA pays for itself.

05 You sign your own contracts.

Every client gives you a contract — sometimes called a Master Service Agreement or a Statement of Work. You read it. You sign it. If something looks off, you take it to your own attorney. Mendry does not read your contracts, does not negotiate them, and is not a party to them.

06 You sign a BAA with every client before you start.

When your work touches information about real patients — their names, dates of birth, diagnoses — that information is called PHI. Before any client lets you near their patient information, you sign a Business Associate Agreement. Every client. Every time. Mendry’s website never touches PHI — we educate you about it, that’s it.

07 You hold your own business licenses.

Some states require a business license to operate. Some cities require a local one. You research what your state and city require, and you hold whatever licenses apply. Mendry does not verify your licenses for you — the verification badge on your directory profile reflects what you upload, not what we check with the state.

08 You keep your credentials and CE current.

Your professional credential needs continuing education hours to stay active. You complete the CE. You track the hours. You report them to your credentialing body. Mendry does not report for you and does not guarantee your CE is enough — that’s between you and your credentialing body.

09 You own the quality of your work.

If you make a mistake in your work, the client may lose money. They may ask you to fix it. They may charge you for the loss. Your insurance and your reputation handle this — not Mendry. Build clean files. Communicate well. Hit your deadlines.

10 You market yourself accurately.

You can tell clients: “I am a listed member of the Mendry DCSP Network.” That is accurate. You cannot tell clients: “I work for Mendry” or “Mendry certified me.” Stick to “listed member of the directory.”

11 Your clients are DCP practices. Veterans are not your clients.

You serve the doctor’s practice or the clinic — the DCP. The veteran is the DCP’s patient, not yours. Mendry does not refer veterans to you. The chain goes: Mendry lists DCPs. DCPs hire DCSPs. DCSPs serve DCPs. You are two steps removed from the patient, which is exactly where you should be.

12 You keep your own records.

Your client files, your invoices, your work product, your tax records — all of it lives on systems you control. Mendry does not host your work. We do not back up your data. Use cloud backup. Treat your business like a real business.

13 Your directory listing is conditional, not permanent.

If your credential lapses, your listing pauses. If your insurance expires, your listing pauses. Membership is a standing — you maintain it by keeping everything current. We send you reminders before things lapse. The directory only works if every member listed is actually current.

14 Your membership fee pays for listing — not for leads.

Mendry does not promise you work. The fee you pay covers your spot in the directory and the educational resources we publish. Whether you win the work after that depends on you — your profile, your responsiveness, your rates, your references. Membership is an opportunity, not a guarantee.

15 You are a member. We are a platform. That is the whole relationship.

Mendry does not employ you. We do not contract with you. We do not represent you. We list you. You operate your business. The line between us is clean and clear — and the clean line is what protects both of us.

What This Role Involves

EHR Administrators handle the daily operational layer of EHR systems. They manage user accounts and permissions. They configure clinical templates, order sets, and workflow rules. They monitor system performance and resolve issues. They coordinate vendor support when problems exceed local administrator authority. They oversee EHR upgrades and configuration changes.

User support intersects continuously. Administrators handle escalated user issues — staff who can’t log in, providers whose templates aren’t working, billing staff with charge capture issues. They train staff on EHR functionality. They document workflow procedures.

The work supports broader healthcare operations. EHR administration affects clinical workflow, billing accuracy, quality measure capture, and compliance reporting. Strong EHR administration creates downstream operational quality across multiple functions. Weak EHR administration creates downstream problems everywhere.

The Honest Description

The EHR Administrator role rewards technical fluency combined with operational understanding. Members who do well in this work enjoy the intersection of technology and healthcare operations, take pride in well-run EHR systems, and find satisfaction in being the technical layer that clinical and administrative staff depend on.

The Core Activities

1

Manage user accounts and permissions

Provision new user accounts. Configure role-based permissions. Handle user access changes and terminations.

2

Configure clinical templates and workflows

Build and maintain clinical templates, order sets, charge capture workflows, and other EHR configurations.

3

Monitor system performance

Track EHR performance metrics. Identify performance issues. Coordinate resolution.

4

Coordinate EHR upgrades and changes

Plan and execute EHR upgrades. Coordinate configuration changes affecting users.

5

Handle vendor escalations

Escalate complex EHR issues to vendor support. Coordinate resolution.

Where This Role Appears in the Field

In a hospital or health system IT department

Hospital EHR Administrators work within IT or informatics departments. Strong career progression toward EHR Manager and senior informatics roles.

In an EHR services or healthcare IT consulting company

Companies offering EHR administration services hire administrators.

As an independent contractor

Mid-size practices and small hospitals needing EHR administration without dedicated full-time staff hire independent administrators.

Federal Payer Workflow

VA CCN, TRICARE & CHAMPVA Credentialing

VA hospital EHR work involves VA-specific EHR systems (transitioning between VistA and Cerner/Oracle Health). Administrators working with VA hospital systems need federal payer EHR expertise.

VA Community Care Network EHR considerations apply to community practices that exchange clinical data with VA systems. Administrators supporting VA CCN practices need to understand VA data exchange requirements.

The two-hat reality. In a two-hat practice, this work runs on two parallel tracks at once — VA Community Care credentialing and claims under federal authority, and state medical cannabis practitioner participation under state authority. The two tracks never share a workflow, but they share a deadline: a lapse on either side stops payment and access on both. Members who can hold both tracks steady at the same time are the ones two-hat practices keep.

Your Roadmap to becoming an independent EHR Administrator

This is the step-by-step path. Follow each step in order.

Step

Build foundational EHR experience

Most administrators come from EHR support, implementation, or healthcare IT backgrounds with 2 to 4 years of experience.

Step

Develop vendor-specific certifications

Major EHR vendors (Epic, Cerner/Oracle Health, athenahealth, eClinicalWorks) offer certification programs. Vendor-specific certifications create premium positioning.

Step

Consider HIMSS CPHIMS credential

Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems credential supports senior positioning.

Step

Set up your business

Step

Get professional liability insurance with technology coverage

EHR administration involves significant technical responsibility.

Step

Sign HIPAA Business Associate Agreements

Every client signs a BAA. EHR administration involves extensive PHI access.

Step

Find your first client

Mid-size practices needing EHR administration support are natural first clients.

Step

List in the Mendry DCSP Network

Position yourself around specific EHR vendor expertise.

Step

Build your book of business

EHR administrators often work with 2 to 4 client practices on ongoing administration support.

Education & Experience Pathways

Members exploring this role typically come into the work through one of these learning paths:

Healthcare IT backgrounds

Healthcare IT or healthcare informatics education with EHR focus.

EHR vendor certification pathways

Major EHR vendors offer certification programs combined with on-the-job experience.

Military MOS adjacent paths

Military IT and medical administration roles translate well — 25B (IT Specialist), 68G (Patient Administration with EHR experience), and similar technical-administrative roles.

The Skill That Distinguishes Strong Specialists

EHR Administrators who grow fastest are the ones who develop deep expertise in 1 or 2 specific EHR platforms. Generalist EHR knowledge is common; deep Epic expertise, Cerner/Oracle Health depth, or athenahealth specialty creates premium positioning that vendor-specific work commands.

The Realities of the Work

The EHR Administrator role is technical operational work with significant variety. Some days focus on user support; others on system configuration; others on upgrade coordination.

It is remote-work compatible for many administration tasks though some on-site presence is typical. Compensation is at the mid-to-senior healthcare IT level.

Income — Research the Range

Mendry does not publish specific income figures because numbers vary based on credential, geographic market, employment type, specialty focus, and experience. Here are the authoritative sources to research current income data:

BLS — Computer and Information Systems Managers

BLS data covering IT management roles.

bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm

HIMSS Compensation Survey

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society publishes healthcare IT compensation data.

himss.org

FlexJobs & Upwork — Independent Contractor Rates

Real-time rate data for EHR administration work.

flexjobs.com · upwork.com (search "EHR administrator")

Indeed & Glassdoor — Real-Time Market Data

Active market data.

indeed.com · glassdoor.com (search "EHR administrator")

How to Know If This Role Fits You

The EHR Administrator role is a good fit for members with healthcare IT aptitude who like operational technology work. Members who can master EHR platform technical details. Members who enjoy supporting clinical and administrative staff through technical work. For the right person, especially with vendor-specific certifications, it offers steady technical work in a credential-driven field.

About this content. Mendry is a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership platform. This page is educational and does not constitute medical, legal, financial, or placement advice. Health IT requirements, EHR vendor certifications, telehealth licensure, and healthcare cybersecurity standards vary by setting, vendor, payer, and state. Mendry does not employ, place, refer, or supervise health IT professionals. All members listed in the DCSP Network operate their own independent businesses, set their own rates, sign their own contracts, and carry their own insurance. Mendry does not provide treatment, prescribe or sell cannabis, complete state forms, or collect PHI. Emergency: 911 · Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (Press 1) · Text 838255.

Your Specialty. Your Business. Your Network.

Mendry lists independent credentialing professionals so the two-hat practices that need them can find them. Your business, your rates, your clients, your decisions — we provide the visibility and the platform.