Epic MST Build: Should You Use Training Wheels Patients?

When it comes to Epic training environments, solid MST build is the backbone of a successful learning experience. One of the first decisions training leaders face is whether to use Epic’s out-of-the-box Training Wheels patients or invest in a custom patient build.

Training Wheels is Epic’s preloaded patient set designed to speed up MST environment setup and provide plug-and-play exercises aligned with core functionality. But while convenient, they come with tradeoffs.

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons.

Pros of Using Training Wheels Patients

First, the good news. Training Wheels can save time. If you're tight on resources or have a narrow window to prepare for training, these patients can help you get the environment up and running quickly. Because they align with Epic’s Foundation System, they may be a good fit for organizations with minimal customization.

They also come with built-in clinical scenarios. This makes it easy to develop hands-on training activities without manually creating every detail.

Cons of Using Training Wheels Patients

But convenience has its limits. If your workflows differ from the Foundation System, these patients might not reflect your actual processes. That disconnect can confuse learners and reduce training effectiveness.

Another challenge is realism. Training Wheels patients don’t reflect the unique elements of your patient population, your department structure, or your documentation preferences. That can make training feel generic and less likely to stick.

Finally, the preloaded data can become cluttered and difficult to follow. Patient names, histories, and documentation often feel unfamiliar or disorganized, leading to unnecessary side conversations during training sessions.

What We Recommend

Training Wheels patients can be a useful starting point, but they rarely cover everything. At Five Lemons, we usually recommend a blended approach. Use Training Wheels patients where they make sense, and supplement with custom-built patients that reflect your organization’s real workflows.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: efficient setup where possible and targeted, relevant content where it counts.

If you need support designing a training environment that actually prepares users for go-live, we can help. Our team has led MST builds for large and small Epic clients, including fully customized scenarios based on specialty workflows and real documentation standards.

Let’s talk about what your team needs and how to get there faster, with fewer headaches.