Don’t Be a George: Why “Double Dipping” in Epic Projects Has to Change
What Seinfeld, a bowl of guacamole, and consultants working across multiple Epic customers without disclosure have in common (and what we’re doing to address it)
If you’ve ever watched Seinfeld, you probably remember the unforgettable moment when George Costanza commits the ultimate party foul at a wake: he dips his chip… takes a bite… and dips again. The room goes silent, the guests are horrified, and George—true to form—defends himself as though he’s the one being wronged.
As entertaining as that scene is, it’s also a strangely perfect metaphor for a growing challenge in the Epic ecosystem right now: moonlighting (or as many clients now call it, double dipping) across multiple Epic customers without disclosure. In some cases, triple, or even quadruple dipping!
And just like George’s second dip in the guacamole, the fallout has gotten messy.
Double-dipping: a faux pas since the mid-90s
Epic’s New Focus: Why the Spokes Are Tightening
Over the past few months, Epic has taken a firmer, clearer stance on outside work and parallel client engagements by consultants. Many health systems have echoed these concerns as well.
The reason is simple:
When a consultant is quietly juggling multiple Epic clients
Or allocating hours in ways that aren’t transparent
Or showing up with divided focus instead of full commitment
Quality suffers, trust erodes, and project outcomes take a hit.
Epic’s renewed emphasis is about creating consistency, protecting client outcomes, and reinforcing transparency across the industry. And at Incisive Consultants, we’re aligned with these goals every step of the way.
Our Updated Moonlighting Clause: Clear, Fair, and Aligned with Epic
To support this push toward stronger integrity and clarity, we’ve revised our moonlighting clause to reflect the expectations Epic has established. The updated language does three important things:
Reinforces complete transparency about any outside employment or concurrent Epic-related work.
Prohibits undisclosed parallel Epic client work because even well-intentioned double dipping can create risks.
Aligns our internal policies with Epic’s guidelines, ensuring our clients can feel confident that our consultants are fully dedicated to their success.
Think of it as our way of posting a friendly sign next to the guacamole bowl:
“One dip per consultant, please.”
Of course in our case, working multiple projects is fine as long as each client is aware that the consultant is committed to each contract, and they won’t realize any interference. It’s now all about transparency.
Partnering With Epic to Keep Standards High
We’re not just adjusting our policies, we’re working directly with Epic to uphold the highest expectations of professionalism and client focus. This includes:
Proactive communication with Epic about our compliance efforts and monthly reports
Enhanced internal review steps for consultant engagements
Clear ethical guidelines to ensure every client receives fully dedicated and undivided support
Our approach reflects our broader philosophy: partnership over policing. We want consultants to feel supported, not scrutinized. We want clients to feel values and protected, not worried.
Why This Matters: Protecting Trust and Delivering Excellence
Our clients rely on our consultants for judgment, reliability, and excellence. When those consultants are stretched between multiple Epic clients without disclosure, not only does the quality of work suffer, but so does the trust at the heart of every project.
By tightening our policy and aligning with Epic, we are making a commitment to:
Guard the integrity of our work
Enhance the trust our clients place in us
Maintain clarity and fairness for all consultants
Protect the reputation of both our consultants and the clients we serve
In other words: no surprises, no hidden commitments, no secret extra dips.
Building a Culture Where Transparency Wins
Culture matters deeply to us. We believe in supporting the whole consultant, not just their billable hours. That means creating an environment where people feel comfortable raising questions, being candid about opportunities, and choosing to do the right thing instead of the convenient thing.
A culture where transparency is embraced. Because the truth is, even George Costanza eventually learned his lesson (well…sort of!)
George Costanza’s Legacy
If the Seinfeld cast taught us anything, it’s that life is easier when you avoid the awkward moments, especially the ones that involve public bowls of guacamole. The same applies to our industry today.
By partnering closely with Epic, revising our moonlighting clause, and reinforcing our commitment to transparency, we’re ensuring that every project, every client, and every consultant gets the clarity and focus they deserve.
The new normal is transparent, honest conversations, and a tightened no-secret-double-dipping policy, inside and outside the snack table.