What do translation tables do in Epic?

Translation tables in Epic play a vital role in facilitating communication between Epic's internal systems and external systems by mapping values. This mapping allows for the interpretation and conversion of data formats, ensuring consistent understanding across different systems. For instance, a value in an external system might have a different label or coding than it does in Epic. With translation tables, these discrepancies are resolved, enabling smooth data exchange, which is essential for interoperability in healthcare environments.

While other options mentioned involve important functions within Epic, they do not align with the primary role of translation tables. Generating patient encounter records is more about data entry and clinical workflows rather than mapping values. Storing general patient demographic information pertains to the management of patient records but doesn't involve the translation process between systems. Providing user permissions deals with security and access control, which, while critical for data integrity, is not related to the mapping function of translation tables. Thus, option B accurately captures the specific function attributed to translation tables within the Epic framework.