Divya Nahata achieves MD-Staff Certified Expert status and highlights the role of Medical Staff Services

Divya Nahata, Senior Medical Staff Coordinator, achieves MD-Staff Certified Expert status.

Ever wondered what takes place behind the scenes in the Medical Staff Services department at Akron Children’s? This dedicated team plays a vital role in delivering high-quality care to patients and families by prioritizing safety and ensuring operations run smoothly.

At the center of these efforts is Divya Nahata, Senior Medical Staff Coordinator. Divya supports key administrative and operational functions for medical staff and holds the MD-Staff Certified Expert designation. This achievement reflects advanced expertise in MD-Staff systems and their application for medical staff services.

“I am sincerely grateful to my manager, Terri Frishgesell, and my teammates for their encouragement, trust and continued support throughout this journey,” shared Divya. “Achieving the MD-Staff Certified Expert designation was not easy, but it was absolutely worth the effort. I hope my experience inspires my peers and teammates to pursue this certification. It is a challenging yet rewarding path that creates opportunities to make a meaningful impact within the healthcare industry.”

Divya explains more about the MD-Staff Certified Expert designation and the functions of the medical staff services team below.

Q. Can you explain what a Sr. Medical Staff Coordinator does?

A. A Sr. Medical Staff Coordinator oversees credentialing, re-credentialing and privileging processes. This responsibility ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, and serves as a key liaison between providers, administration and cross-functional teams to maintain efficient operations and patient safety.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you in the Medical Staff Services team?

A. I focus on maintaining data integrity and streamlining workflows to enhance quality and efficiency. Mentoring and training medical staff services team members on new functionalities as well as reporting is also a large function of this role. I run standard reports or create one-time or as-needed searches to answer specific questions and unique data that is not in a standard report for leadership and cross-functional teams.

Q. While your work happens behind the scenes, how does it directly impact patients and families?

A. We ensure that healthcare providers are qualified, competent and authorized to deliver care. MD-Staff, an AI-enabled credentialing platform, allows us to streamline these processes, resulting in faster turnaround times and improved accuracy. This efficiency supports timely onboarding and access to care, enhancing patient experience and contributing to better clinical outcomes.

Q. What is the MD-Staff Certified Expert designation? What does it represent in your field?

A. This designation is a higher-level certification that reflects a deep understanding of system configuration, complex workflows, process automation, system optimizations, advanced reporting and best practices. It represents professional expertise in efficiently managing credentialing and privileging processes.

Q. What motivated you to pursue this certification?

A. “You have to dream before your dreams can come true” – Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. My dream to be a part of the healthcare industry and make a meaningful difference is what has brought me to where I am today. Becoming an MD-Staff Certified Expert is a significant step toward strengthening my ability to contribute positively to healthcare operations. Earning this certification is an opportunity to become a change champion within the broader medical staff services professionals’ community.

Q. What kind of preparation or process was involved in earning the designation?

A. The eligibility requirements for the MD-Staff Certified Expert designation were rigorous and comprehensive. I was one of 20 candidates selected for the Certified Expert exam that was extensive and demanding, featuring scenario-based and problem-solving questions that tested both technical knowledge and practical application. To prepare, I attended live webinars hosted by MD-Staff, completed courses and participated in study groups. It was a lengthy and challenging process, but the preparation paid off, and I successfully earned the designation.

Q. What does this achievement mean to you personally and professionally?

A. I am truly proud to be part of this special group of MD-Staff Certified Experts who are committed to excellence and continuous improvement. This achievement has helped me achieve an important career goal and affirms the dedication I have invested in my professional growth. Earning this designation strengthens my confidence and ability to add value to my organization. It motivates me to continue learning, evolving and helping my organization fully leverage the capabilities of MD-Staff.

Q. How do you collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers and hospital leadership?

A. A key area of partnership involves the review and maintenance of Delineations of Privileges, which requires timely, clear and effective communication. I work closely with hospital and medical staff leadership during regulatory surveys, including The Joint Commission, to ensure ongoing compliance and readiness. In addition, I regularly identify opportunities for process improvement and ensure clear communication of issues and solutions to align with organizational goals and requirements.

Q. Why is this certification important for hospitals and medical staff services professionals?

A. This certification demonstrates the ability to use the MD-Staff system to effectively support key priorities for healthcare organizations. This expertise helps medical staff services professionals and organizations remain agile and progressive in an evolving healthcare environment. With the advanced knowledge gained through this certification, I am better equipped to share insights, advocate for process improvements and champion meaningful changes.