Credentialing & Privileging | 08.11.25
Unlocking the Power of Credentialing Data Analytics: A Strategic Imperative for MSPs
By Jennifer Dorais, MHA, CPMSM, CPCS
As healthcare continues to evolve in an increasingly data-driven direction, Medical Services Professionals (MSPs) are uniquely positioned to leverage one of the most underutilized assets in their organizations: credentialing data. Traditionally viewed as a compliance-focused function, credentialing is rapidly evolving into a rich source of operational and strategic insights. Harnessing data analytics in credentialing isn’t just a forward-thinking strategy — it is becoming essential for organizations aiming to improve quality, reduce risk, and enhance efficiency.
What Is Credentialing Data Analytics?
Credentialing data analytics is the process of collecting, organizing, and interpreting data from credentialing activities. It involves identifying patterns, forecasting issues, and using data to support informed decision-making across departments.
But what does that look like in practice? Below are examples where data analytics can bring real value.
1. Time to Credential
Key metric: Average time from application receipt to both credentialing and enrollment completion.
Why it matters: Delays in credentialing and enrollment can impact revenue, patient access, and provider satisfaction. Tracking this metric over time highlights bottlenecks.
Example: A health system's analytics dashboard shows that while credentialing takes 45 days, enrollment stretches to 90. The data reveals delays in payer responses and duplicate data entry. Leadership initiates a project to streamline the application process and integrate data between departments, reducing total processing time by 30%.
2. Staff Productivity and Capacity Planning
Key metric: Files processed per staff member, average time to complete a credentialing or enrollment file.
Why it matters: Helps managers forecast staffing needs and justify resources.
Example: With an expansion on the horizon, leadership uses analytics to model the impact of adding 50 new providers. The data predicts a 40% increase in workload, leading to proactive hiring and training of temporary credentialing and enrollment staff.
3. Provider Network Demographics
Key metric: Age, specialty, gender, and geographic distribution of credentialed providers.
Why it matters: Helps in workforce planning, identifying gaps in specialty coverage, and supporting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts.
Example: Analytics show a shortage of bilingual pediatric providers in a growing region. Leadership uses this data to inform recruitment strategy.
A Strategic Role for MSPs
MSPs are no longer just gatekeepers of compliance — they are data stewards and strategic contributors. By embracing analytics, MSPs can:
- Demonstrate value to leadership with data that supports credentialing efficiency, reduces risk, and improves provider lifecycle management.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with departments like quality, HR, IT, and risk management, ensuring consistent, actionable insights across the organization.
- Drive process improvement by using data to advocate for automation, workflow changes, and resource allocation.
Challenges and Considerations
Implementing credentialing analytics does come with hurdles, including:
- Data integrity: Ensuring information is accurate, current, and consistently entered across systems.
- System integration: Connecting disparate platforms such as credentialing software, HR systems, and EHRs to enable seamless data flow.
- Training and adoption: Equipping MSPs with the skills and tools needed to interpret and present data effectively.
Despite these challenges, the rewards far outweigh the effort. Credentialing data analytics is a natural evolution for the MSP profession, aligning with the broader industry trend toward data-informed decision-making.
Looking Ahead
As value-based care and regulatory demands increase, so does the need for intelligent and streamlined credentialing practices. By integrating analytics into credentialing operations, MSPs can transform raw data into actionable insights — enhancing provider performance, supporting patient safety, and reinforcing the critical role MSPs play in healthcare systems.
Let’s move beyond checkboxes and paper trails. It’s time to elevate credentialing through data analytics — because what gets measured, gets improved.
Jennifer Dorais, MHA, CPMSM, CPCS
Jennifer Dorais is the Vice President of credentialing for Vituity and has been a NAMSS member since 2011. She is a current member of the NAMSS Publications Committee and past member of NAMSS Audit and Finance Committee.