Her Story
About Chaka
Chaka Prior is a seasoned healthcare leader, registered nurse, and clinical documentation integrity (CDI) expert with more than two decades of experience spanning direct patient care, healthcare leadership, and healthcare technology. She currently serves as Manager and Clinical Product Consultant–CDI at Waystar, where she partners with clinical teams to optimize CDI programs through innovative, AI-enabled technology solutions. Holding a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Chaka combines extensive clinical expertise with strategic leadership to help healthcare organizations improve documentation quality, operational efficiency, and patient outcomes. Chaka began her healthcare career as a nursing extern in 2003 before earning her nursing degree from Charleston Southern University in 2005. She spent much of her clinical career in intensive care, critical care, and coronary care settings before transitioning into Clinical Documentation Integrity. Throughout her career, she has held progressive leadership roles in the clinical space, CDI management, Quality & Safety Improvement, consulting, and healthcare software, including positions with WellStar, Piedmont Healthcare Corporation, PAM Health, Iodine Software, and Waystar. Her diverse background also includes experience as an adjunct nursing educator, reflecting her passion for mentoring, professional development, and cultivating future healthcare leaders. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Chaka is an active leader within the health information management community. She serves as President-Elect and Membership Chair for the South Carolina Health Information Management Association (SCHIMA) and is an engaged member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS). Guided by the principles of integrity, lifelong learning, and servant leadership, Chaka is committed to advancing the healthcare profession by integrating clinical expertise, technology, and collaborative leadership to drive meaningful improvements in patient care and healthcare delivery.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Chaka
01What do you attribute your success to?
The relationships that I've built along the way, both personally and professionally, that drive all of this for me. Nursing found me through during a transitional period in my college career where my peers encouraged a path where we could learn and thrive together embarking on a profession that would ensure stability and security in my future.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Keep a little bit for yourself. Don't allow burnout. Find your peace, find your joy, and pour effort back into yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let anyone else dim your light or pigeonhole you. Just start somewhere, learn about AI and it's capabilities. Know your value; know your strengths and follow your interests.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Uncertainty in the future of healthcare and navigating the growth pace of technology are impactful to the field. Pressures in the industry related to skills shorts and high-levels or burnout emphasize some of the challenges in healthcare, which are then compounded by economic factors on the front and back end-- rising costs of nursing eduction and development; then constraints specific to healthcare costs. Many nurses are leaving bedside care sooner, further exacerbating workforce shortages. Advancements in AI and healthcare technology does present the opportunity drive more efficiency in processes and workflows, which aid in reducing some burdens, so there is remains space to have optimism for the industry.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and doing what's right even when no one is watching.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.