Introduction to Healthcare Quality and Safety
Operational Excellence

Leigh Elko has over sixteen years of health care, managerial, information technology, operations, and clinical bedside experience. Leigh started as a Respiratory Therapist at Doylestown Hospital while finishing her undergraduate degree in 2006 and came to Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in 2007. While working full-time, Leigh earned her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Saint Joseph’s University. Completing her studies propelled her experience into a role working with hospital administration. It was within this role where Leigh was able to lead by example and provide education on Lean, project management, and efficiently working to train leaders from across the health system. Leigh’s leadership style allowed her to collaborate with Senior Leadership to accomplish Strategic Goals and Initiatives. When transferring to ChristianaCare Health System, Leigh was able to lead efforts to better the patient and employee experiences. For example, Leigh led an effort to implement a digital experience pilot with Women’s and Children service line resulting in a fifty percent reduction in patients waiting onsite for a bed to become available while improving staff engagement by twenty percent.  

Through various roles, Leigh has developed a keen sense of responsibility, effective interpersonal skills, a passion for mentoring, and the ability to lead teams, even in high-pressure environments.