Nell Peterson, MBA, MSN, RN, LSSBB
About
Nell is a senior healthcare executive with more than 19 years of progressive leadership experience driving operational performance, quality, and patient safety across complex hospital and health system environments. She brings deep expertise in hospital operations, nursing leadership, and enterprise quality strategy, with a proven ability to translate clinical priorities into measurable business outcomes.
Prior to joining NorthGauge, a Coker company, Nell served as System Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety for a large, multi-hospital health system in Tennessee, where she led systemwide initiatives to improve reliability, reduce risk, and elevate performance at scale. Her leadership consistently delivered sustainable improvements in quality, safety, and operational effectiveness while supporting organizational growth and strategic objectives.
Nell holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee, an MSN from Nebraska Methodist College, and an undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, she is recognized for building value-driven, best-in-class programs that optimize clinical operations, strengthen governance and accountability, and achieve results without compromising quality or patient safety.
Experience
- Led large, multidisciplinary teams across infection prevention, quality, nursing operations, emergency services, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, medical staff services, and enterprise data analytics.
- Drove systemwide quality transformation, improving Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades from multiple “C” ratings to consistent “A” performance.
- Led initiatives that elevated CMS Star Ratings from two stars to five stars through disciplined governance and reliability strategies.
- Directed enterprise root cause analyses and corrective action planning to mitigate risk, reduce harm, and strengthen clinical reliability.
- Designed and implemented an enterprise performance governance structure and organization-wide training program supporting more than 11,000 employees.
- Re-engineered infection prevention services to enable virtual IP coverage, reduce FTE expense, and improve clinical and regulatory outcomes.
- Redesigned clinical documentation workflows to ensure regulatory compliance while reducing clinician administrative burden and preserving bedside care time.
- Contributed to the development and enterprise onboarding of a Hospital at Home model of care, expanding access and innovative care delivery.
- Led the implementation and operational integration of a new electronic medical record system across clinical and administrative functions.
- Designed and implemented a physician-integrated performance improvement program, strengthening engagement, accountability, and outcomes.
- Designed and developed an electronic COVID-19 data reporting system adopted by the state of Tennessee.
- Improved emergency department throughput metrics through operational redesign and performance management.
- Managed more than 24 successful on-site triennial Joint Commission surveys.
Areas of Expertise
- Infection Prevention
- Regulatory body/ CMS Compliance
- Performance Improvement
- Physician Peer Review
- Clinical Decision Support
- Clinical Performance Improvement
- Quality-Based Healthcare Initiatives
Education
University of Tennessee
Master in Business Administration
Knoxville, TN
Nebraska Methodist College
Master in Nursing Administration
Omaha, NE
University of South Dakota
Associate Degree in Nursing
Vermillion, SD
Certifications & Special Training
Healthcare Leadership (University of Tennessee)
Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt (Department of Defense)
Patient Safety Certification (Department of Veteran Affairs & University of Michigan)
Expired certifications: TNCC, CEN, ACLS, PALS, CCRN