Patient Advocate

St. Tammany Parish Hospital•Covington, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

At St. Tammany Health System, delivering world-class healthcare close to home is our goal. That means we are committed to attracting and retaining the very best professionals for every position in our health system. We believe the pristine beauty of St. Tammany Parish adds to our attractive compensation package. The health system is nestled in the heart of Covington on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It is a peaceful, scenic, community-oriented area with an abundance of amenities to suit every taste. JOB SUMMARY: The Patient Advocate serves as a vital liaison between patients, families, and hospital staff, ensuring that patients’ rights are upheld and that concerns are addressed in a timely, empathetic, and professional manner. This role supports patients throughout their care journey by facilitating communication, resolving conflicts, and guiding them through the healthcare system with respect, compassion, and integrity. Patient Advocates are instrumental in promoting a culture of transparency, patient-centered care, and continuous improvement across the hospital. This position must be able to listen to and assess patient/visitor concerns, complaints, grievances, and feedback, ensuring prompt resolution or appropriate escalation. This position will be responsible for educating patients and families about hospital policies and facilitating communication between patients and healthcare providers to ensure understanding and informed decision-making. This position will coordinate with the Spiritual Care Team when patients or families express a need for emotional, religious, or spiritual support. This position will monitor and report on patterns in patient feedback to improve STHS service delivery and will be responsible for documenting all interactions with compliance in privacy and legal standards. Patient Advocates support the hospital’s mission to deliver equitable and compassionate care to all patients.

Requirements

High-school diploma or equivalent.
Excellent communication, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.
Previous experience in customer service in a healthcare setting strongly preferred.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Nursing, or related field is preferred.
Certificate in Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) is preferred, or must be obtained within an appropriate timeframe once eligibility requirements are met.

Responsibilities

Serve as a vital liaison between patients, families, and hospital staff.
Ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and that concerns are addressed in a timely, empathetic, and professional manner.
Support patients throughout their care journey by facilitating communication, resolving conflicts, and guiding them through the healthcare system.
Promote a culture of transparency, patient-centered care, and continuous improvement.
Listen to and assess patient/visitor concerns, complaints, grievances, and feedback, ensuring prompt resolution or appropriate escalation.
Educate patients and families about hospital policies.
Facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers to ensure understanding and informed decision-making.
Coordinate with the Spiritual Care Team when patients or families express a need for emotional, religious, or spiritual support.
Monitor and report on patterns in patient feedback to improve STHS service delivery.
Document all interactions with compliance in privacy and legal standards.
Support the hospital’s mission to deliver equitable and compassionate care to all patients.