Patient Advocate

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 DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must have a high-school diploma or equivalent, bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Nursing, or related field is preferred. Previous experience in customer service in a healthcare setting strongly preferred Must have excellent communication, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.

Certificate in Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) is preferred, or must be obtained within an appropriate timeframe once eligibility requirements are met.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must possess good physical health. Some requirements include but are not limited to standing, sitting or walking for long periods of time. Lifting at least 20 pounds is required.
Physical Effort required:


Constant (67%-100%) - handling/feeling, talking, hearing, seeing
Frequently (34%-66%) - reaching
Occasionally (1%-33%) - lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, stooping, crouching, crawling

EMPLOYMENT

Each St. Tammany Health System staff member is expected to conduct himself or herself according to our mission, vision and values. Please take time to review those expectations, which can be found by clicking here , before applying for employment. If you feel you are unable to demonstrate those characteristics, we respectfully request that you do not proceed with the application process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

St. Tammany Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. St. Tammany Health System is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability status, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.