Advocating for Patients and Transforming Healthcare

Pat Jackson is a dynamic expert in customer service and retail management who has successfully transitioned to a focus on patient care, leveraging her strong foundation in marketing and project management. Her expertise spans service excellence, curriculum development, employee engagement, and HCAHPS, now encompassing patient advocacy. At Huntsville Hospital, Jackson is dedicated to driving positive outcomes in patient experience and fostering a culture of excellence in healthcare delivery.

From Retail Leadership to Patient Advocacy

I began my career in retail management, working for one of the largest retail chains at the time. Over my eight years with the company, I built a strong foundation in customer service, taking charge of a lowperforming store and training the team to effectively meet customer needs. We guided customers through outfit choices and consistently prioritized service excellence. This approach led my team and me to receive the Regional Manager of the Year award. Gradually, I transitioned to the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, bringing essential skills in data analysis, trend analysis, and process improvement that I had developed in my previous role.

At the Chamber of Commerce, I served as Membership Director for five years, focusing on customer retention and relationship management. I was particularly diligent in managing membership responsibilities, as our paychecks directly depended on the team’s performance. This role provided me with significant experience in event planning, where I was tasked with generating 50% of the Chamber’s budget and organizing initiatives such as trade shows and networking events to engage members.

These two roles laid the foundation for my current position as the Director of Patient Experience and Advocacy at Huntsville Hospital Health Systems. Here, I leverage my leadership strategies to enhance the patient experience, educate staff, and maintain engagement at various levels, ensuring that both patients and staff benefit from a culture of excellence. Managing large-scale operations that fed 8,000 to 9,000 people taught me resilience and the importance of overseeing complex processes—skills I now use to emphasize the 25% impact of patient experience on value-based purchasing.

Adapting to Evolving Patient Expectations

Patients’ expectations continue to rise with the advancement of health technology and greater access to information. They value honesty, transparency, autonomy, and personalized healthcare. Often, patients arrive informed by their own research, sometimes even providing more detailed information to doctors.

To address these needs, I believe it is essential for caregivers to listen to patients’ concerns and provide appropriate care. Healthcare trust is built on empathy, clear communication, and treating every patient as the most important person in our lives. By prioritizing individualized care and investing in effective communication tools, we ensure a consistent approach to meeting these expectations. For instance, our hospital has launched a patient-centered project called Compassionate Connected Care. Every healthcare organization should strive to reconnect with patients by being more attentive, helping them feel informed, safe, and valued. This is how we meet their needs while respecting their knowledge and engagement, all while working toward becoming a high-reliability organization focused on patient safety.

Digital Evolution in Patient Experience & Advocacy

Recently, while discussing telehealth with my 78-year-old mom, I reflected on how the pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual care. Today, hybrid models that combine virtual consultations with in-person visits are a significant part of the patient experience, alongside advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly predictive analytics.

Patient portals, electronic health records, and other digital platforms enhance patient engagement by providing convenient access to healthcare services. These tools allow patients to request prescriptions and communicate with physicians, making healthcare more efficient. However, the challenge lies in encouraging widespread adoption of these technologies. While exploring digital solutions in healthcare, it is vital to ensure that the human aspect of care remains central.

Embracing Compassion in Patient Advocacy After nearly 20 years in advocacy, I firmly believe in the importance of compassion and commitment when caring for patients. I have built strong relationships with patient experience vendors and trained my staff to prioritize quality healthcare from the outset. We emphasize facilitating essential health screenings, such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests, particularly for pregnant women across the country.

Our efforts also focus on addressing health equity through diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, ensuring support for individuals who lack access to hospital care. By fostering compassion and inclusivity, we aim to create a healthcare system where every patient receives the care they deserve.