The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is joining with other health care organizations around the country to honor National Patient Advocacy Week, which began Monday and runs through Sunday. It is an event organized by the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy.

Patient advocates play an important role in improving a patient’s health care experience. They serve as a liaison between patients, families, the hospital or clinic, and its medical staff. They advocate for patient rights, promote patient satisfaction, serve as a point of contact for organization-wide complaints and grievances, and provide feedback to the organization so it can improve the patient experience. Patient advocates also provide information for the patient regarding services and resources both within and outside the health care organization.

SEARHC has three patient advocates in Southeast Alaska — Bryan Whitson, Ashley Hunt and Cyndi Reeves — who serve as customer service liaisons between patients and SEARHC, and help patients navigate their way through SEARHC’s health system. Also, the Alaska Native Medical Center provides Anchorage-based patient advocates who serve patients from around the state receiving care at the Alaska Native Medical Center.

The advocates are:

• Bryan Whitson (907-966-8860 office, bryan.whitson@searhc.org) is based at S’áxt’ Hít Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka and serves patients from Sitka, Angoon, Kake, Pelican, Petersburg, Wrangell, Yakutat and Tenakee Springs.

• Ashley Hunt (463-6656 office, ashley.hunt@searhc.org) is based at the Ethel Lund Medical Center in Juneau and serves Juneau, Haines, Klukwan, Hoonah and Skagway.

• Cyndi Reeves (907-755-4983 office, 965-0040 cell, cynthia.reeves@searhc.org) is based at the Alicia Roberts Medical Center in Klawock and serves Klawock, Craig, Hydaburg, Kasaan and Thorne Bay.

• Anchorage patient advocates (907-729-3992 main office, or Tammy Philemonoff at 907-729-3990) are based at and employed by the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. They serve patients from around the state receiving care in Anchorage.