Unexpected Healers Create Moments that Matter for Patients and Families
Published November 7, 2023


As healthcare healers, we touch many lives. Many of our patients and their families are thankful for this and reach out to share gratitude in many ways. They send notes, fill out focused recognition cards, respond to mailed surveys or utilize our Sutter Health new online feedback form. Often in healthcare we think of our clinicians as the only healers but that is not true. Many people in healthcare create very healing moments with our patients and their families. We had the opportunity to speak with 2 unexpected healers who received very personalized compliments from the patients they affected. This webinar highlights there are many people/roles who fall outside of the usual recognition programs yet create moments that matter for patients and families.
Learning Objectives
– Define unexpected healer(s).
– Identify attributes and key characteristics of unexpected healers.
– Identify non-clinical patient facing services used by the patient, caregiver, or family member that align with improved patient experience outcomes.
Speakers:
Ellen (Ellie) Hubbard, CPXP | Patient Experience Consultant, Sutter Health/Sutter Valley Medical Foundation
Debbie Young, BHA, CPXP | Clinical Performance Improvement Consultant, Sutter Health/Patient & Family Engagement Team
Download Unexpected Healers Worksheet
Non-members can purchase webinars at a cost of $49 each.
Related content
-
Staff & Provider Engagement
Assessing the Need for a Digital Pre-Visit Tool to Enhance Prenatal Care Preparedness and Satisfaction
Published November 30, 2025

A new mixed-methods study shows that preparedness—not parity or other factors—is the strongest predictor of a positive prenatal care experience. Patients already turn to digital resources to prepare, suggesting a promising path for clinics to offer targeted pre-visit tools, especially for first-time moms.
Learn more -
Staff & Provider Engagement
Changing Myths into Truths: Dispelling Physician Misconceptions on Patient Experience
Published November 12, 2025
Patient experience work can be viewed by some physicians as outside their scope of practice and therefore the responsibility of non-medical providers. Assumptions may also be made by providers about what patient experience work is and is not. These myths can make it difficult to pursue meaningful patient experience related work that is in fact
Learn more -
Culture & Leadership
Shaping the Future of Human Experience with Tyler Gegen
Published September 26, 2025

Jason Wolf sits down with Tyler Gegen to discuss his intentional path into patient experience leadership. Tyler shares how curiosity, relationships, and a focus on humanity continue to shape his work and the future of healthcare.
Learn more