Central Carolina Hospital has appointed its first Patient Experience Coordinator, a new position designed to improve the experiences of patients and their families at the hospital.
Carrie Shields, who joined Central Carolina Hospital in June 2024 as a Patient Access Representative II, was named to the role on September 22. She brings experience from previous roles including Office Manager, Bookkeeper, Credentialing Specialist, and Director of Member Services for the Saleeby Family Branch YMCA of the Sandhills. Shields holds an associate’s degree in human resources from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Dave Santoemma, CEO of Central Carolina Hospital, said: “This role will drive strategic initiatives and collaborate with hospital leadership to develop and implement action plans, perform front-facing customer interactions, and provide expert coaching and mentoring for our staff on best practices related to patient-centered care. It will also take advantage of data-driven insights into patient needs and preferences, which will help drive targeted improvement strategies.”
Shields is originally from Anchorage, Alaska. As a military spouse, she has lived in Alaska, Florida, and North Carolina. She currently resides in Cameron with her husband Brandon and their two children.
In a statement about her new position, Shields said: “I’m soaking in the support, the training, the involvement, the time and attention being poured into me. The force rooting for me to succeed is powerful and encouraging. That’s all I need to stay inspired and engaged. I will make so many people proud as I help influence the experiences here to be quality the first time, every time.
“I want to learn from the staff so that together, as a team, we can become this whole big heartbeat of the Sanford community.”
Central Carolina Hospital provides various services for patients and offers online tools such as doctor search features to assist those seeking care or information.
