Two ideas to improve the heal skill.
1.
I believe that an additional benefit to the heal skill should be faster shrining times. Though it would rarely add anything more then convience its better then nothing and it would speed up that whole "shrine up so I can buff you and then I'll shrine" thing.
2.
Heal over time spells and effects heal more often and/or for more.
Example: You are healed by eating jerky every 3 seconds instead of 4 seconds etc. or you are healed for 3 points instead of 2.