Inside This Issue

On the Night Shift
A look at the sacrifices and sweet rewards of those who keep the Health System running after hours

Many of us who work at UMHS leave our office or clinic at the end of the day and head home to spend time with families, workout at the gym or veg out in front of the TV. We may not have to think about work until the next morning, but let’s face it: the hospital doesn’t close. We make the Michigan Difference all day and all night. Somebody is there to answer the phones, to deliver those late-night babies, to dispatch an emergency helicopter, to prepare meals for patients, and to keep everyone safe.

Who are these night owls and why does the night shift work for them? Here’s an inside view into the nearly 1,300 dedicated employees who keep things running around the clock.

6:00 p.m.

Survival Flight Dispatches Emergencies, Hospital-wide

Survival FlightFred Evans (inset) and Theresa Flack

Fred Evans and Theresa Flack are Survival Flight communication specialists. At night, they answer all incoming emergency reports, alert staff they’re coming and track Survival Flight teams in the air. As a team of two, busy nights can be stressful and hectic, but working the night shift allows both to spend more time with their children during the day.

“Maybe we can’t enjoy the cafeteria like day-shift workers, but I get to spend more time with my kids than any other person I know,” says Evans.

Slow nights can be a relief, too. Sometimes, Evans visits area hospitals to educate them about Survival Flight. He brings donuts and other goodies, which are appreciated by other night shifters who are usually forgotten when it comes to treats. Flack stays back and covers the controls, using downtime to plan her upcoming wedding.

8:00 p.m.

The Late-Night Voice of UMHS

Late-Night VoiceThe Health System phones ring all night long and operators like Sonya Wright (above) and Colleen Hart (right) make sure calls are properly routed.

When someone calls the hospital at 2 a.m., we can’t very well send it to voicemail. Colleen Hart, call center supervisor, says that Paging and Information Services manages all incoming calls from outside the hospital and all calls within the hospital. One night, her group connected two sisters, both in the hospital, giving them a chance to talk before one of them passed away.

Late-Night Voice

“Those are the kind of calls where the operators can make a difference,” Hart says. “People don’t call at 2 in the morning if it isn’t urgent.”

Sonya Wright, hospital operator, has worked the night shift for two years. Though she’s sleep deprived from caring for her young daughter during the day, she likes the quietness and serenity of midnights. “The drive in to work has barely any traffic and parking is fabulous,” she says.

9:30 p.m.

Security Detail goes to Night Mode

Security Detail Goes to Night ModeSecurity and Entrance Services keep us safe around the clock.

Though most perimeter doors of the hospital are locked after 6 p.m., this doesn’t mean the night security staff has nothing to do. Lieutenant Traci Vandecandelaere and Sargeant Jacob Mouro, Security Services, have handled everything from bomb threats to intoxicated football fans in the ER to an emergent request from Pharmacy to purchase a bottle of vodka for a patient in withdrawal.

 “There aren’t as many people to answer to during the night so you really get to make decisions,” Mouro says.

Vandecandelaere adds that there is great cooperation between security and night shifters in other areas. Plus, she’s a night person who enjoys the camaraderie and friendships from a more intimate work environment.

10:00 p.m.

Patient Care Behind the Scenes

Patient Care Behind the ScenesNorma Smith-Cost, MT, one of six night shift medical technologists in the Department of Hematopathology, has worked midnights for 14 years.

There are six medical technologists in the Department of Hematopathology who spend their nights analyzing body fluids to help clinicians assess patient treatments. Norma Smith-Cost has worked midnights for 14 years and compares her team to a well-oiled machine. They act as leaders, production experts and perform critical thinking to keep patients a priority.

“There is such satisfaction and value individually to know we’re participating in a patient’s recovery,” she says. “We don’t see the patients or families, but we can tell by our work if they’re improving.”

Though Smith-Cost is lucky to get six hours of sleep, she wouldn’t trade the night shift. “Who would have thought that the midnight shift after 37 years of working would be the pinnacle of my career? I’m proud to be part of that team I see when the U-M ads come on TV. I am finally at the best place I can be.”

11:00 p.m.

On Patient SafetyJayne Dalton, part of the U-M CareLink support team, tackles technology issues.

Online Patient Safety: a 24/7 Promise

Jayne Dalton is the first to admit she wasn’t always computer savvy. “I am from the Baby Boomer generation, as are many clinicians within the hospital,” she says. “Some users have never even used a mouse.” So imagine the challenge to provide around the clock support to users of UM-CareLink, our inpatient order entry system.

Now Dalton spends her nights on the UM-CareLink support team, helping with any technical issues that arise overnight. Orders for patients happen at all hours of the day and night – the best part of her job is helping novice computer users get comfortable with the advantages technology can bring. “They are learning a whole new way of performing their job,” she says.

Dalton likes working the night shift because the 12-hour shifts make the week go by quickly – and she saves money on gas. Plus she has plenty of time in the afternoon for errands and other appointments.

12:00 a.m.

And Along Come the Midnight Newborns

And Along Come the Midnight NewbornsToria Martin, B.S.N., takes a late night call in Labor and Delivery.

Toria Martin, B.S.N., works the night shift in Labor and Delivery for many reasons, one of which is because she has three young children of her own. In fact, many of the moms at school thought she was a stay-at-home mom because she is always around. Another benefit was giving birth to twins – at night, of course – in the company of trusted friends and co-workers.

Since Martin treats high-risk patients on bed rest, she provides emotional support to many women at a time when they are separated from their families and other children. And, there are the unusual stories, such as when an expectant mom called triage and an ambulance was sent to pick her up – at the local bar.

Mindy Haupt, R.N., agrees that “you have to be prepared for the unexpected because it’s always going to happen at night.” Yet, the rewards of the job are plenty. “We learn something every day and it’s fun,” Haupt says. “To see the strength in some of these women is amazing.”

3:00 a.m.

The Front Line of the Emergency Department

The Front Line of the Emergency DepartmentKaren DeYonker keeps the Emergency Department running smoothly all night.

Karen DeYonker, patient services associate, oversees a dozen support staff on the night shift in the ER. “We’re the front-line when you check in. We see families dealing with crisis. It can be tough,” she says. Nonetheless, it’s well worth it because she knows how important support staff are to the communication process for each and every patient.

DeYonker has worked the night shift for nine years and loves it. “You get off in the morning and it feels like you’re stealing time. I can go to the gym or do errands. In the summer, you can enjoy the day.”

Unlike the day shift workers, people in the ER can’t rely on management to handle problems. They work it out among themselves which makes for a tight-knit group, almost like family. One night, during a blizzard, the ER was empty so much of the “family” – even a few docs – went outside in the parking lot for a snowball fight.

5:30 a.m.

What’s for Breakfast?

What's for Breakfast?Chef Stephen Schifano knows the importance of a healthy meal.

A good night’s rest often leads to hungry patients. The food production team in Patient Food and Nutrition Services knows that it takes a lot of work to prepare the hundreds of morning meals to nourish healing bodies. Staff is working around the clock, says chef Stephen Schifano, who adds that a chef’s job is a production job – and production starts early.

Before coming to the Health System, Schifano was rarely home on weekends and holidays and missed this time with his wife and five children. “Before I was employed here, I only really saw them one day a week. You should have seen the look on their faces when I was home every day before they arrived home from school.”

Starting work before the sun comes up is worth it for Schifano. The most rewarding part of his job is coming up with a new entrée that patients really enjoy.

"This was a particularly well designed article and I applaud sharing human interest stories like this more often. There are many staff and roles that are "unsung"..and deserve to be showcased. How about staff roles that support the smooth functionality of our ambulatory clinics?" Jill Nabozny, ACS

"Do not foget MCIT we are up all night to make sure all systems are up and running - Patient Accounting - Medical Records - Patient Billing - without the system up and running, The night shift is the Production Shift." Annette Wilson, MCIT

Comment on this article

"Good article. Nice to see such competent, caring people taking care of others. I enjoy human interest stories where people are getting recognition for their contributions to the world." - Margaret Goebel, CMT


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