UP Health System – Marquette Heroes | Julie Nordberg

What is your role at UPHS – Marquette?

I am the Director of Quality and Patient Safety Officer at UPHS – Marquette.

What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?

I have always had a desire to help people, and I was drawn to healthcare because there are so many different ways and times throughout a patient’s healthcare journey that you can interact with them and their families. My goal was to somehow make someone’s terrible day a little better. In healthcare, you can do this every day.

What's a typical day like for you? What is it like working in this field?

Every day is different in this role, and I love that. Working in Quality and Patient Safety is a lot more “behind the scenes” work than when I was a floor nurse. I do a lot of process improvement, data analysis, chart reviews, event analysis, CMS and TJC compliance, and quality control. I look to celebrate what we do well and see where our opportunities for improvement exist.

How long have you been employed here? Have you always been in the same position?

I have been here for almost 10 years in a variety of nursing and leadership roles.

What are some of the big changes you've experienced in this position?

I have been in this role for about a year and the biggest change has been our new EMR. Going from Paragon to Cerner completely changed our workflow in Quality. The way we gather data, run reports, do chart abstractions, etc has changed drastically. It has been a huge learning curve, but we are doing well with the changes.

What are some of your interests outside of work? What is your favorite gem?

Outside of work, I like to spend time with my husband and four kids. They are involved in sports so I spend a lot of time as a spectator at many sporting events. We also have a camp where we love to go and disconnect with the business of life and reconnect with each other. Otherwise, I enjoy reading, playing the piano, cross-country skiing and hiking. Mt . Marquette holds a very special place in my heart. 

What do you enjoy most about working at UPHS – Marquette?

UPHS – Marquette is such a unique place to work because everyone here has a dedication to our patients and our community that many other hospitals don’t have. We are continuously looking for ways to serve the needs of our community better because they are our friends and family. Every day I am in awe of all the amazing things we do for our patients and our community – it is a humbling thing to witness and be part of.