UPHS – Marquette Heroes | Steinunn Franz

What is your official title?

Manager of Clinical and Business Informatics. Basically, I’m the manager of the application software for IT.

What was your inspiration for getting into IT?

I’ve always worked with computers since high school, and I went to Northern Michigan University and worked in their computer lab and went to college for an office information systems degree. I was lucky enough to get a job at the hospital as I was going to college, and ironically, I was in the medical records department when it was all on paper. When I graduated from college, there was a job opening in IT, and I was blessed to get a job there and watch the progression from going to a paper chart to an integrated and electronic EMR, so it’s pretty neat to see the technology advance. I’ve been working at our hospital since 1995.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I don’t really have a typical day. That’s what’s really great about my job. It’s dynamic and changes where every day is something different. I come into work thinking I’ll work on one thing, and I’ll be able to get a couple of things off my list, but there will be a new challenge to overcome. It’s always changing.

What’s it been like changing and adapting to new technology?

It’s really interesting. There are always challenges of how to do something. What’s interesting about working at the hospital is that I don’t have a health background and I don’t take care of patients directly – but what I am able to achieve is to give tools to employees who do work with patients to help them give the best care possible. We have a state-of-the-art facility and cutting-edge technology that our physicians and nurses use. 

How was the moving process from the old hospital to the new for IT?

It was a giant change. Information Technology did a lot of work behind the scenes. The IT team has so many smart individuals who took great care to make sure everything was done on time and exceeded our expectations to help make a smooth transition. 

I have a bright group of individuals who work with me. I learn a lot from them every day. I am always learning something different. 

What are some of your interests outside of work?

I spend a lot of time with my family. I have three little girls and a husband, and I have a lot of family in the UP since I’m from the UP, so we spend a lot of time at camp and going for walks. We just got a new place, so we’re enjoying swimming.

What is your favorite part about working at UPHS – Marquette?

My favorite part is that it allows me to live here. There’s no rather place I’d rather be, and I’m really blessed that both my husband and I are in the computer field and able to sustain our life here.  

I like coming here for the challenges every day; it’s never boring. There are a ton of talented and really bright individuals who work in the hospital. It’s a really fulfilling experience to be around that many motivated individuals.