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Satterlee masters
`whatever-it-takes' role of inpatient support
Satterlee settled for her second choice a part-time job as a Hutch specimen courier. Seventeen years and several promotions later, she's glad she did. "It's satisfying to know that what I do helps support patient outcomes and research," says Satterlee. "I feel like I'm contributing to something that is really worthwhile." Satterlee and her staff of a dozen-plus people "make things happen" for the physicians and nurses who treat adult transplant patients. They handle paperwork, set up equipment and order supplies so nurses and doctors can focus on direct patient care. "Everything we can take out of their hands, we do," Satterlee says. "We work really, really closely with the nurses, and we consider each other peers. They depend on us to do our jobs and the same with the physicians." The inpatient support staff also go to great lengths to meet the personal needs of patients and families no matter how unusual. "Our job doesn't fit in a box," she says. "We do whatever it takes." Satterlee recalls when the family of a patient from the South Seas who was near death asked the staff to find a native priest to administer last rites. "We must have made 50 phone calls trying to find the equivalent," she says. They finally located a Native American shaman, who burned incense, shook rattles and chanted in a respectful ceremony that satisfied the desires of the family. Finding a shaman on short notice is not the kind of task that can be put in a job description, Satterlee says, but it reflects the attitude she looks for when hiring inpatient support staff. "I want people who are willing to do that kind of thing and think it's fun," she says. In that sense, Satterlee isn't asking for anything that she hasn't always displayed herself. "She seems to be able to keep things fresh," says Elaine Zedella, clinical pre-arrival manager. Zedella joined the Hutch about the same time as Satterlee. For awhile, they worked the 3:30 p.m.-to-midnight shift as members of the inpatient support staff. Satterlee is a movie buff who is especially fond of classic films. Zedella recalls how Satterlee brought movies from home to play for patients over the transplant unit's closed circuit TV system. Since Satterlee's taste is "eclectic," the movies often were relatively obscure, says Zedella. Satterlee provided previews over the intercom. Zedella called them "Christy's capsule movie reviews." Satterlee and Zedella rose through the ranks, with Zedella becoming inpatient support manager and Satterlee assistant manager. At one point, Zedella found herself temporarily in charge of both inpatient and outpatient support services. Zedella essentially turned inpatient support over to her assistant, Satterlee. "She was able to step right in, and I never gave it a second thought," Zedella says. Satterlee worked part-time during her first few years at the Hutch while she attended the University of Washington. Without a particular career in mind, she earned an English literature degree, then joined the inpatient support staff full time. At first, she hated her promotion to assistant manager, which came during a period of budget cuts. "One of my first things to do was figure out who to lay off and then talk to them about it," she says. Soon, however, Satterlee grew to enjoy her leadership role. She became manager six years ago. Zedella says Satterlee combines the ability to manage details while focusing on the big picture. What's more, Zedella says, "she has a supreme work ethic." All those qualities are being put to the test as Satterlee prepares for her department's pending move from floor 9 Southwest at Swedish Medical Center to the University of Washington Medical Center as part of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Half the unit will move next Tuesday, the other half in July. (See related story on pages 1 and 3 of this edition of Center News.) "I'll be managing two separate units in two locations for a three-month period," Satterlee says. She's been spending so much time in meetings planning the move that her staff have a hard time keeping track of her. "I thought you were at the UW today," says Dianna Rae, a program assistant, after popping into Satterlee's office. Rae has worked with Satterlee for 16 years. "She's the most honorable person I've ever worked for," Rae says. "If she says she'll do something, you can bet she'll do it." Rae says Satterlee considers herself part of the the team, not a "boss boss," and is always willing to laugh at her foibles. The time Satterlee wore two different shoes to work remains a department legend, Rae says. Outside of work, Satterlee hikes with her husband, Drew, who works in finance at Boeing. They also strive to take at least one class together every year. Awhile back, she and Drew learned how to fence and discovered why it's not such a good idea to practice in the living room. "I had him on the run, and he tripped and fell through the window," says Satterlee. "Luckily, the curtain was closed, so he didn't get cut." |
