The emergency room never sleeps—and neither do the teams that keep it running through the night.
Following Dr. J.R. Pickett of University of Utah Health, we get a rare glimpse into the rhythm and relationships that power emergency medicine when most of Utah is asleep.
Why it matters
Emergency care depends on seamless teamwork between multiple disciplines, specialties, and shift changes—especially during overnight hours.
Meet the overnight team
The ER functions through a carefully coordinated network of professionals:
- Charge nurses coordinate patient care and direct patient flow, keeping the department running smoothly
- Pharmacists help prevent medication errors and optimize treatment plans
- Medical directors provide leadership and ensure quality of care
- Physician assistants actively provide direct patient care throughout the department
The spaces that save lives
The resuscitation bay is there for critical cases—from trauma to cardiac emergencies to respiratory failure. These specialized spaces are designed to accommodate the full team needed for life-saving interventions.
Dr. Pickett emphasizes the importance of stepping away briefly at least once each shift to mentally reset amid the constant flow of patients and critical decisions.
The bottom line
As morning approaches and shift change begins, the cycle of care continues seamlessly as one team hands off to another.
This is healthcare at work—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.