Dr. Morgenstern

I've always been confused by Dr. Morgenstern's role in ER. I know he is the chief of surgery and chief of the ER, but he is never seen actually working in the ER. He is always in the OR, even at times when the ER is super busy and in need of support (ie "A Shift in the Night"/"Blizzard"). It also seems weird that one person would have both roles in a major metropolitan hospital, which isn't the case for the rest of the series.

i also just watched the scene in the S1 episode "Blizzard" where Dr. Hicks (CCH Pounder) was introduced and she says she is the new ER attending, but then she is switched to surgeon for her entire tenure there. Anyone else confused by all this?