The Beat for this month is here, sharing a behind the scenes look at life at Ally Medical Emergency Room and the connections we build with each other and the communities we serve. This month’s focus is on something fun and very relevant, medical TV shows.It's safe to say that as emergency room employees, our team has a lot of opinions.
This Month’s Focus: What Does Our ER Team Think of Medical TV Shows?
There are three genres of TV shows that seem to always stand the test of time: the cop show, the lawyer show, and our personal favorite, the doctor show. At Ally Medical ER, we understand the appeal. Saving lives is meaningful work. We have some great stories. And if the doctor is played by Noah Wyle or Patrick Dempsey, it becomes even more attention grabbing.
We asked our ER teams across Texas for their opinions on the medical TV shows that keep everyone on their toes. This is what we found.
The CPR Isn’t Accurate
In relation to the show The Pitt, one employee, Dianna, Radiology Technologist, said, “The CPR is horrible.”
But why? The answer is simple. You cannot perform real CPR on an actor who does not actually need it. Because of that, shows often skip important steps such as proper head positioning to clear the airway, correct compression depth and speed, or correct hand placement.
Dianna isn't alone in her opinion. In fact, on-screen CPR tends to spark a great deal of discussion in the medical community. The American Heart Association even published an article titled “On-screen CPR: Heart-stopping drama doesn't always reflect reality,” which explains the differences between television and real life practice.
Dr. Cristina Yang from Grey’s Anatomy Is a Favorite
We invited our ER teams to participate in our very own The Ultimate Fictional Doctor Poll, where they voted for their favorite TV show doctors from a list of 21 characters across multiple series. Dr. Cristina Yang from Grey’s Anatomy won with a total of 16 votes.
“I voted for Dr. Cristina Yang because she’s incredibly straightforward. She leaves no room for guessing. She’s confident in her abilities, clear about her goals and always pushing herself to keep learning and be the best. Yes, she’s competitive, but she’s a surgeon — striving to be the best at what you do in that field can truly impact patient outcomes. That drive for excellence is inspiring, and in the real world, that kind of dedication would tremendously benefit the community,” Mika Reed, Patient Relations Manager, said.
“The Pitt” Is the Most Accurate
Dr. Gulati, Medical Director at Ally Medical ER Round Rock stated that The Pitt was “the most realistic and well-researched medical show since ER in the 90s.”
Our Nurse Director at Ally Medical ER Central Austin, Abby, shared, “As someone who has worked in both a large level 1 trauma hospital, critical access, and freestanding, they do a pretty good job with accuracy and showing how chaotic the ER can be. They also do a great job at showing the wide ranges of patients that are seen in an ER from those that are unhoused, uneducated, upper class and everyone in between.”
The chaotic atmosphere Abby describes is common in larger hospital ERs and is one of the many reasons Ally Medical ER was started. Our goal is to provide “More Caring. Less Waiting.” This creates a less chaotic environment while still being fully prepared for emergencies. We are still an ER, and chaotic situations do happen. The difference is two things. Our ER facilities are designed for little to no wait, and our teams are dedicated to providing compassionate care to every patient who walks through the doors.
Last but Not Least, We Have a Weird Obsession with Noah
Two anonymous reviews came in about The Pitt. One stated, “I’m obsessed with it and with Noah.” Another ended its praise of the show with, “Noah Wyle <3.”
We might have strong opinions about the medical details, but we can all agree Noah Wyle makes good television.
Stay Connected The Beat offers a closer look at what makes Ally Medical ER unique, one story at a time. If you missed last month’s edition, What Makes Us Great Partners?, we invite you to explore why we value and care for our community partners.
The Beat for this month is here, sharing a behind the scenes look at life at Ally Medical Emergency Room and the connections we build with each other and the communities we serve. This month’s focus is on partnership and how working side by side with our communities strengthens both the people we serve and the teams who serve them.
