Trauma: Life in the ER

[Poliscidoc]

Has anybody seen this TV series? I just got done volunteering in the ER and thought we see some cool stuff but boy was I wrong. Anyways the show is on the discovery health channel (279 for direct tv folks). Right now they are showing a neurology surgeon resident removing the skull and doing all kids of other stuff. It also shows some other ER doctors. Probabaly one of the coolest shows I have seen in a while.


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[christina30]

Has anybody seen this TV series? I just got done volunteering in the ER and thought we see some cool stuff but boy was I wrong. Anyways the show is on the discovery health channel (279 for direct tv folks). Right now they are showing a neurology surgeon resident removing the skull and doing all kids of other stuff. It also shows some other ER doctors. Probabaly one of the coolest shows I have seen in a while.


Thanks Tivo for recording this

Unfortunately the show is really old. Even better show - 911: The Bronx (on the same channel). It's filmed way more recently and takes place in St. Barnabas Hospital - prob one of the best hospitals in terms of excitement/crazy cases, due to the neighborhood it's located in (the south bronx) - unfortunately lots of violence in those parts.

 

[sideways]

Do you need an advanced cable package to get Discovery-HD? I don't ****ing get it even though I have the HD package.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Thanks I will check out the 911 show and in terms of the package it comes with I just have the basic HD package (I think) sorry..

 

[christina30]

Do you need an advanced cable package to get Discovery-HD? I don't ****ing get it even though I have the HD package.

It's Discovery Health. Idk about the HD part. lol

 

[sideways]

It's Discovery Health. Idk about the HD part. lol

Yeah I don't get Discovery Health. If only we could join forces: my HD and your Discovery Health.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Ok in 5 min. I have seen a woman that got shot in the head, a dude that had his ear bitten off by his brother in law and a kid that was thrown 30 feet from a truck and landed head first. Also when the woman that was shot in the head asked the doctor if she was going to die he said "Maybe"! Damn dude she has a bullet in her head.. Ok found my new favorite channel, sorry Scrubs your dead to me

 

[christina30]

Ok in 5 min. I have seen a woman that got shot in the head, a dude that had his ear bitten off by his brother in law and a kid that was thrown 30 feet from a truck and landed head first. Also when the woman that was shot in the head asked the doctor if she was going to die he said "Maybe"! Damn dude she has a bullet in her head.. Ok found my new favorite channel, sorry Scrubs your dead to me

The channel also airs its fair share of bullcrap/dramatic idiocy and garbage like "The half ton mom." I'd keep it limited to Trauma:Life in the ER, 911:The Bronx, Mystery Diagnosis, and Dr.G Medical Examiner. Haha

 

[orthomyxo]

Ok in 5 min. I have seen a woman that got shot in the head, a dude that had his ear bitten off by his brother in law and a kid that was thrown 30 feet from a truck and landed head first. Also when the woman that was shot in the head asked the doctor if she was going to die he said "Maybe"! Damn dude she has a bullet in her head.. Ok found my new favorite channel, sorry Scrubs your dead to me

I discovered Discovery Health a while back. There are some awesome shows on there. Check out Critical Hour and Mystery Diagnosis.

 

[Hope0913]

I've watched all of the re-runs of trauma and my favorite episode was the one with the multi-personality patient (it was scary and exciting). I watched 911 last night and it is more recent than trauma. However my favorite of them all was filmed at Vanderbilt and was really recent and used to air on TLC i can't remember the name but it was good.

 

[ButImLETired]

I've watched all of the re-runs of trauma and my favorite episode was the one with the multi-personality patient (it was scary and exciting). I watched 911 last night and it is more recent than trauma. However my favorite of them all was filmed at Vanderbilt and was really recent and used to air on TLC i can't remember the name but it was good.

Emergency Level One! It is definitely pretty recent, I remember when we got a ton of emails about how there were going to be cameras around the ER so we shouldn't show up to shadow and such...kind of a PITA to have those things around, but definitely a cool show. Very weird to see docs you know on tv.

 

[chman]

I think I have seen all of them. It's a good show. I have also seen that one in the Bronx that was mentioned, also good. But contrary to your experience, at the hospitals in Tacoma, WA we get our share of violent crime and weird cases, unfortunately. Maybe you just got a slow day, it happens.

 

[christina30]

Emergency Level One! It is definitely pretty recent, I remember when we got a ton of emails about how there were going to be cameras around the ER so we shouldn't show up to shadow and such...kind of a PITA to have those things around, but definitely a cool show. Very weird to see docs you know on tv.

Yes!! A lot of the surgical residents I work with rotate through different hospitals, including St. Barnabas, so seeing some of them on 911:the bronx i was like "Hey I know that guy!! ..and that guy!!" It's very funny and probably pretty lame to get so excited over, but oh well 😀

To the poster above, I'm assuming the OP worked in a Level 3 Trauma Center - hence serious injury/traumas are few and far between. Not the kind of blood and guts excitement you'd see on TV.

 

[Hope0913]

Emergency Level One! It is definitely pretty recent, I remember when we got a ton of emails about how there were going to be cameras around the ER so we shouldn't show up to shadow and such...kind of a PITA to have those things around, but definitely a cool show. Very weird to see docs you know on tv.

it would've actually been cool to see you guys in the background shadowing, they're lame for cutting you guys out👎 but the show overall was great, I don't know why they canceled it

 

[Poliscidoc]

Yes!! A lot of the surgical residents I work with rotate through different hospitals, including St. Barnabas, so seeing some of them on 911:the bronx i was like "Hey I know that guy!! ..and that guy!!" It's very funny and probably pretty lame to get so excited over, but oh well 😀

To the poster above, I'm assuming the OP worked in a Level 3 Trauma Center - hence serious injury/traumas are few and far between. Not the kind of blood and guts excitement you'd see on TV.

I volunteer in level 2 (maybe) we see some cool stuff but mostly drunk people and basic stuff. The only time it's "cool" stuff is when the Helio them in.. But I always wondered what it's like to volunteer and what you see in a huge level I ER

 

[g8orlife]

I watched Trauma: Life in the ER a lot before my Trauma Surgery rotation @ a Level 1 Center during PA school, and it prepared me well for what to expect to randomly roll/fly in.

 

[christina30]

I volunteer in level 2 (maybe) we see some cool stuff but mostly drunk people and basic stuff. The only time it's "cool" stuff is when the Helio them in.. But I always wondered what it's like to volunteer and what you see in a huge level I ER

It's all about what time you're there. I work nights in a Level 3, but at night all the good **** happens. Haha. There's always people that come walking in, not knowing the difference between trauma/non-trauma ERs, with stab wounds and other injuries we wouldn't otherwise get.

 

[ButImLETired]

it would've actually been cool to see you guys in the background shadowing, they're lame for cutting you guys out👎 but the show overall was great, I don't know why they canceled it

Well, I think the fear was that too many people would show up just to be on camera or at least see what the cameras saw, plus they figured the ER would be packed enough with random cameramen without also adding med students with zero skills making more of a mess of things. And if the cameras had shown med students looking clueless (since not everyone knows that first and second years really don't know what to do in a trauma 1 ER), it might have looked bad for us. All in all, not a bad idea, I don't think.

Oh and I don't think it was canceled. They just had a finite number of shows they could do before really getting in the way, I think. There's a reason why Trauma: life in the ER switches hospitals each episodes- it's a huge pain to have those extra people around in trauma rooms, consenting family members and patients to be on camera, etc. There's only so long you can take up an ER like Vandy (which takes care of like, 3 states) without getting a lot of people annoyed.

 

[Hope0913]

I think I have seen all of them. It's a good show. I have also seen that one in the Bronx that was mentioned, also good. But contrary to your experience, at the hospitals in Tacoma, WA we get our share of violent crime and weird cases, unfortunately. Maybe you just got a slow day, it happens.

violent patients are one thing I'm so not looking forward to, i wonder if they give med students training for combative patients?

 

[sideways]

violent patients are one thing I'm so not looking forward to, i wonder if they give med students training for combative patients?

You learn Krav Maga 3rd year. BTW, stop with the font.

 

[chman]

You learn Krav Maga 3rd year. BTW, stop with the font.

Asking Hope to stop with the font is like asking Betty White to stop being so lovable, it ain't gonna happen.

 

[christina30]

Well, I think the fear was that too many people would show up just to be on camera or at least see what the cameras saw, plus they figured the ER would be packed enough with random cameramen without also adding med students with zero skills making more of a mess of things. And if the cameras had shown med students looking clueless (since not everyone knows that first and second years really don't know what to do in a trauma 1 ER), it might have looked bad for us. All in all, not a bad idea, I don't think.

Oh and I don't think it was canceled. They just had a finite number of shows they could do before really getting in the way, I think. There's a reason why Trauma: life in the ER switches hospitals each episodes- it's a huge pain to have those extra people around in trauma rooms, consenting family members and patients to be on camera, etc. There's only so long you can take up an ER like Vandy (which takes care of like, 3 states) without getting a lot of people annoyed.

It was cancelled like 8 or 9 years ago, but I remember reading somewhere about TLC getting sued by some of the patients for breach of privacy, etc. So that might be why it took so long between Trauma and Emergency Level One - trying to figure out a way to avoid more lawsuits. But who knows for sure?

And what can they train you for @ violent patients? "This is how you dogpile on someone in order to subdue them long enough to get that IM injection of ativan in 'em"

 

[sideways]

Asking Hope to stop with the font is like asking Betty White to stop being so lovable, it ain't gonna happen.

I take it this battle has already been fought?

 

[Poliscidoc]

It was cancelled like 8 or 9 years ago, but I remember reading somewhere about TLC getting sued by some of the patients for breach of privacy, etc. So that might be why it took so long between Trauma and Emergency Level One - trying to figure out a way to avoid more lawsuits. But who knows for sure?

And what can they train you for @ violent patients? "This is how you dogpile on someone in order to subdue them long enough to get that IM injection of ativan in 'em"

In our volunteer training they told us to run and never get into a fight with a patient, after the first one smacked the **** out of me and security guards dog piled me and him I decided the running **** don't work.

 

[christina30]

In our volunteer training they told us to run and never get into a fight with a patient, after the first one smacked the **** out of me and security guards dog piled me and him I decided the running **** don't work.

Well, you're a volunteer - there's liability issues for the hospital there since you're not an employee.

 

[justdoit31]

Ok in 5 min. I have seen a woman that got shot in the head, a dude that had his ear bitten off by his brother in law and a kid that was thrown 30 feet from a truck and landed head first. Also when the woman that was shot in the head asked the doctor if she was going to die he said "Maybe"! Damn dude she has a bullet in her head.. Ok found my new favorite channel, sorry Scrubs your dead to me

This has been my favorite channel/show since I was about 12 (which shows how old it is)... 911 is more recent but either way it is motivating. Also remember they film for a week or more to get one episode worth of material. I like some of the other shows on the channel too- Mystery Diagnosis, Dr. G, etc are all really good.

 

[Hope0913]

is it that annoying? Ok i'll use this font from now on. Didn't mean to annoy you guys I just liked it😀

Does that go for all med school or just yours? I was looking into taking a krav maga course since i saw it on my local news but since i'll learn it later on why waste money?

 

[sideways]

is it that annoying? Ok i'll use this font from now on. Didn't mean to annoy you guys I just liked it😀

Does that go for all med school or just yours? I was looking into taking a krav maga course since i saw it on my local news but since i'll learn it later on why waste money?

Yeah font symmetry is important. Throws the brain to get century gothic out of nowhere.

As far as the Krav Maga goes, yes, every medical school teaches it 3rd year.

 

[Hope0913]

Asking Hope to stop with the font is like asking Betty White to stop being so lovable, it ain't gonna happen.

lol i'll stop

 

[Poliscidoc]

This may be a dumb question but what's the upside or downside at working (after med school) at a level I or lever II or III? Is this something that some people look very hard at when your trying to match?

 

[chman]

lol i'll stop

Personally I don't care, I was just making a funny. Although, now that it is brought up, you could go for a bolder one, instead of thinner.😉

 

[chman]

This may be a dumb question but what's the upside or downside at working (after med school) at a level I or lever II or III? Is this something that some people look very hard at when your trying to match?

For one thing you get to see, use, and deploy the latest technology. I think that would be a big plus (for level I that is).

 

[christina30]

This may be a dumb question but what's the upside or downside at working (after med school) at a level I or lever II or III? Is this something that some people look very hard at when your trying to match?

Well it depends on what types of patients you want to see, the area you want to live in, etc. Level I trauma centers are usually tertiary care centers in major metropolitan areas, and they also happen to be insanely busy.

Smaller community hospitals are where you'll typically see Level 1 and Level 2 ERs - still busy, but limited to non-trauma patients. Usually a lot of nursing home patients, drunks, mainly "medical" problems - strokes, MIs, etcetc. You're just not going to see those really severe car accidents, gun shot victims, stabbing victims on a day-to-day basis. So obviously if you want to go into trauma surgery you're going to need to look for a Level 1!

For an EM residency, I think it's totally dependent on the applicant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauma_center#Definitions_in_the_United_States For a better definition of the different levels.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Thanks for all the info guys! I'm pretty sure I'm hooked on all these tv shows that have been mentioned..

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Has anybody seen this TV series? I just got done volunteering in the ER and thought we see some cool stuff but boy was I wrong. Anyways the show is on the discovery health channel (279 for direct tv folks). Right now they are showing a neurology surgeon resident removing the skull and doing all kids of other stuff. It also shows some other ER doctors. Probabaly one of the coolest shows I have seen in a while.


Thanks Tivo for recording this

Yeah, it came out around 2000 or so. It was alright back then. Now, it's not so interesting. There was a show called paramedics before that. A show called Critical Hour was spawned at some point. The latter was more boring than the others.

I like the idea of emergency medicine (have been a paramedic), but that show really disuades me from wanting to work in a level I trauma center anywhere. There are just too many employees moving around in there. It's all relative, lol.

 

[PreMedder]

Do you need an advanced cable package to get Discovery-HD? I don't ****ing get it even though I have the HD package.

same. cablevision fail.

 

[Poliscidoc]

same. cablevision fail.

Direct TV HD package with DVR gotta get it, cheaper than cable (well at least in my area)

 

[mspeedwagon]

This show has been around forever (at least the last 10 yrs).

Here are some other cool shows to check-out:
As far as ER/Trama goes:
Untold Stories of the ER (my favorite show)
The Critical Hour
911- The Bronx (as mentioned)

Other cool shows:
Mystery Diagnosis (as mentioned also)
Medical Incredible
Dr. G: Medical Examiner

Yes, I spent an entire summer hooked on the Health channel.

Has anybody seen this TV series? I just got done volunteering in the ER and thought we see some cool stuff but boy was I wrong. Anyways the show is on the discovery health channel (279 for direct tv folks). Right now they are showing a neurology surgeon resident removing the skull and doing all kids of other stuff. It also shows some other ER doctors. Probabaly one of the coolest shows I have seen in a while.


Thanks Tivo for recording this

 

[g8orlife]

As far as ER/Trama goes:
Untold Stories of the ER (my favorite show)
The Critical Hour
911- The Bronx (as mentioned)

Add "Code Blue" to that list

 

[mspeedwagon]

Yeah, and to add further there is also "Emergency Level One."

Add "Code Blue" to that list

 

[orthomyxo]

Back in the day when Trauma: Life in the ER was new and I was like 7 or 8, my dad would make me watch it while we were eating dinner lol.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Back in the day when Trauma: Life in the ER was new and I was like 7 or 8, my dad would make me watch it while we were eating dinner lol.

Dang, hard to eat the chicken when it looks like the hunk they just took off this guys skull...

 

[orthomyxo]

Dang, hard to eat the chicken when it looks like the hunk they just took off this guys skull...

Lol, we always happened to be eating steak at the time.

 

[klmnop]

to the OP, read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-True-Stories-Nations-ERs/dp/0312962657

its a collection of the most interesting, funny, unbelievable, and sad stories from hundreds of ER doctors throughout the US.

 

[Vanish]

Great show! I was watching it today!

 

[Poliscidoc]

to the OP, read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-True-Stories-Nations-ERs/dp/0312962657

its a collection of the most interesting, funny, unbelievable, and sad stories from hundreds of ER doctors throughout the US.

thanks man will do, I just can't get enough of these crazy stories. I have read the entire thread's on "Crazy Chief Complaints" and "Things I learn from my patients"

 

[Dbate]

I loved Discovery Health, especially Trauma: Life in the ER and Resident life--the latter of which seems to not come on anymore. However, I thought Discovery Health was changed into another channel, or only showed shows relating to motherhood and pregnancy due to their target demographic. Can the aforementioned shows be viewed on line? I would LOVE it if someone provided a link.

 

[VandyMD10]

Well, I think the fear was that too many people would show up just to be on camera or at least see what the cameras saw, plus they figured the ER would be packed enough with random cameramen without also adding med students with zero skills making more of a mess of things. And if the cameras had shown med students looking clueless (since not everyone knows that first and second years really don't know what to do in a trauma 1 ER), it might have looked bad for us. All in all, not a bad idea, I don't think.

To clarify, they definitely did not tell all med students this, nor did they actively avoid having med students in the ED for the show. You can actually see more than a dozen of my classmates who have cameos throughout. There may have been some emails to first years to try and avoid unnecessary bodies in the ED but all students who were on clinical rotations went about their business as usual.

 

[christina30]

This show has been around forever (at least the last 10 yrs).

Here are some other cool shows to check-out:
As far as ER/Trama goes:
Untold Stories of the ER (my favorite show)
The Critical Hour
911- The Bronx (as mentioned)

Other cool shows:
Mystery Diagnosis (as mentioned also)
Medical Incredible
Dr. G: Medical Examiner

Yes, I spent an entire summer hooked on the Health channel.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I think Untold Stories of the ER is a little cheesy in comparison to the others - some of the attendings they have on that show seem to just be hamming it up for the cameras, and the re-enactments are pretty lame sometimes. Haha

 

[ButImLETired]

To clarify, they definitely did not tell all med students this, nor did they actively avoid having med students in the ED for the show. You can actually see more than a dozen of my classmates who have cameos throughout. There may have been some emails to first years to try and avoid unnecessary bodies in the ED but all students who were on clinical rotations went about their business as usual.

Oh yeah, sorry, that's what I meant by "shadowing". I think they only sent the email to first and second years. Obviously the elder folk who were going to be in there anyway did go.