Code Black

Full disclosure, I am an ER physician, though I don't personally know the director or any of the other individuals in this movie.

I think everyone should watch this film! It is focused on a handful of emergency medicine residents (training physicians), but the movie applies to other hospital workers and pre-hospital providers alike. The film gives a quick synopsis of the difficulties one faces working in an ER-- overcrowding, over-utilization for non-emergent conditions, lack of resources (including staff), frivolous lawsuits, excessive paperwork (now computer work which is even more inefficient), and so forth. It also deals with the emotional aspects of the job, seeing patients die, seeing patients resuscitated, and hearing family members weep for their deceased loved-ones. The film is fast paced, just like working in an ER (and perfect for most of us ER professionals with ADD). There's blood, psychotic people shouting, and drunk people singing, all of which accurately portray any given moment in a chaotic ER.

If you are a healthcare worker, you will appreciate the film. If you are not in the healthcare industry, I highly recommend you catch this entertaining movie to see what it's really like to work in an ER...it's much different than the dramatic TV shows many of us grew up with!