I recently went to a premiere of Code Black, a new documentary film about the experiences of residents in Los Angeles County ER. This emergency room is the busiest in the entire United States, and the title of the movie refers to massive influx of patients that the staff there regularly faces. The movie was quite good, but it was made even more impressive due to the fact it was filmed and directed by a physician. This physician, Ryan McGarry, filmed most of it while in medical school and residency – how on earth did he manage that?
After the screening, a panel consisting of the director as well as many of the main cast members came up to answer and questions the audience had. Much of what was talked about referred to healthcare policy and changes that were occurring, as reflected in the movie. Several of them expressed frustration with the fact that they, as ER physicians, acted as a safety net for the regional population, yet were overburdened by regulations, complexity, and tightening budgets. Others talked about the frustration of providing transient care to the hundreds of individuals who passed through the ER every day, unable to find them a permanent caregiver. There was a silver lining though: when asked by a teacher whether he should encourage his students to pursue a career in medicine, the panel overwhelming said that it continued to be an amazing and fulfilling career.
I’ll spare you the rest of the plot, but Code Black is an insightful film that will make you think about the state of healthcare in America. If you can, check out a screening near you.
