Studies reveal that over 40% of health sciences students tune into medical dramas at least once a week, with The Good Doctor, House MD, and Grey’s Anatomy leading the charge. Now, with the first season of The Pitt streaming on Max, the drama at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital has reached new heights. But how would the hospital fare under a real staffing audit?
To highlight the impact of safe staffing on patient outcomes, we evaluated the hospitals from these popular dramas against real-life criteria, including nurse-to-patient ratios, ER readiness, staffing consistency, training, and overtime coverage.
Key findings:
- San Jose St. Bonaventure (The Good Doctor) scored highest with 83/100 and passed the staffing audit, excelling in ER readiness (5/5)
- Princeton-Plainsboro (House, M.D.) scored the lowest with 65/100, failing the audit due to chronic understaffing (1/5) and inadequate overtime coverage (1/5)
- Grey Sloan Memorial (Grey’s Anatomy) ranks strong in ER readiness (4/5) and training (4/5)
- Pittsburgh Trauma (The Pitt) scored 68/100 and failed the audit, struggling with training (2/5) and overtime support (1/5)
"These results highlight the importance of well-rounded staffing strategies in hospitals, not just during emergencies but also in day-to-day operations. While high ER readiness is crucial, it's the behind-the-scenes elements, such as staffing consistency, training, and overtime management, that ultimately determine a hospital's ability to function under sustained pressure.
The hospitals that scored the highest, like San Jose St. Bonaventure and Grey Sloan Memorial, demonstrate that a balanced approach to training, staffing, and response time can lead to better outcomes. On the flip side, those that struggled show how easily gaps in staffing consistency and backup systems can undermine overall performance.
In a real-world setting, these elements are essential not just for maintaining quality patient care but also for ensuring long-term staff well-being and preventing burnout, which can ultimately impact patient safety and hospital efficiency."
- Jared Roberts, Chief Administrative Officer at Nursa
How hospitals from top TV shows stand up to a staffing inspection
The Good Doctor: San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital
When it comes to surviving a real-world staffing inspection, San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital from The Good Doctor comes out on top, scoring 83/100 in the fictional audit.
The fictional hospital scores the highest for ER readiness due to its structured and swift response system, and it always ensures emergencies are handled effectively. The team consistently delivers coordinated emergency care in episodes like the Season 2 premiere’s bus crash response. Staffing consistency, training and overtime support all score 4/5, boosting the overall performance, largely due to the hospital's focus on stable schedules and strong mentorship.
The coordination of the hospital makes it a standout in terms of preparedness and reliable operations, thus providing a clear path for passing any real-world audit.
Grey’s Anatomy: Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital
Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital from Grey’s Anatomy follows in second with a score of 77/100, meaning it would successfully pass an inspection.
Over the years, the hospital has handled some of the most intense medical emergencies on TV, from ferry crashes in season 3 and plane wrecks (S8) to multiple mass trauma events. The hospital performs well in training and ER readiness, scoring 4/5 for both; however, its staffing consistency and overtime coverage only score 3/5, which shows areas needing improvement. The hospital is equipped to manage crises effectively, but long-term challenges such as staffing and overtime management require further work.
New Amsterdam: New Amsterdam Medical Centre
New Amsterdam Medical Centre from New Amsterdam scores 77/100, landing within the ‘Pass’ category.
The hospital is known for its reform-driven approach under Dr. Max Goodwin, often putting patients first even when resources are tight. It scores 4/5 for training and ER readiness, with strong performances in high-pressure situations, like the ambulance crash in the Season 2 premiere, where the team handles multiple trauma cases calmly. Staffing consistency and overtime come in at 3/5 because the hospital’s mission-driven culture can sometimes clash with practical constraints.
Chicago Med: Gaffney Chicago Medical Centre
Gaffney Chicago Medical Centre from Chicago Med scores 75/100, and lands in the Needs Improvement category. The hospital shows high marks in ER readiness (4/5) and training (4/5), showing a readiness for emergencies. However, staffing consistency (3/5) and overtime coverage (2/5) score lower, revealing a reactive rather than proactive approach to staffing, and you often see staff juggling multiple roles during mass trauma cases. This shows gaps in managing long shifts and ensuring dependable staffing levels, which need attention to avoid future staff burnout.
ER: County General Hospital
County General Hospital from ER scores 72/100, and also requires improvement. The hospital scored 4/5 for ER readiness, regularly depicted managing overwhelming trauma scenarios, such as in the season 6 episode, where staff handle a stabbing incident in the ER itself. However, staffing consistency and overtime management score just 2/5, which presents issues. Although the hospital can handle emergencies effectively, the staffing infrastructure lacks stability, relying too heavily on short-term solutions that risk staff turnover.
The Pitt: Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital
Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital from The Pitt lands at 68/100, and is the first TV hospital to fail the inspection. While ER readiness is strong, scoring 4/5, the audit found weaknesses in areas like training (2/5) and overtime coverage (just 1/5) — highlighted by chaotic response scenes like the pileup aftermath in Episode 2. The series portrays a single, high-stress shift after a mass casualty event, which may explain the strain, but it also highlights the need for consistent staffing and stronger infrastructure in crisis scenarios.
House, M.D.: Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital
Rounding off the list is Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital from House, M.D., scoring the lowest at 65/100, and also earning a fail. Struggling in every metric, particularly staffing consistency (1/5) and overtime coverage (1/5), the hospital’s understaffing and lack of backup support severely affect the ability to meet real-world expectations, like when House replaces his entire diagnostic team mid-crisis.
Methodology
- Nursa set out to determine which hospitals in popular US TV shows would pass a real-life staffing inspection.
- To achieve this, a seed list was created based on the most-watched hospital dramas, including The Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, ER, The Pitt, and House, M.D.
- We utilized a large language model to analyze the portrayal of key staffing metrics in each TV show, focusing on: ER readiness, staffing consistency, training and qualifications, and overtime/backup coverage.
- ER readiness: Evaluates the hospital’s preparedness to handle emergencies and surges in patient intake. High scores indicate quick response times, strong protocols, and sufficient resources for critical situations.
- Staffing consistency: Measures the reliability of staffing levels, ensuring there are no gaps in coverage that could impact care. Higher scores reflect a stable workforce with minimal turnover or last-minute changes.
- Training and qualifications: Assesses the quality of staff training and certifications. A high score shows the hospital provides ongoing professional development, keeping staff up to date with the latest medical practices.
- Overtime & backup coverage: Looks at how well the hospital manages overtime and ensures backup staffing is available during peak periods. Higher scores indicate effective systems to avoid burnout and maintain coverage when needed.
- Each metric was ranked on a scale of 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating better performance.
- A final audit score out of 100 was then calculated based on these rankings, determining whether each hospital passed, needed improvement, or failed the staffing inspection.
