If that number can be decreased by building awareness and initiating action through shows like ER, everyone benefits. From the very beginning, ER has gone to great lengths to remain realistic. The medical story lines, the policies, the blood work, the dosages and the language incorporated comes directly from a qualified staff of writers and researchers. The show employs three emergency medicine doctors and one fresh out of medical school. Between their experience and knowledge, anecdotes from friends and associates, and a researcher who scours newspapers and magazines, writers develop plots during three weekly meetings.
Doctors do make two distinctions between the show and reality.
Because ER is a one hour program, the timing is way off. Procedures generally take longer than they do on the show. Also, admits one doctor, the show's doctors know too much. In real life, emergency room doctors need to refer to books from time to time.