Medical expert reveals 'The Pitt' crisis scenario happens more often than viewers think

An emergency room doctor has revealed that a dramatic plot twist in HBO’s The Pitt reflects a reality that unfolds far more often in hospitals than viewers might expect.

Speaking to People, Dallas-based ER physician Dr. J. Mack Slaughter said the show’s depiction of electronic medical record (EMR) systems going down is “not actually a rare circumstance,” but rather a routine disruption that can last anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours.

The revelation comes after The Pitt Season 2 portrayed a high-stakes scenario in which hospitals were forced to shut down their digital systems due to cyberattack risks. 

In the show, doctors had to revert to manual processes, writing charts by hand, physically delivering orders, and tracking patient care without digital support.

According to Dr. Slaughter, such situations are not limited to television drama.

“That is a normal part of having electronic medical records,” he said, recalling a recent shift where his hospital experienced a three-hour outage. “It creates that level of chaos every time.”

He explained that modern emergency departments rely heavily on digital systems for everything from patient history to medication safety checks. 

Without them, doctors are forced to operate with limited visibility, a situation he likened to “flying a 747 with a blindfold on.”

While outages are often scheduled for maintenance, the timing does little to reduce the impact. 

Even during late-night hours, emergency rooms can be just as busy as daytime shifts, amplifying the risks associated with system failures.

The absence of EMR systems also removes critical safeguards, such as automatic alerts for drug interactions and allergy checks, increasing the chances of medical errors.

Despite these challenges, healthcare professionals are expected to maintain the same level of care.

“We’re supposed to function at the same level of efficiency and safety, and it’s just not possible,” Dr. Slaughter said.

The doctor added that while he is not a software expert, the issue is significant enough to warrant better solutions that allow hospitals to update systems without disrupting patient care.

Ultimately, he praised the series for highlighting not just medical procedures, but the operational breakdowns that can occur behind the scenes.

“The chaos that happened on this season… happens in the real world,” he said. “You just have to keep moving forward.”