Also known as: The clap
An outbreak of gonorrhea among elderly nursing home residents drives the episode's main medical storyline. Multiple patients present with various manifestations, including strep-like throat symptoms. One patient (Ms. Forsheim) develops a life-threatening peritonsillar abscess that nearly kills her when she denies being sexually active. The outbreak prompts education about safe sex practices for seniors.
Also known as: RA
Vic is a former concert pianist whose rheumatoid arthritis has caused severe hand swelling that prevented him from playing for over a decade. Dr. Goodwin finds a steroid injection treatment to restore mobility in his fingers so he can play again, though it will cause other side effects due to drug interactions.
Also known as: Panic attacks
Gene, a nursing home nurse, experiences panic attacks that manifest as respiratory distress he initially attributes to asthma. Dr. Frome identifies the attacks as stress-related and linked to overwork due to understaffing, ultimately recommending Gene quit his job for his mental health.
Also known as: Pancreatic tumor
Ms. James undergoes resection of a pancreatic tumor with extension into the liver. The surgery is complicated by uncontrolled bleeding due to friable tissue, representing one of several high-risk surgeries performed on elderly patients who were previously denied surgery at other hospitals due to age.
Also known as: Brain aneurysm
Vic, the concert pianist patient, suddenly dies from a brain aneurysm shortly after Dr. Goodwin arranges treatment for his arthritis. His unexpected death occurs despite no medication changes being able to cause it, emphasizing the fragility of elderly patients.
Also known as: Carotid plaques
Mrs. Bennett undergoes a carotid endarterectomy with complications due to stenosis in the Circle of Willis causing no retrograde filling. The surgery has a very narrow time window to prevent permanent brain damage, representing another high-risk elderly surgery.
Also known as: V-tach
An elderly surgical patient goes into pulseless ventricular tachycardia and cannot be revived despite resuscitation attempts, ultimately dying in the ED. This represents one of multiple surgical complications in elderly patients undergoing previously denied procedures.