Also known as: Low white blood cell count with fever
A 13-year-old patient with neutropenic fever whose white blood cell count stabilizes after intervention. The episode shows his improvement correlating with a visit from 'The Rock', though the celebrity couldn't actually make it, suggesting the power of positive psychological factors in healing.
Also known as: Varices from liver scarring
Mrs. Blitt requires a TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure but lacks insurance. Dr. Cox and JD debate medical ethics when Dr. Kelso initially tries to bill the procedure to a deceased patient with insurance. The case becomes central to the episode's conflict about patient care versus hospital finances, ultimately leading to Dr. Cox's suspension when he performs the procedure anyway.
Also known as: Acute kidney injury from dehydration
Dr. Kelso sarcastically asks for a 'price check' on a 74-year-old female patient with prerenal azotemia, illustrating his prioritization of financial considerations over patient care. This moment crystallizes JD's realization about how Kelso views patients primarily through a financial lens.