Trauma: Life in the E.R. Season 5, Episode 2: Desert Crossroads

Teachable Moments

Oakland, CA, is home to a large population of people struggling with poverty and substance abuse and has more than a hundred gangs. Although they are on a low budget, the ER at Highland Hospital will manage to treat a wide range of injuries and people.

60 min

Passing the Puck

Denver Health Medical Center's trauma unit is equipped to handle disasters of any magnitude including Columbine High School shooting victims that were treated there. Join staff as they treat car wreck victims, gunshot wounds and snowboarding injuries.

Heart of the Matter

Hennepin County Medical Center defies the county hospital stereotype. With state-of-the-art equipment and 84 private treatment cubicles, over 90,000 patients can be treated each year without overcrowding. Minnesota's oldest ER has kept up with the times.

Family Forces

Travel to one of the busiest trauma units in the nation at Louisville's University Hospital. With the only Level One Trauma Center for hundreds of miles, the staff sees their share of domestic violence from the isolated rural areas surrounding Louisville.

Playing with Fire

The comfortable climate and a colorful nightlife combine to increase drinking, irresponsible driving and reckless outdoor behavior during the summer months in Nashville. The talented staff of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's ER picks up the pieces.

A Fist Full of Trauma

At Houston's Memorial Hermann Emergency Trauma Department, a dedicated staff treats the rowdy remains of the wild west. A teen is broadsided by a pick-up; a child is attacked by a Rottweiler; victims are injured in a three-car pile-up.

Last Exit to Oakland

Outdated equipment and supply shortages force the staff of Alameda County Medical Center to improvise techniques and treatments. But their creative approach can't hide their intense dedication to provide even the most destitute patients with quality care.

Phoenix Rising

Like the mythological phoenix, the doctors and nurses of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center have come to the Level One Trauma Center to jump-start their personal and professional lives. They pursue diverse goals but share a dedication to medicine.

Putting it Together

Denver, Colorado's disenfranchised population swells as the arts, recreation and the booming economy of the city boost growth. Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center treats victims of accidents, violence and illness with innovative medical care.

60 min

Trauma Season