New Amsterdam

_

Hmm, interesting sign.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

- Kinda dark. - Kinda true.

Hmm.

same sign, but in a wacky font, right?

'Cause nothing says "You're doomed"

like Comic Sans.

Nothing says...

***

I at least got pity laughs.

- I won't be doing that. - Hmm.

Well, this'll be fun then.

Um, I'm gonna go, and maybe once you've read that,

- you can call me. - Sit.

Okay.

I can't help but notice inconsistencies

in your treatment.

Missed chemo sessions, erratic radiation schedule.

That won't work.

Virginia, I've never seen you with a patient before,

but I gotta say, very impressed.

This whole scary-principal thing you got going on,

it's very effective.

But I am not your normal patient

because I have a huge hospital to run,

and so when it comes to things like scheduling,

I gotta keep it flexible.

But you learn to love it.

Radiation is set for this afternoon, 2:00 p.m.

Great. See? Easy.

As long as there's no hospital emergency,

then I will see you there.

Max, you are the emergency.

Radiation is set for this afternoon, 2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m., I heard you. But listen.

- I... - No, you start listening.

Your treatment's impact is cumulative.

Your brain is going to operate

at half the capacity you're used to.

You're going to be in a lot of pain.

And that is if the treatment is working,

But you're not letting it work. Why?

Why? Because I have a million things to do.

I have a child on the way.

If I'm too far gone by the time it gets here...

Dr. Sharpe said you'd make excuses.

Did she? Really?

- It's time to get ready, Max. - Yeah, for what?

To step down as medical director.

We'll see about that.

Hang in there, Lyn.

- Doctor? - What you got?

An overprotective dad-to-be who needs to chill out.

Her back's been sore and she's had these awful headaches

and she's, like, forgetting things.

She nearly fainted at the coffee shop.

It's called having a baby, Michael.

- Vitals? - Found them right outside.

- We didn't have time. - All right, we got it.

Thanks. How far along are you?

- 39 weeks. - Do you have a birth plan?

- Yeah. - Any allergies?

- No. - Complications?

Just having these really bad headaches.

Mom's blood pressure: 290/160.

Heart rate 130 and fetal heart rate 90 and falling.

All right. Trauma One.

We have to do an emergency C-section.

Call OB, but I'm not waiting.

- What, now? - What?

- What's happening? - Is the baby okay?

- Michael? - Just breathe.

- Michael! - Should I call her doctor?

Clamps and forceps, please.

We won't need the Metz. Get them off the tray.

- Your name's Michael Archer? - Uh, yes.

Lift your arms.

Turn around.

Your date of birth is May 28th, 1988?

Patient intubated and sedated.

How we doing?

- Almost prepped... - Guys, please.

- I need to be in there. - I need you to lift your foot.

What are the last four digits of your social?

- Uh, 0501. - 0501.

And the other foot.

Fetal heart rate still falling.

Preparing to sterilize incision site.

- - Let's go.

You cannot touch anything in there unless we say it's okay.

- You got it? - Yeah.

Okay. Let's go.

- PGA and polyglactin 910. - Is she okay?

She's sedated to help with the hypertension,

but we need to get your baby out now

for both of their sakes. Protractor.

- Richardson. - Where's OB?

Okay, need a little help here.

- Is everything okay? - Got it?

Okay, hold it nice and wide for me.

What's wrong? Doctor?

- The cord? - I'm trying.

- Doctor. - Suction.

Just a little more.

- -

Time of birth, 10:23 a.m. You have a strong baby boy.

Give me those Apgar scores.

- Yes, doctor. - All right, I see that.

Birth weight, uh, 7.6 pounds.

Apgar of nine. He's very healthy.

Let's close her up.

How's Lyn? She okay?

No signs of hemorrhaging or excess bleeding.

She's still hypertensive.

Wanna hold him, Daddy?

There you go. Support his head.

Hi, Robin.

Hey, there!

- Ta-da. - You amaze me.

I wear paper very well.

I'm not talking about how you look.

I'm talking about how you're tackling this.

All by yourself. Freezing your eggs.

Lots of women do.

Lots of women aren't chair of oncology.

I knew there was a reason I invited you.

So, that nurse earlier,

thinking I was here to fertilize...

Oh, my God. I mean, can you imagine?

We've only been together a month.

So awkward. So awkward.

That said, I...

I know the biological pressure you're under.

So what if...

- That's not a reason to... - No, no, of course not.

I just, um... here I am, able to help.

- Not helping feels... - No, yeah.

I get it.

I mean, I have thought about it.

- You have? - Oh, no.

I mean, I've... I've thought about it,

but I haven't, like, thought about it.

Right.

Yeah, it's just a lot to put on this

and on us at this time.

- Hopefully we'll get there. - Yeah.

I just don't wanna lose our chance.

It's E-day, Helen. Ready to go?

Um, actually, I think I just need a little bit more time.

You can have till 5:00 p.m.

Any longer, we'll miss our chance to retrieve

any eggs at all, fertilized or not.

I'll see you at five?

Sandra Fall from billing. How goes it?

Uh, my husband filed for divorce,

- and he's taking the dog. - Oh, I'm sorry.

Don't be. They deserve each other.

- Oh. - Signature, please.

Sure.

Uh, you know, I would sign just about

anything you put in front of me,

but out of curiosity, what did I just sign?

Uh, permission for the hospital to sell

delinquent medical bills to the highest bidder.

To do what now?

- Orders from Karen Brantley. - Excuse me.

I'm sorry. Excuse me.

Forgive me, sorry. Um, yeah.

"Approval to institute a trial program

known as 'the asset reclamation commitment.'"

ARC, for short. Love a good acronym.

Oh, well, that's an even better euphemism.

Asset reclamation.

This program sells our patients' debt

to collection agencies.

Yes, so that we may be reimbursed

for their delinquent medical bills.

The thing is, people come here for care,

and this is what bankrupts them.

This hospital currently holds six figures

in outstanding debt,

and we're steaming towards seven.

It's time to do something about it.

Not this.

We found an agency that can get five cents on the dollar

for our debt. That's real money, Max.

Think of all the good you can do with it.

What if I can do better?

Six cents on the dollar guaranteed,

and nobody goes bankrupt.