Medical dramas are staples of modern television, and viewers have been tuning in for heart-stopping emergencies for more than two decades at this point. Ranging from procedural dramas like House to soap operas like General Hospital and even sitcoms like Scrubs, hospitals and doctor's offices have played host to some of the most gripping and memorable television moments in history.
While television trends tend to come and go, medical dramas have proven to be a winning, enduring formula. Sure, not all series are the same, and even titans of the genre have put out a few lackluster seasons, but, on the whole, it's still a TV phenomenon worth watching.
Updated on June 6th, 2022 by Tanner Fox: From celebrated soap operas that have been airing for decades to short-lived gems that remain beloved years after cancellation, medical dramas make up some of the most gripping, engaging productions in television history. It's hard to say exactly what's so compelling about them, but representations of genuine humanity persevering in situations of constant crisis seem to make for winning primetime formulas.
There are dozens upon dozens of dramas available to stream these days, and it can sometimes be tough to separate the wheat from the chaff. Quality is, of course, subjective when it comes to television, but many believe these medical dramas to be the best of the best.
Honorable Mention: Nurses (2020)
Stream on GlobalTV
Nurses is an NBC show that centers on five nurses beginning their new jobs at the same time at a busy hospital. The series is similar to Scrubs or E.R. where there are a few cases from each episode that the team typically focuses on.
In stark contrast to the NBC sitcom of the same name that aired in the early '90s, Nurses is a weighty, affecting watch that fans won't soon forget. A second season was aired in 2021 in Canada, but NBC has yet to pick it up for air in the United States.
Untold Stories Of The E.R. (2004–2020)
Stream on PlutoTV
Untold Stories of the E.R. is a TLC reality show that shares exactly what the title suggests, that being untold and typically odd stories from the E.R. that medical professionals have come across in their day-to-day jobs.
The show is similar to other TLC series, but it is a bit more dramatic, and some of the re-enactments can be a little cheesy. It's an interesting show for any fan of medical dramas to check out.
Transplant (2020)
Stream on Hulu
Transplant follows Dr. Bashir Hamed as he flees Syria with his sister and they find a new life in Canada. Hamed realizes he needs to re-train to become a medical professional in Toronto and begins his new journey.
He's thrust into a new line of work to which he isn't accustomed, and the journey ahead of him is tough, but he's an optimistic and hopeful person, and the series is typically uplifting. It falls into many of the genre's clichés, but it has an interesting premise that allows viewers unfamiliar with the field of medicine to follow a protagonist similarly out of their element.
Monsters Inside Me (2009– )
Stream on Discovery Plus
Debuted in 2009, Animal Planet's Monsters Inside Me isn't exactly a standard medical drama series, but that doesn't mean it isn't worthy of mention. An exploration of various patients' critical encounters with parasites, viruses, and rare infections, each episode serves as both a dramatic retelling of actual events and as a documentary concerning the affliction at hand.
It may not quite have the same appeal as General Hospital or Grey's Anatomy, but it often faithfully recreates the chaos those in the ER face when combating strange, unknown diseases, scenarios that more standard medical dramas often explore.
Hospital Playlist (2020–2021)
Stream on Netflix
Hospital Playlist is a new Korean drama set in the medical field that follows a group of medical professionals in their undergrad years and beyond. The core group of five met during school and continue to be close after graduation and while starting their medical careers.
The Netflix K-Drama also has an aspect of music that intersects with the main characters' jobs working at the same hospital. It's a uniquely Korean take on the genre that may intrigue fans of more well-known K-dramas.
General Hospital (1963– )
Stream on Hulu
General Hospital is one of the longest-running American soap operas ever. Day-time viewers have been checking in since 1963 when the show began, and many are still watching today. The show aired its 14,000th episode in 2018, and it's right on pace with the similarly-celebrated soap Days of Our Lives.
Over the years, hundreds of patients have come and gone, including some famous faces. James Franco and Elizabeth Taylor are just a couple of the more notable names to have appeared on the show. GH might not be the freshest show on TV, but it sure deserves some praise for longevity.
Casualty (1986– )
Stream on BritBox
This long-running medical soap comes from across the pond. Much like General Hospital, this show has been on the air for some time, and cast members are still seen saving lives to this day. Casualty first appeared on US screens in 1998, although it's been running in the UK since 1986, and it has spawned numerous spin-offs.
Casualty warrants a mention for its longevity; it was technically around long before medical dramas took off in the 90s, and it's managed to entertain audiences in separate territories for over twenty years.
9-1-1 (2018– )
Stream on Hulu
Not strictly a medical drama, 9-1-1 follows the lives of first responders and explores the drama and experiences of paramedics along with police and firefighters as they balance their lives and careers.
A procedural drama from creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear and starring Angela Basset, this show has enough turmoil and medical jargon to give Grey's Anatomy a run for its money.
Chicago Med (2015– )
Stream on Netflix
The third installment in creator Dick Wolf's Chicago franchise, Chicago Med takes a close look at the lives of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center's finest doctors and nurses. Of course, the majority of the action happens in the emergency room, while the majority of the drama is derived from their intertwined personal connections.
The most exciting element of Chicago Med is the possibility for cross-overs with Wolf's other Chicago ventures Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D, and Chicago Justice. That's a lot of procedural drama for one city.
New Amsterdam (2018– )
Stream on Hulu
Based on the novel Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by Eric Manheimer, New Amsterdam sees recently-instated medical director Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold) trying to resuscitate a faded and fading public hospital in order to rejuvenate and provide excellent care for patients.
According to critics, the show has struggled to break new ground in the genre, but it's refreshing to see new faces and new stories from the medical profession. It certainly doesn't break away from the predictable tropes of a well-tread genre, but, for some fans, that isn't a deal-breaker.
The Good Doctor (2017– )
Stream on Hulu
After spending some time at the Bates motel, actor Freddie Highmore has slipped on a white jacket and stethoscope to play an autistic savant in The Good Doctor. Recently renewed for a third season, TGD is set in San Jose and sees Highmore's Dr. Shawn Murphy trying to hold onto his surgical residency as he struggles with issues from his past and his autism.
He does, however, have a photographic memory, which is certainly helpful when cramming for those medical exams or performing a complicated surgery. The Good Doctor has a fresh and intriguing premise, adding a layer of mental health awareness to the usual medical proceedings.
ER (1994–2009)
Stream on Hulu
Premiered in 1994, ER was a trendsetting medical drama series that helped to lay the groundwork for the genre. Retired in 2009, ER is recognized as the second-longest-running series of its kind, having debuted 331 episodes over the course of fifteen seasons. In terms of longevity, it's beaten only by Grey's Anatomy.
Featuring the trials and tribulations of the doctors and nurses working at Chicago's County General Hospital, it may seem a bit formulaic by today's standards, but it established many of the tropes familiar to the genre. This should be on every medical drama fanatic's must-watch list.
The Resident (2018– )
Stream on Hulu
The Resident takes a look at the world of medicine through a bureaucratic lens as it follows the staff at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tackling issues such as medical ethics and malpractice, The Resident gives an insight into what goes on beyond the emergency room. Premiering in January 2018, The Resident is a welcome addition with a fresh twist.
House (2004–2012)
Stream on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock
Hugh Laurie stars as Dr. Gregory House, a reclusive, misanthropic medical savant who leads a talented diagnostic team. Known for skirting the rules and arriving at his conclusions via controversial means, House is far from a by-the-book sort, but his expertise in the field allows him to prevail.
Rife with the tragedy and turmoil viewers expect from the best of the best medical dramas, House is a must-watch for fans of the genre. Though it concluded in 2012 after eight seasons, it remains an important pillar of primetime medical thrillers.
Grey's Anatomy (2005– )
Stream on Netflix and Hulu
No medical drama in recent years has quite captured the public's attention or held a space in the pop culture landscape quite like Grey's Anatomy. Grey's is the longest-running American primetime medical drama at 18 seasons, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Since its premiere in 2005, it has remained a critically-acclaimed ratings juggernaut—save perhaps for the maligned seventeenth season.
The show follows Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and the staff at Seattle Grace Hospital as they deal with their lives and careers as medical professionals. The show has launched the careers of Pompeo, Katherine Heigl, and Sandra Oh and is notable for its diverse cast of characters.