The Waiting Room Reviews

"The Waiting Room" is an incisive look at the sorrowful state of the modern healthcare system in the United States, as seen through the microcosm of a 24-hour period of the emergency room in Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. Through the eyes of patients, nurses, doctors and social workers, we see how the system functions and does not work, and in response how the staff members seek to work the system to the best of their patients' advantage and health. As one doctor explains, the emergency room is usually the only chance for these uninsured people to see a doctor which is why these cases are not usually those we have been conditioned to associate with an emergency but are still important nonetheless. Otherwise, the patients would be left to their own devices and the internet. My only criticism here is we never get a clear specific sense as to how long these people have to wait to see a doctor.

"The Waiting Room" is an incisive look at the sorrowful state of the modern healthcare system in the United States, as seen through the microcosm of a 24-hour period of the emergency room in Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. Through the eyes of patients, nurses, doctors and social workers, we see how the system functions and does not work, and in response how the staff members seek to work the system to the best of their patients' advantage and health. As one doctor explains, the emergency room is usually the only chance for these uninsured people to see a doctor which is why these cases are not usually those we have been conditioned to associate with an emergency but are still important nonetheless. Otherwise, the patients would be left to their own devices and the internet. My only criticism here is we never get a clear specific sense as to how long these people have to wait to see a doctor.

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Absolutely outstanding! Captures what goes on in a county hospital extreme;y well. Very well edited.

Too tight for the first half of the documentary. Too much close up shots. Shallow depth fetish. I was wondering what camera did they use, it looks like they are faking dslr documentary by bluring some of shots in post production. In terms of content, it didn't go deep as good as SiCKO, too many themes, too many subjects, but none of them is truly developed in the level of humanity or politically or poetically...

CJ truly is an angel! Iʻm proud to say I worked with her (once upon a time). This was an extremely watered-down version of how incredibly overwhelmed this hospital (Highland) actually is. Still, a worthwhile film that at least begins to address the DISGRACE that is the state of medical care in this fʻd up country. Damn shame :(

Great movie! Highly recommend it! It's a real eye opener of what is happening in our public hospital systems and how our safety net is stretched to capacity.

I saw this movie Saturday night in Santa Monica. Great film. It really shows the "real world" of what is happening in hospitals across the country. It is not a political movie, but it really is a moving film. I really encourage people to check this one out!