In the pilot episode of The Pitt, Theresa Saunders does what no parent should ever have to do: She fakes a medical emergency so her son David can finally get the care he needs. David is grieving the loss of his father and struggling with the emotional weight of being a teenager, but the system only responds when it's framed as urgent.
We love medical shows like The Pitt for their drama, but they often highlight the harsh realities of healthcare. The tension comes from missed signs, skipped screenings and quiet symptoms no one catches in time. Offscreen, the stakes are even higher. In the real world, people delay or avoid care not for dramatic effect, but because of real barriers like limited access, fear, stigma, cost or negative experiences with the system.
Policies that guarantee access to screenings, mental health assessments and vaccinations are some of the most powerful tools we have for protecting health, reducing disparities, preventing chronic conditions and avoiding emergencies. But the use of these services falls short. We can and must do better.
When Prevention Comes Too Late
Many of us can sympathize with Theresa and understand the fear and desperation she must have felt. People often turn to emergency rooms because they feel it's the only way to be heard. But emergency rooms are designed for crises, not continuity. The earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes. Early intervention doesn't just improve lives—it can also reduce costs, hospitalizations and strain on the healthcare system.
Yet far too many people miss the prevention window. A study published in 2018 found that just 8% of U.S. adults aged 35 and older received all recommended preventive services, while nearly 5% received none. Among adolescents, preventive visits dropped from 78.7% in 2016–2017 to 69.6% in 2020–2021.
Colorectal cancer is one example of why prevention matters. It's the third most common cancer in the U.S., with more than 153,000 new cases diagnosed in 2023, yet one in three adults have never been screened. When caught early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90%, but that drops sharply when detection is delayed. The consequences are real, and they're preventable.
There are Resources to Help
An annual depression screening for youths ages 12–18, as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, may have helped identify David’s underlying mental health challenges and prevented a visit to the emergency room. As a single mom, however, Theresa may not have had the support she needed.
The healthcare system can be overwhelming to navigate, but you don't have to do it alone. There are tools and resources to help individuals and families stay informed and proactive about their health.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) offers health coaching at no cost to our members to help recognize early warning signs that may require medical attention, better understand health risks, manage chronic conditions and more. Through our Health Library, CareFirst members can access guides and wellness tips designed to support smarter care decisions. For example, our personalized preventive checklist helps identify which screenings or immunizations may be appropriate and can serve as a conversation starter with your doctor.
How CareFirst is Bringing Prevention Within Reach
At CareFirst, we know staying on top of your health is important, but we also know life is busy. CareFirst WellBeing brings together tools to support your physical, emotional and financial wellness all in one place.
We also meet people where they are through our community engagement centers in West Baltimore and Canton that connect people with programs for healthier living. Meanwhile, our mobile unit, which travels throughout the CareFirst service area, offers services like biometric screenings, vaccinations and A1C checks.
Affordability, accessibility and awareness must work together if we're serious about ensuring people get the care they need and avoid preventable trips to the emergency room. We recognize that costs are a major barrier, which is why we continue to advocate for Congress to permanently extend enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits, which have helped millions of Americans afford coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. It is also why we support giving insurers greater flexibility to implement innovative approaches to prescription drug affordability, so people aren't forced to choose between health and household budgets.
No One Should Have to Hit a Crisis Point (or Pretend to) To Get Care
Medical dramas like The Pitt resonate because they reflect something real and painfully familiar: the fear of being overlooked, the frustration of navigating the system and the heartbreak of delays that didn't have to happen.
In real life, we don't need a dramatic diagnosis to act. We need systems that make routine care accessible, understandable, timely and affordable so people get the care they need before they reach a crisis point.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a powerful reminder that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health. Don’t wait for a plot twist like Theresa and David. Instead, prioritize your well-being, talk to your primary care provider about mental health screenings, and check out our recent post on digital tools that can support mental and other behavioral health access.
Preventive care should never be an afterthought. It should be the starting point.