The 10 Best TV Medical Dramas, Ranked

What is it that draws us to medical dramas? Is it the sense of urgency whenever we’re hooked to watching doctors frantically try and save someone’s life? Are the smokey romances that spark up between co-workers?

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Whatever the case is, medical dramas have been a reliable staple on television for decades, and if you need to have your fix of hospital drama, here are some of the best medical dramas that will surely keep you talking for days to come.

Private Practice (2007-2013)

What happens when you leave a popular hospital in Seattle to set up your medical practice in Los Angeles? You get Private Practice, which continued showrunner Shonda Rhimes’ winning streak of producing compelling medical dramas.

The spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy, this series follows Dr. Addison Montgomery’s journey to Hollywood, where a whole different set of challenges awaited her. Running for six seasons, Private Practice may seem like a lesser-known series in Shondaland’s empire, but it still holds as one of the best.

Scrubs (2001-2010)

Before it jumped the shark toward the end of its run, Scrubs was NBC’s preeminent medical dramady in the early 2000s. Starring Zach Braff and Donald Faison, who now have a Scrubs podcast., the series follows a group of medical interns at Sacred Heart Hospital, and in its early days, threaded the needle perfectly between comedy and drama.

The formula grew stale by the end of its run, but watching Scrubs is the perfect time capsule to what medical dramas were like at the turn of the century.

Nurse Jackie (2009-2015)

Do you remember Nurse Jackie? Odds are, younger viewers who grew up in the streaming universe probably wouldn’t know what we’re talking about. However, during its seven-season run on Showtime, Nurse Jackie was a must-watch for medical drama lovers.

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There was nothing out of the ordinary for the series; just a show that focused on an emergency department nurse juggling the day-to-day expectations and grind of the ER. Well received by critics and fans alike, Nurse Jackie is a series that deserves a revival.

St. Elsewhere (1982-1988)

There are many contenders for the title “Best Drama of the 80s,” and St. Elsewhere should be included in the chat. This medical drama, set in a rundown Boston hospital featuring a team of teaching doctors working miracles, was a tear-jerker every single week.

Although the ending was confusing (watch it on YouTube), St. Elsewhere packed a dramatic punch on television during its six-season run.

Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989-1993)

Imagine walking into a hospital, and the doctor treating you has to also study for a math test at his high school the next morning. That was the universe in which Doogie Howser, M.D. operated, which made a star out of Neil Patrick Harris as a gifted 14-year-old who became the youngest licensed doctor in America.

As unrealistic as that is, folks didn’t tune into Doogie Howser, M.D. week-after-week to experience the relatable; they wanted to see a kid who was far away from legally buying beer, prescribing drugs to patients.

M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

There are no other words to say other than the fact that M*A*S*H was a phenomenon during its 11-season run on CBS. One of the rare TV shows at the time to be adapted from a movie, M*A*S*H followed a medical unit during the Korean War.

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While the movie was a lot darker in its comedic tone than its television predecessor, the show was still seen as a cultural flashpoint during its run. Also, the series finale is one of the more heart-breaking episodes ever produced.

Chicago Hope (1994-2000)

The grumblings can be heard from the masses; “Why isn’t Chicago Med listed here?” Well, because, as good as that medical drama is, once you’ve seen Chicago Hope, its exclusion will be better understood.

This medical drama focused on doctors in a private hospital, who worked daily miracles to save and protect the patients that were in their care. Overshadowed by the NBC juggernaut that was ER, Chicago Hope, nevertheless, carved out its audience, and its spot in medical drama lore.

House (2004-2012)

Dr. Gregory House was full of himself, but he earned it with the medical gifts that he possessed. When House premiered on Fox in 2004, it seemed like a medical drama for folks that were tired of the overwrought plotlines that were starting to plague ER.

Over its seven seasons on the air, House emerged as a great drama on its own, with narcissistic comedic flair from Dr. House thrown into the mix.

Grey’s Anatomy (2005-Present)

Some will look at Grey’s Anatomy and see a “Simpson’s Problem.” It’s valid to say that this legacy medical drama has gone on a bit past its shelf life; but in its prime, Grey’s Anatomy was one of, if not the premiere medical series on TV.

The cast was terrific, the writing was great, and there wasn’t a single week when you didn’t hear one person talk about how great this show was. The series launched showrunner Shonda Rhimes’ career, and while it’s jumped the shark, Grey’s Anatomy has some of the most anxiety inducing episodes, and is still one of the best medical dramas ever produced.

ER (1994-2009)

While Grey’s Anatomy has anointed itself as one of the longest-running medical dramas in television history, it wouldn’t have largely been possible if it wasn’t for the booming success of ER in the 90s, which is streaming on Hulu now. Sure, St. Elsewhere was one of the better dramas of the 80s, but ER made the medical drama a blockbuster sub-genre.

The cast was impeccable, and the drama was top-notch. ER did get stale toward its end (especially compared to the then-fresh Grey’s Anatomy), but doesn’t, by any means, tarnish the drama that paved the way for the Dr. McDreamys and Houses of the medical drama universe.

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