Dr. Max Goodwin shakes up the status quo on his first day as medical director of New Amsterdam, the oldest public hospital in the United States, while simultaneously dealing with his own personal and health issues.

As Max fights for his life, New Amsterdam is in full swing with a pertinent heart surgery that is not covered by insurance and a potential nurses walk out. As the team feels Max's absence and the doctors find out that they may have to treat one of their own, Sharpe must finally come clean about Max's condition.

Max invokes a hospital-wide census in effort to get to know the staff of New Amsterdam on a deeper level. Reynolds takes a leap of faith that lands him in hot water, and Dr. Castro extends her treatment plan to more patients in the hospital.

A burst pipe plunges the ED into chaos. Iggy counsels two stressed out parents about their child. Gwen and Calvin have some devastating news for Max.