The plot of this episode, written by David Shore, revolves around a patient with acid reflux caused by pancreatic cancer. On David Shore's previous show, House (2004), there was a patient diagnosed with acid reflux that caused him to squeak. Later, Dr. House discovered that pancreatic cancer is causing acid reflux.
Christina Chang (Dr. Lim), previously guest-starred on Numb3rs (2005), on which Alimi Ballard (Mara's father) starred as FBI Agent David Sinclair, also as a doctor (specifically a pediatric surgeon). They did not share any scenes.