This marks the first time that Dr Carter calls Dr Benton by his first name, Peter.
This episode takes place over several days from December 13-24, 2001.
Television debut of Anne Dudek (Paula) who guest stars as a mother who accidentally shot her son. Dudek would also appear in three other television dramas based on doctors: Private Practice (2012) as Lori in the episode Drifting Back, Grey's Anatomy (2014) as Elise Castor in the episode Do You Know?, and House M.D. (2007-2012) as Dr. Amber Volakis in 19 episodes.
The title is taken from the classic 1943 Christmas song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" written by Buck Ram, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent which came out the same year as another Christmas classic "White Christmas".