Doctors are finally excited about a new super realistic medical TV show
Key Takeaways
Industry Insights
What do these shows get right? “The chaotic pace of an ER and the emotional toll it can take on healthcare workers,” - James Lyons, MD, an emergency room doctor and medical consultant at Synergy Houses
Medical dramas have long been one of the most popular genres in television. Shows like “ER,” “Scrubs,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” have received critical acclaim and captured loyal fanbases. But healthcare workers say that, while captivating, these shows fail to capture what it’s really like to work in a medical setting. A new show might change that.
“The Pitt,” which is now streaming on Max, follows emergency room physicians working in a fictional Pittsburgh hospital. Doctors are saying it’s the most accurate medical drama they’ve seen yet.[]
Why docs say seeing is believing
Jared L. Ross, MD, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and assistant professor at the University of Missouri, has his doubts. “The truth is that a realistic ER show would not make for good TV,” he tells MDLinx.
Sure, ER physicians regularly treat patients with cardiac arrests, severe trauma, and gunshot wounds, but the majority of day-to-day visits are minor. “We are sending patients home to follow up with their primary care provider rather than performing life-saving heroics,” Dr. Ross says.
James Lyons, MD, an emergency room doctor and medical consultant at Synergy Houses, feels similarly. He says that shows like “Scrubs” and “Grey’s Anatomy” often take creative liberties. “For example, they focus on rare, dramatic cases and show quick, miraculous recoveries, which is not expected in real life,” he tells MDLinx.
Something else that’s missing: the teamwork that takes place in an ER setting. According to Dr. Lyons, nurses, technicians, and other staff members play a huge role in patient care—collaboration that’s often not depicted on TV.
What it really gets right
What do these shows get right? “The chaotic pace of an ER and the emotional toll it can take on healthcare workers,” says Dr. Lyons.
He’d like to see shows like “The Pitt” address more real-world challenges, such as what it’s like to manage several patients at the same time, and the mental health issues that providers struggle with. “Showing how we balance critical emergencies with less urgent cases would paint a more realistic picture of ER care,” says Dr. Lyons.