Medical Storytelling

Caught this lecture last week at UAMS by Dr. Neal Baer, who currently serves as executive producer for "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit." He previously wrote for "ER" (once my favorite show) for that show's first seven seasons (back when it was my favorite) - before it jumped the shark.

The lecture was engaging and interesting. People get a lot of health information from TV shows like "ER," which can help if the information is accurate and beneficial, he said. He spoke of his medical career and love of writing leading him to his current work.

"Baer emphasized the need for doctors to connect with their patients, to listen to their stories and to translate what they learn into an accurate diagnosis. He defined this type of storytelling as “private” and only to be shared among medical personnel to develop an appropriate treatment plan for each patient."

Also, in answer to a question from the audience, Dr. Baer discussed accuracy vs. inaccuracy in medical TV shows, or "You mean why is Grey’s Anatomy so incorrect?” He said that Grey's network, ABC, considers the show more "soap" than medical drama. He mentioned that he also knows the medical adviser to Grey’s Anatomy (a JP guilty pleasure). “But I don’t think they use her very much.”

Good Storytelling Essential to Good Medicine [UAMS]
Jump the Shark - Chronicling the Moments When TV Shows Go Downhill [jumptheshark.com]
Entertainment, The Best Medicine [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]