Rural Emergency Medicine Should be an Aspiration, Not a Back Up Plan
(MedPage Today) -- There are many TV medical dramas that make healthcare professionals crazy because they're not even close to depicting what really goes on in a hospital. Most of us, however, can't get enough of "The Pitt." As an anesthesiologist...
The acclaimed TV medical drama The Pitt has been praised for its accurate portrayal of emergency department (ED) life, from coast to coast. As an anesthesiologist and leader of one of New England's largest healthcare providers, the author finds the series to be the most realistic depiction of life in an ED, whether in New Hampshire, Vermont, or Pittsburgh.
One of the show's favorite characters, Dr. Dennis Whitaker, a first-year resident from a Nebraska farm, embodies the traits of a young doctor who aspires to practice rural medicine.
In one scene, Whitaker treats a gravely ill patient who arrived in the ED after a long drive from rural Pennsylvania, where their local hospital had closed. This scene reinforces Whitaker's desire to return to Nebraska, where he can help families like his patient's and his own.
The author argues that more young doctors should consider practicing in rural areas, emphasizing that it offers an adrenaline-charged career and keeps doctors on their toes. As the most rural academic medical system in the U.S., Dartmouth Health is committed to training medical students, residents, and fellows, conducting research that transforms medicine, and providing top-notch care across the Eastern Seaboard.
Despite the challenges and rural communities' unique strengths, the author believes that reframing the reality of practicing rural medicine and empowering healthcare workers can significantly help address the critical healthcare needs of 82 million people living in rural America.
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