The Art and Science of Reality Medical TV
jtermarsch | 12:37 pm | June 10, 2008 | General | 0 Comments
I am always amazed of patients in the midst of unbelievable physical turmoil who share their stories to us - in honest and stunning detail. Recently, we sat down with two cancer patients for a program this fall. Both of them facing difficult, possibly life-threatening disease, were transparent about their experiences, their surgery and their prospects. They answered every question. They brought humanity to a disease that can be devoid of it.
Although emotion is often essential to capture an audience - we are careful to find balance, to get answers without getting in the way. Their care is still ongoing. We must be their to follow and show the caregivers doing what they do best - saving lives.
jtermarsch | 12:36 pm | | General | 0 Comments
This is not Grey’s Anatomy. Or ER. Or House. (O.K., it may be House once in a while.) It is reality. It is medicine. It is often fascinating. It is often inspiring. It will make you realize your own mortality. It will often make you cry. But, when you get to see the passion. When true collaboration happens. When patients heal. It’s as compelling and beautiful as anything you have ever seen.
This is my world. Stay tuned as long as you’d like.
jtermarsch | 12:27 pm | | General | 0 Comments
A new season begins with production of our 51st episode. This turns out to be a show about bone cancer - a difficult, often painful disease. We are introduced to two of the preeminent names in the treatment of the disease and we recently began filming 2 patients (One a teenager, another in his 40’s). As with all of our cases, we hope and pray for the best, but we understand there can be set-backs. There will be (2) surgeries, chemo and possibly more. In both these cases the treatment can last many months - even spanning years. We look to capture both patients at different stages, with the hope that in 4 months, we will have progress. Like so many cancers, we realize the discovery is all to often when the disease is advanced. Patients are often stunned to find it and can be devastated with the prognosis. The surgeons are more construction worker than some of their colleagues, balancing a need to eliminate all trace of cancer and yet, leave the patient functional in the end.
A difficult job in many cases.
admin | 10:50 am | | General | 0 Comments
Welcome to the DBAHC blog, Making of a Medical Show.