Medical shows on television aren’t always accurate, but some are unquestionably closer to reality than others. Doctor-based series are still popular 20 years after ER set the standard, with newer hits like New Amsterdam and The Good Doctor joining established favorites like Grey’s Anatomy. But did you know which show had one of the most accurate portrayals of how a hospital functioned?
Scrubs has one of the most accurate depictions of how a hospital operates, and all of its medical cases are based on real-life medical issues.
Hospital-Based Show Getting Close to Reality
Even though the NBC-ABC show Scrubs was billed as a silly medical comedy, doctors found it to be the most realistic depiction of hospital life on television.
Out of all the medical shows that have hit the air, I think ‘Scrubs’ is the most accurate. Though it’s a comedy, for the most part, it accurately depicts the life of a resident doctor. It shows what happens in a hospital on a day-to-day basis, not just what happens when there is an emergency.
Dr. Joel Kopelman, Surgeon
Doctors were especially moved by the way Scrubs humanizes its characters. DonDiego stated that this is her favorite medical show, noting that the character’s sense of humor in medical cases is similar to how real-life doctors keep their sanity in difficult situations.
Furthermore, Your Doctors Online pediatrician Dr. Cherilyn Cecchini told Insider that Scrubs is one of the few medical shows that feels like it was written specifically for doctors.
As a doctor, ‘Scrubs’ is one of the few medical shows I can watch without cringing because something is grossly exaggerated or inaccurate. In fact, ‘Scrubs’ is the most relatable series I’ve watched from a medical standpoint.
Dr. Cherilyn Cecchini
(Source: Screen Rant)
The Authenticity in the Scrubs’ Storyline
Everyone involved in the medical cases treated at Sacred Heart knew that some ailments needed to be engaging, memorable, and occasionally funny. Not every illness was strange or unusual, but even the most bizarre ones had some basis in reality.
By conducting extensive research into actual cases and consulting real doctors, the writers and creators could strike the right balance between entertainment and reality. One of Bill Lawrence’s college friends was a medical student who provided him with numerous real-life stories that sparked the show’s creator’s imagination. The writers solicited story ideas from real doctors, which were then tweaked to produce entertaining comedy and drama.
The show had a lot of things going for it that made it seem realistic and authentic. Behind the scenes, there was endless work being done to research actual cases, study doctors, and provide us with stories that felt natural. However, a show’s setting is always important to its effectiveness, and Scrubs couldn’t have picked a better location.
Sacred Heart was once a real hospital, so the little details that made it appear authentic were not by chance. Before it became famous worldwide, the building was known as North Hollywood Medical Center from 1952 to 1998. Unfortunately, the building was demolished in 2011, so fan pilgrimages are no longer an option. (Source: Screen Rant)