Dr. Ryan helps with PBS show about American medicine

Sheila A. Ryan, Ph.D.

UNMC College of Nursing Professor, Sheila A. Ryan, Ph.D., served on an advisory panel for television series, “Remaking American Medicine.” The Charlotte Peck Lienemann & Alumni Distinguished Chair and director of International Nursing Education Programs was available for consultation about scenario selection. The program airs nationally on Public Broadcast System on Thursday evenings throughout October.

Check local PBS station listings for specific dates and times the programs will be broadcast in your community.

Oct. 12, “First Do No Harm”

The show focuses on the impact of medical errors in two hospitals and follows the efforts of physicians who are challenging their colleagues to live up to their oath to First Do No Harm. In Pittsburgh, Chief of Medicine Dr. Richard Shannon is confronting an epidemic of hospital-acquired infections that are shattering the lives of their victims. Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey is engaged in spreading the adoption of information technology throughout the hospital in an effort to totally transform the way the institution delivers care. The goal is to ensure that the people trusted to provide safe and effective medical treatment do not harm patients. Produced, written and directed by Marc Shaffer and Frank Christopher.

Oct. 19, “The Stealth Epidemic”

Chronic diseases such as diabetes and congestive heart failure affect nearly 100 million Americans, and treatment of these illnesses consumes nearly 70 percent of all health care resources. Yet doctors are often unable to prevent needless suffering or even death and these failures are threatening the viability of our entire health care system. This program looks at groundbreaking efforts in two very different communities — Los Angeles and Whatcom County in the state of Washington — that are fundamentally transforming the physician-patient relationship … and offers a glimmer of hope for patients across the country who are struggling with chronic conditions. Produced, written and directed by Matthew Eisen.

Oct. 26, “Hand in Hand”

As medicine continues to become more technologically sophisticated and the systems that deliver medical care become more complex, the relationship between providers, patients and families is more important than ever. This final program tells the story of patients and families who have formed a unique bond in a teaching hospital in the small town of Augusta, Ga., to transform the institution into a nationally-recognized facility where partnership is a guiding vision to the care it delivers. Produced, written and directed by Frank Christopher.

For more information on the television series, visit www.remakingamericanmedicine.org. For more information on the two-year outreach campaign, go to www.ramcampaign.org.