Premieres Sunday, October 4 (9:00 ET/PT) on CBS
Not wanting to get left out of the medical drama fun, CBS is starting its own series set in a hospital. I'm talking (obviously) about Three Rivers. But Three Rivers isn't your typical fare. While most medical dramas deal with a wide menagerie of cases, Three Rivers has a more specific focus: organ transplants.
Now, I'm not an organ donor (though I did give a piano to the Salvation Army once), but the moral aspect of this could make the show one of the better new shows coming on this fall. If the show is as emotionally-driven as I think it is, then it might actually be good. It'll be nice to see a show more about the patients than the doctors.
And there's another reason why that'll be a good thing. Alex O'Loughlin will play lead surgeon Andy Yablonski (such an easily marketable name), whose "good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues." Sounds like a House-lite, doesn't he?
But, despite the mediocre title, as long as Three Rivers doesn't turn into another soapish medical drama, it has potential to be a big hitter for CBS.
THREE RIVERS is a medical drama that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country where every moment counts. However, dealing with donor families in their darkest hour and managing the fears and concerns of apprehensive recipients takes much more than just a sharp scalpel. Leading the elite team is Dr. Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin), the highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues. His colleagues include Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig), a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father's excellent surgical reputation; Dr. David Lee (Daniel Henney), a womanizing surgical resident who's broken as many hearts as he's replaced; Ryan Abbott (Christopher J. Hanke), the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient; Dr. Sophia Jordan, the head of surgery and a dedicated medical professional; and Pam Acosta (Justina Machado), Andy's no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend. In this high stakes arena, in which every case is a race against the clock, these tenacious surgeons and medical professionals are the last hope for their patients.
Source: CBS
Well Sam, if you're not an organ donor…maybe you should be!
Organ donation: Don't let these 10 myths confuse you
Unsure about donating organs for transplant? Don't let rumors stand in your way of saving lives.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Enough people to populate a small city — nearly 100,000 — are on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list, waiting for an organ donation. On an average day, about 77 people receive organ transplants. But thousands more never get that call from their transplant center saying a suitable donor organ — and a second chance at life — has been found.
It can be hard to think about what's going to happen to your body after you die, let alone donating your organs and tissue. But being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver. Understanding organ donation can make you feel better about your choice. If you've delayed your decision to be a donor because of possibly inaccurate information, here are answers to some common organ donation myths and concerns.
Myth No. 1. If I agree to donate my organs, my doctor or the emergency room staff won't work as hard to save my life. They'll remove my organs as soon as possible to save somebody else.
Reality. When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life — not somebody else's. You'll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.
Myth No. 2. Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate. It'll be too late for me if they've taken my organs for transplantation. I might have otherwise recovered.
Reality. Although it's a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don't start to wiggle a toe after they're declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests to determine that they are truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation.
Myth No. 3. Organ donation is against my religion.
Reality. Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you're unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith's position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.
Myth No. 4. I'm under age 18. I'm too young to make this decision.
Reality. That's true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it's what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.
Myth No. 5. I want my loved one to have an open-casket funeral. That can't happen if his or her organs or tissues have been donated.
Reality. Organ and tissue donation doesn't interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor's body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For eye donation, an artificial eye is inserted, the lids are closed, and no one can tell any difference. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor's back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.
Myth No. 6. I'm too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.
Reality. There's no defined cutoff age for donating organs. Organs have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 70s and 80s. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.
Myth No. 7. I'm not in the greatest health, and my eyesight is poor. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
Reality. Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are suitable for transplantation.
Myth No. 8. I would like to donate one of my kidneys now, rather than wait until my death. But I hear you can't do that unless you're a close family member of someone in need.
Reality. While that used to be the case, it isn't any longer. Whether it's a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers.
If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and make sure you're giving away your kidney out of pure goodwill and not in return for financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine that your kidneys are in good shape and that you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.
You can also donate blood or bone marrow during your lifetime. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for details on where you can donate or sign up.
Myth No. 9. Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There's no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who've waited the longest or are the neediest.
Reality. The rich and famous aren't given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization responsible for maintaining the national organ transplant network, subjects all celebrity transplants to an internal audit to make sure the organ allocation was appropriate.
Myth No. 10. My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
Reality. The organ donor's family is never charged for donating. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal go to the transplant recipient.
Check out more on organ donation as CBS brings this very important issue to the forefront!
Google Fans of Three Rivers Organ Donor Campaign.
Well Sam, if you’re not an organ donor…maybe you should be!
Organ donation: Don’t let these 10 myths confuse you
Unsure about donating organs for transplant? Don’t let rumors stand in your way of saving lives.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Enough people to populate a small city — nearly 100,000 — are on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list, waiting for an organ donation. On an average day, about 77 people receive organ transplants. But thousands more never get that call from their transplant center saying a suitable donor organ — and a second chance at life — has been found.
It can be hard to think about what’s going to happen to your body after you die, let alone donating your organs and tissue. But being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver. Understanding organ donation can make you feel better about your choice. If you’ve delayed your decision to be a donor because of possibly inaccurate information, here are answers to some common organ donation myths and concerns.
Myth No. 1. If I agree to donate my organs, my doctor or the emergency room staff won’t work as hard to save my life. They’ll remove my organs as soon as possible to save somebody else.
Reality. When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life — not somebody else’s. You’ll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.
Myth No. 2. Maybe I won’t really be dead when they sign my death certificate. It’ll be too late for me if they’ve taken my organs for transplantation. I might have otherwise recovered.
Reality. Although it’s a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don’t start to wiggle a toe after they’re declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests to determine that they are truly dead than are those who haven’t agreed to organ donation.
Myth No. 3. Organ donation is against my religion.
Reality. Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you’re unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith’s position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.
Myth No. 4. I’m under age 18. I’m too young to make this decision.
Reality. That’s true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it’s what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.
Myth No. 5. I want my loved one to have an open-casket funeral. That can’t happen if his or her organs or tissues have been donated.
Reality. Organ and tissue donation doesn’t interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor’s body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For eye donation, an artificial eye is inserted, the lids are closed, and no one can tell any difference. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor’s back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.
Myth No. 6. I’m too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.
Reality. There’s no defined cutoff age for donating organs. Organs have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 70s and 80s. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don’t disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.
Myth No. 7. I’m not in the greatest health, and my eyesight is poor. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
Reality. Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Don’t disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are suitable for transplantation.
Myth No. 8. I would like to donate one of my kidneys now, rather than wait until my death. But I hear you can’t do that unless you’re a close family member of someone in need.
Reality. While that used to be the case, it isn’t any longer. Whether it’s a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers.
If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and make sure you’re giving away your kidney out of pure goodwill and not in return for financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine that your kidneys are in good shape and that you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.
You can also donate blood or bone marrow during your lifetime. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for details on where you can donate or sign up.
Myth No. 9. Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There’s no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who’ve waited the longest or are the neediest.
Reality. The rich and famous aren’t given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization responsible for maintaining the national organ transplant network, subjects all celebrity transplants to an internal audit to make sure the organ allocation was appropriate.
Myth No. 10. My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
Reality. The organ donor’s family is never charged for donating. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal go to the transplant recipient.
Check out more on organ donation as CBS brings this very important issue to the forefront!
Google Fans of Three Rivers Organ Donor Campaign.
Well Sam, if you’re not an organ donor…maybe you should be!
Organ donation: Don’t let these 10 myths confuse you
Unsure about donating organs for transplant? Don’t let rumors stand in your way of saving lives.
By Mayo Clinic staff
Enough people to populate a small city — nearly 100,000 — are on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list, waiting for an organ donation. On an average day, about 77 people receive organ transplants. But thousands more never get that call from their transplant center saying a suitable donor organ — and a second chance at life — has been found.
It can be hard to think about what’s going to happen to your body after you die, let alone donating your organs and tissue. But being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver. Understanding organ donation can make you feel better about your choice. If you’ve delayed your decision to be a donor because of possibly inaccurate information, here are answers to some common organ donation myths and concerns.
Myth No. 1. If I agree to donate my organs, my doctor or the emergency room staff won’t work as hard to save my life. They’ll remove my organs as soon as possible to save somebody else.
Reality. When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life — not somebody else’s. You’ll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.
Myth No. 2. Maybe I won’t really be dead when they sign my death certificate. It’ll be too late for me if they’ve taken my organs for transplantation. I might have otherwise recovered.
Reality. Although it’s a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don’t start to wiggle a toe after they’re declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests to determine that they are truly dead than are those who haven’t agreed to organ donation.
Myth No. 3. Organ donation is against my religion.
Reality. Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you’re unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith’s position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.
Myth No. 4. I’m under age 18. I’m too young to make this decision.
Reality. That’s true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it’s what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.
Myth No. 5. I want my loved one to have an open-casket funeral. That can’t happen if his or her organs or tissues have been donated.
Reality. Organ and tissue donation doesn’t interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor’s body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For eye donation, an artificial eye is inserted, the lids are closed, and no one can tell any difference. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor’s back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.
Myth No. 6. I’m too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.
Reality. There’s no defined cutoff age for donating organs. Organs have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 70s and 80s. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don’t disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.
Myth No. 7. I’m not in the greatest health, and my eyesight is poor. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
Reality. Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Don’t disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are suitable for transplantation.
Myth No. 8. I would like to donate one of my kidneys now, rather than wait until my death. But I hear you can’t do that unless you’re a close family member of someone in need.
Reality. While that used to be the case, it isn’t any longer. Whether it’s a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers.
If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and make sure you’re giving away your kidney out of pure goodwill and not in return for financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine that your kidneys are in good shape and that you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.
You can also donate blood or bone marrow during your lifetime. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for details on where you can donate or sign up.
Myth No. 9. Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There’s no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who’ve waited the longest or are the neediest.
Reality. The rich and famous aren’t given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization responsible for maintaining the national organ transplant network, subjects all celebrity transplants to an internal audit to make sure the organ allocation was appropriate.
Myth No. 10. My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
Reality. The organ donor’s family is never charged for donating. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal go to the transplant recipient.
Check out more on organ donation as CBS brings this very important issue to the forefront!
Google Fans of Three Rivers Organ Donor Campaign.
Thanks, Sam, for the rundown. I'm usually not that into medical dramas, but I may give this one a chance. And Nancy Reynold, while I can and do support organ donation, you're comment is a bit over the top. Your comment is longer than Sam's blog! This is a blog about a TV show, not a place to promote your campaign, though I wish you the best of luck. And just in case you didn't get it, Sam was making a joke and not putting down organ donation. Lighten up!
Thanks, Sam, for the rundown. I’m usually not that into medical dramas, but I may give this one a chance. And Nancy Reynold, while I can and do support organ donation, you’re comment is a bit over the top. Your comment is longer than Sam’s blog! This is a blog about a TV show, not a place to promote your campaign, though I wish you the best of luck. And just in case you didn’t get it, Sam was making a joke and not putting down organ donation. Lighten up!
Thanks, Sam, for the rundown. I’m usually not that into medical dramas, but I may give this one a chance. And Nancy Reynold, while I can and do support organ donation, you’re comment is a bit over the top. Your comment is longer than Sam’s blog! This is a blog about a TV show, not a place to promote your campaign, though I wish you the best of luck. And just in case you didn’t get it, Sam was making a joke and not putting down organ donation. Lighten up!
[...] Here is the original post: 2009 Fall Preview: Three Rivers [...]
Thanks for the great article about Three Rivers. I'm a big fan of Alex O'Loughlin from his Moonlight days. I hope this show does well for him. ITA with what you said tho, I hope it doesn't turn into one of those soapish medical dramas…
Thanks for the great article about Three Rivers. I’m a big fan of Alex O’Loughlin from his Moonlight days. I hope this show does well for him. ITA with what you said tho, I hope it doesn’t turn into one of those soapish medical dramas…
Thanks for the great article about Three Rivers. I’m a big fan of Alex O’Loughlin from his Moonlight days. I hope this show does well for him. ITA with what you said tho, I hope it doesn’t turn into one of those soapish medical dramas…
I'm anxiously awaiting the start of THREE RIVERS. Alex O'Loughlin is a great talent. This show is one to put on your BE SURE TO WATCH LIST – especially if you have a Nielson box.
I’m anxiously awaiting the start of THREE RIVERS. Alex O’Loughlin is a great talent. This show is one to put on your BE SURE TO WATCH LIST – especially if you have a Nielson box.
I’m anxiously awaiting the start of THREE RIVERS. Alex O’Loughlin is a great talent. This show is one to put on your BE SURE TO WATCH LIST – especially if you have a Nielson box.
Really looking forward to "Three Rivers" on Oct. 4. I thought last season was a major disappointment. There was not one show that I looked forward to each week. Here's hoping that "Three Rivers" and Alex O'Loughlin will change that for me.
Hey, Nancy, I'm signing up with the gift of life.
Really looking forward to “Three Rivers” on Oct. 4. I thought last season was a major disappointment. There was not one show that I looked forward to each week. Here’s hoping that “Three Rivers” and Alex O’Loughlin will change that for me.
Hey, Nancy, I’m signing up with the gift of life.
Really looking forward to “Three Rivers” on Oct. 4. I thought last season was a major disappointment. There was not one show that I looked forward to each week. Here’s hoping that “Three Rivers” and Alex O’Loughlin will change that for me.
Hey, Nancy, I’m signing up with the gift of life.
Sam, why aren't you an organ donor? You do know that you can't take them with you . . . right?
Sam, why aren’t you an organ donor? You do know that you can’t take them with you . . . right?
Sam, why aren’t you an organ donor? You do know that you can’t take them with you . . . right?