KDKA Highlights How "The Pitt" Mirrors Local Health Realities

On Thursday, February 26, KDKA Evening News aired a segment featuring North Side Christian Health Center (NSCHC). Reporter Barry Pinter explored how the fictional medical struggles portrayed in the new HBO series, The Pitt, reflect the daily challenges faced by many residents right here in our community.

The KDKA report centered on a recent episode of The Pitt where a patient, fearing financial ruin, resists life-saving treatment for a chronic condition. To address this all-too-common scenario, KDKA sat down with NSCHC CEO Bethany Blackburn.

In the show, the fictional doctors recommend NSCHC as a solution for the patient’s follow-up care. Blackburn noted that seeing this referral on screen felt remarkably accurate to our real-world mission.

"It was very validating to hear them refer a patient who had a lot of anxiety about his healthcare and the cost," Blackburn told KDKA. "We are here for those folks who feel they have no other place to get healthcare."

Closing the Insurance Gap

The segment highlighted a specific demographic that The Pitt brings to light: the "working poor." These are individuals and families who often fall into a difficult insurance gap—earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance premiums.

This is the exact community NSCHC was founded to serve. By name-checking our center as a respected alternative for those without adequate coverage, the show serves as more than just entertainment; it acts as a reminder of the local resources available to those in need.

Our Doors are Open

We are grateful to KDKA and Barry Pinter for using this pop-culture moment to shine a light on the essential services provided by NSCHC. Whether you discovered us through a television drama, a news segment, or a recommendation from a neighbor, our mission remains the same.