"A Little More Time…What's It Worth to You”: International award-winning film improves patient compliance to seek medical care following cardiovascular health screenings

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), one in four Americans with elevated cholesterol may still be at risk for cardiovascular disease. Glendale Adventist Medical Center developed a film entitled “A Little More Time…What's It Worth to You” to empower high-risk patients to seek medical care and risk reduction resources. The film is a key component of an innovative population health screening strategy that utilizes a unique risk assessment survey as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and cholesterol testing to identify individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Of the 1,026 clinically tested patients, 43% showed elevated CRP and cholesterol. Furthermore, 85% reported primary cardiac-related symptoms. Patients with high cardiovascular risk received referral case management to medical care and to a didactic group appointment with the project team. At the group appointment, the project team emphasized the urgent need for immediate action to reduce patients' risk and avert a cardiac event. Upon two-month follow-up, 40% of the patients still had not seen a physician for medical care. To address this issue, the project team reformatted the group appointment into an interactive session to incorporate the motivational film. As a result, patient requests for assistance in connecting with a medical provider increased from 5% to 95%. The film has received national and international recognition including the 2006 Aegis Award and two 2007 International Health and Medical Media (Freddie) Awards—the Prevention Category Award and the Helen Hayes Founders' Award.