THE DEADLIEST DISEASE: DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE

"Enough is enough!" That's how a senior citizen in Washington, D.C., reacted after viewing the documentary film, "The Deadliest Disease in America."

In need of a hearing aid, she was denied access to a good doctor. But after viewing the documentary, "This film has given me courage ... to demand, respectfully ... that I be taken care of."

That's precisely the reaction that Crystal Emery, executive director of New Haven-based URU, The Right to Be, Inc., and the one-hour film's executive producer and director, wanted.

The film, which the Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) awarded a one-year, $125,000 grant (Oct. 2007-Sept. 2008) to produce and disseminate, discusses "what racism looks like in health care delivery, capturing the many voices demanding access and quality care," she explains.

"The grant was approved because the foundation believes a well-done documentary can be a powerful communications tool for generating public will to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities, one of our key strategic objectives," says Elizabeth Krause, CT Health program officer.

"Focusing more on real individuals and families rather than on numbers and statistics, the issues presented more readily touch and move the heart of the viewer toward greater comprehension of the issues at stake and the need for change," says Emery.

These real-life dramas are preceded by a "docudrama" illustrating the very different emergency room diagnoses for a young African-American and white male with the same appendicitis symptoms resulting in a ruptured appendix for the African-American, emergency surgery and a month of intensive care.

"The film is part of an educational program that includes workshops, structured to encourage dialogue among a diverse group of health care providers, patients, policy-makers and health care advocates," adds Emery. She also notes the program provides a unique opportunity to explore questions such as:

How well does the health care system work for racial and ethnic minorities?
How should racial and ethnic differences be recognized to ensure equality?
What policy changes can be made in the health care delivery system?

The film has three goals, says Emery, an author and experienced film producer:

Eliminate racism in society
Expose racism in health care delivery
Empower people to act at the individual, organizational and public-policy level

Through forums, workshops and resulting discussions, Emery hopes "Examples will be presented of successful action that will create ripples that help build a wave of activism."

Emery believes, "The program raises awareness of structural barriers in health care delivery, which is then addressed through public policy changes at the individual, community, state and federal levels."

She adds that "The responses we have received from multiple screenings and private viewings have been full of praise for the project." As a result, the project's scope has increased from the 15,000 state residents originally targeted to partnering with organizations that will enable the film to reach and engage individuals in at least 30 communities nationwide.

As Emery sees it, "We can change the state of health care in Connecticut and throughout America, one person at a time."

For more information, visit:

www.urutherighttobe.org

www.urutherighttobe.org/disease/deadliest.html