| Produced by Best Alternatives, Inc. |
New video special on Sickle Cell Disease:
(April 1, 2004) Best Alternatives, Inc., a not-for-profit educational multimedia
company and producer of the television series Health Choices, announces an
educational awareness initiative to inform Americans about Sickle Cell Anemia
and of the support and resources that are available.
Sickle cell anemia is a devastating disease that affects primarily African-
Americans in this country. Management of this disease, particularly the
treatment of pain, a primary symptom of the disease, runs headlong into
prejudice, a lack of financial resources and difficult social and economic
realities.
Health Choices has produced a one-hour documentary "Sickle Cell
Anemia…Battling Pain," in association with the Department of Pain Medicine
and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York and its Chairman,
Dr. Russell K. Portenoy. The program has the participation of distinguished
Actor-Writer-Director Ossie Davis, who has worked for 50 years to educate all
Americans about this serious disease. The purpose of this program is to
increase awareness of the disease among patients and caregivers, health
care professionals, affiliate organizations and social service agencies, special
interest associations and the general public." The devastating impact of sickle
cell disease is worsened immeasurably by the under treatment of pain, its
cardinal symptom," says Dr. Portenoy. "This program highlights the unmet
needs of those with sickle cell disease and explores the nature of under
treatment and the therapies that are available to improve quality of life."
"Sickle Cell Anemia…Battling Pain" has been endorsed by the leading sickle
cell associations: The Sickle Cell Association of America, the American Sickle
Cell Anemia Association, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at
Grady Health System and the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link. The
documentary will be presented at the 31st Annual Convention of the Sickle
Cell Association of America, September 24-27. There are plans to air the
program on public television beginning in September as well as in February
for Black History Month. It will be available for use as streaming video on the
Internet and marketed as a resource for community outreach programs and
discussions, both as a DVD and video, and even in the form of brochures and
public service announcements. In addition, it is hoped that this effort will raise
appropriate funds to produce a CME version of the documentary. This
program is underwritten by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Medtronics, Ortho McNeil
and Cephalon
"Sickle Cell Anemia…Battling Pain" is expected to be the first in a series of
one-hour documentaries produced by Health Choices on important medical
issues facing Americans. Gary Nenner, Executive Producer of Health Choices,
is committed to producing documentaries that "inform, educate and inspire."
To order VHS copies of this video for $29.95, contact Jessica Singer
at JessicaLSinger@yahoo.com or phone (203) 221- 0888
(April 1, 2004) Best Alternatives, Inc., a not-for-profit educational multimedia
company and producer of the television series Health Choices, announces an
educational awareness initiative to inform Americans about Sickle Cell Anemia
and of the support and resources that are available.
Sickle cell anemia is a devastating disease that affects primarily African-
Americans in this country. Management of this disease, particularly the
treatment of pain, a primary symptom of the disease, runs headlong into
prejudice, a lack of financial resources and difficult social and economic
realities.
Health Choices has produced a one-hour documentary "Sickle Cell
Anemia…Battling Pain," in association with the Department of Pain Medicine
and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York and its Chairman,
Dr. Russell K. Portenoy. The program has the participation of distinguished
Actor-Writer-Director Ossie Davis, who has worked for 50 years to educate all
Americans about this serious disease. The purpose of this program is to
increase awareness of the disease among patients and caregivers, health
care professionals, affiliate organizations and social service agencies, special
interest associations and the general public." The devastating impact of sickle
cell disease is worsened immeasurably by the under treatment of pain, its
cardinal symptom," says Dr. Portenoy. "This program highlights the unmet
needs of those with sickle cell disease and explores the nature of under
treatment and the therapies that are available to improve quality of life."
"Sickle Cell Anemia…Battling Pain" has been endorsed by the leading sickle
cell associations: The Sickle Cell Association of America, the American Sickle
Cell Anemia Association, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at
Grady Health System and the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link. The
documentary will be presented at the 31st Annual Convention of the Sickle
Cell Association of America, September 24-27. There are plans to air the
program on public television beginning in September as well as in February
for Black History Month. It will be available for use as streaming video on the
Internet and marketed as a resource for community outreach programs and
discussions, both as a DVD and video, and even in the form of brochures and
public service announcements. In addition, it is hoped that this effort will raise
appropriate funds to produce a CME version of the documentary. This
program is underwritten by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Medtronics, Ortho McNeil
and Cephalon
"Sickle Cell Anemia…Battling Pain" is expected to be the first in a series of
one-hour documentaries produced by Health Choices on important medical
issues facing Americans. Gary Nenner, Executive Producer of Health Choices,
is committed to producing documentaries that "inform, educate and inspire."
To order VHS copies of this video for $29.95, contact Jessica Singer
at JessicaLSinger@yahoo.com or phone (203) 221- 0888
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| Click Here to watch this 58 minute video: (To download a free version of Real Player go to www.real.com) |
| Health Choices: Sickle Cell Anemia...Battling Pain was recently used as an educational tool to assist with the passing of The Sickle Cell Treatment Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by Senators Jim Talent (R-MO), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Richard Burr (R-NC). Click Here to view a letter of support from Senator Schumer. |