3/05/01

LC010305

VAL>> GOOD EVENING. I'M VAL ZAVALA, LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT ANCHOR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF KCET NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. TONIGHT KCET IS PRESENTING A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. DURING THE COURSE OF ITS AWARD-WINNING EIGHT YEARS ON THE AIR, THIS SERIES HAS FEATURED MANY STORIES THAT HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON OUR VIEWERS, AND THIS WEEK WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT BY THANKING OUR FOUNDATION FRIENDS AND YOU, OUR VIEWERS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO ENJOY A SAMPLING OF CLASSIC STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

WE'RE ALSO PROUD OF THE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AND ITS SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO YOUR ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT. EACH AND EVERY CONTRIBUTION HELPS KCET IN PROVIDING ENRICHED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

COMING UP TONIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT HEALTH CARE. THE ELDERLY, IMMIGRANTS AND A CHINESE DOCTOR WHO HAS A DECIDEDLY ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO TREATMENT. THAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. WELCOME TO THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO BEST AT LIFE AND TIMES IS TO LOOK IN-DEPTH AT COMPLEX PROBLEMS LIKE HEALTH CARE. TONIGHT WE FOCUS ON THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE ALTERNATIVE IN OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM.

VAL>> YOU'LL MEET A CHINESE DOCTOR WHO USES THE BODY'S OWN ENERGY TO HELP HEAL, AND YOU'LL SEE HOW A NEW KIND OF HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS BRINGING LIFESAVING INFORMATION TO OUR POOREST RESIDENTS.

JESS>> BUT FIRST, THE ELDERLY. NO GROUP IN OUR SOCIETY DEPENDS MORE ON OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM THAN OUR SENIORS AND YET IT IS FAILING THOUSANDS OF THEM. GAY YEE TELLS US A GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER AMERICANS ARE REALIZING THAT THEY MUST TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY>> ABOUT THE TIME JOHN GLENN LAUNCHED INTO SPACE TO BECOME THE FIRST MAN TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE EARTH, THE COUNTRY WAS ALSO LAUNCHING MEDICARE, THE GOVERNMENT'S INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. MEDICARE HASN'T CHANGED MUCH SINCE THE 60'S. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FINANCE FULL-TIME INSTITUTIONAL CARE LIKE THIS -- NOT THIS.

[FILM CLIP]

THE WISE ADULT DAY CARE CENTER IN SANTA MONICA IS A DROP-OFF CENTER. IT ALLOWS 69-YEAR-OLD ALZHEIMER PATIENT, FRANCINE BESSEY, TO HAVE REC TIME AND A HOT MEAL DURING THE DAY AND STILL LIVE WITH HER DAUGHTER, MICHELE, AT NIGHT.

MICHELE BESSEY>> NOW THIS HAS BECOME MORE OF A PLACE FOR HER TO REALLY ENJOY AND BE WITH PEOPLE LIKE IT HAS BEEN BEFORE AND IT HAS BEEN A PLACE FOR ME THAT I CAN PURSUE MY CAREER.

MARIA ARRECHAEDERRA>> THE DESIRE OF ANYONE AT ANY AGE IS TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THE THINGS THEY LOVE, WITH THEIR FAMILY, WITH THEIR FRIENDS, AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO REMAIN AND HAVE THE DIGNITY THAT YOU REALLY REQUIRE IF YOU ARE GOING TO GROW OLD WELL.

GAY>> WISE SENIOR SERVICES IS COMMITTED TO DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP SENIORS INDEPENDENT, PROVIDING A SAFETY NET OF SERVICES. TAKE FRANCINE, FOR INSTANCE. AT THIS POINT, ALL SHE NEEDS IS SIMPLE CUSTODIAL CARE, SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE SHE'S SAFE, TAKES HER MEDICATION AND GETS A HOT MEAL. BUT MEDICARE DOESN'T PAY FOR IT, EVEN THOUGH MICHELE IS CONVINCED IT'S KEEPING HER MOTHER HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

MICHELE BESSEY>> SHE MIGHT NOT REMEMBER IT THAT NIGHT, BUT DURING THE DAY YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. SHE'S HAPPY. YOU KNOW, SHE'S REALLY JOYFUL AND I THINK THAT YOU WOULD LOSE, YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD BECOME A VEGETABLE IF YOU DIDN'T KEEP THAT STIMULI GOING.

GAY>> BUT EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THE BEST WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND SELF-RELIANT. THE SAME WOULD APPLY FOR THE ELDERLY, ONLY THE SYSTEM WAS NEVER SET UP THAT WAY.

MARY LOU MARTIN>> WHAT IS THE BIG PROBLEM? THE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT MEDICARE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1965 AND IT ISN'T SET UP IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO REALLY FOCUS ON PREVENTATIVE TYPE CARE.

MARIA ARRECHAEDERRA>> THIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS WONDERFUL, BUT FOR OLDER PEOPLE, THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SAVING LIVES. I HAVE BEEN AT THIS AGENCY FOR 25 YEARS AND I HEAR FROM THE SENIORS ALL THE TIME THAT IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO LIVE FOREVER. IT'S TO LIVE WELL. IT'S TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND WITH THE INDEPENDENCE THAT THEY DESERVE AND WANT.

GAY>> IT'S ONE OF THE DISCONNECTS WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT WHEN TALKING ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND USC POLICY PLANNING PROFESSOR, GLENN MELNICK, SAYS DON'T EXPECT A SOLUTION ANY TIME SOON.

GLENN MELNICK>> ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOLVED THROUGH SOME NATIONAL POLICY. INDIVIDUAL STATES OR INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

GAY>> HERE'S A FURTHER COMPLICATION. EVERY 40 SECONDS, ANOTHER BABY BOOMER TURNS 50. IN 50 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS AGED OVER 65 WILL TRIPLE IN NUMBER. THE PEPSI GENERATION IS FAST BECOMING THE MEDICARE GENERATION, BUT THE BABY BOOMERS AREN'T ABOUT TO TAKE THE SITUATION LYING DOWN.

DR. GARY SMALL>> WE'RE AT A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE WE CAN BECOME PROACTIVE. WE HAVE A WHOLE GENERATION OF BABY BOOMERS WHO WANT ANSWERS, WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AS THEY AGE.

GAY>> DR. GARY SMALL OF UCLA'S CENTER ON AGING SAYS BABY BOOMERS CAN DO SOMETHING. PROOF IS IN THE MACARTHUR STUDY PROFILED IN SUCCESSFUL AGING.

DR. GARY SMALL>> THE STUDIES OF SUCCESSFUL AGING SHOW THAT IT ISN'T ALL GENETICS, THAT ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF IT IS GENETIC, BUT TWO-THIRDS HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES. ARE WE REMAINING ENGAGED IN AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE? ARE WE WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE? ARE WE REMAINING SOCIAL? ARE WE REMAINING ACTIVE BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY? THOSE KINDS OF APPROACHES ARE GOING TO HELP US LIVE LONGER BETTER.

GAY>> TAKING CHARGE OF HER AGING IS SOMETHING JOAN CHASSEY BENNETT TAKES QUITE SERIOUSLY.

JOAN CHASSEY BENNETT>> ONE-THIRD YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, BUT TWO-THIRDS YOU DO. WELL, TO ME, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A MAJOR PART. MAYBE I CAN'T HELP GETTING HIT BY A CAR, BUT I CAN HELP LOOKING WHEN I WALK OUT THE DOOR TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CAR COMING. (LAUGHTER)

GAY>> JOAN IS PROACTIVE WITH GOOD REASON. JOAN'S MOTHER AND AUNT DIED OF ALZHEIMER'S. SHE SUSPECTS HER GRANDMOTHER AND UNCLE WERE VICTIMS AS WELL. SHE'S ENROLLED IN SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH UCLA'S CENTER ON AGING, WORKING WITH DR. SMALL ON HIS ALZHEIMER'S STUDIES, PARTICIPATING IN THE CENTER'S MEMORY TRAINING. JOAN IS LEARNING TO ENHANCE HER MEMORY WITH RHYME ASSOCIATION. WILL THIS PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S? DR. SMALL SAYS THERE'S NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER, BUT STUDIES SUGGEST IT HELPS.

DR. GARY SMALL>> WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO GO TO COLLEGE HAVE A LOWER RISK FOR GETTING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STUDIES SHOWING THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE MENTALLY ACTIVE JOBS ACTUALLY HAVE A LOWER RISK FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. EVEN IF MEMORY TRAINING DOESN'T ULTIMATELY PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT US AND IT'S GOING TO HELP US NOW.

GAY>> IN THE MEANTIME, JOAN HAS HER OWN STRATEGY. A FEW YEARS AGO, SHE TOOK UP PAINTING TO EXERCISE THE CREATIVE SIDE OF HER BRAIN AND ALSO TOOK UP A JOB AS A TEMP TO EXERCISE HER LOGICAL SIDE.

JOAN CHASSEY BENNETT>> WHEN I WENT FOR ONE OF MY TESTS AS FOLLOW-UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE PSYCHOLOGIST SAID SHE HAD NOTICED THERE REALLY WAS A DIFFERENCE, THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN MY ABILITY TO REMEMBER BETTER.

GAY>> A SURVIVOR OF OVARIAN CANCER, JOAN IS CONVINCED LIVING BETTER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

JOAN CHASSEY BENNETT>> WHEN YOU HAVE A DISEASE WHERE YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO DIE, THAT IF YOU DON'T TAKE ACTION, YOU WILL DIE, YOU KNOW? YOU'RE THE ONE BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU, SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO WORK AT THAT. I DID AND I'VE JUST FOLLOWED IT THROUGH WITH EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE.

VAL>> NEXT, WE LOOK AT A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HEALING, A CHINESE DOCTOR IN SANTA MONICA WHO USES THE POWER OF THE BODY ITSELF TO HELP US HEAL.

JESS>> MORE AND MORE PATIENTS ARE TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR WHAT AILS THEM AND MORE WESTERN DOCTORS ARE OPENING THEIR MINDS TO WHAT THEY CALL COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE. PHILIP BRUCE HAS THIS REPORT.

PHILIP>> MASTER ZHOU USES AN ANCIENT CHINESE METHOD OF MANIPULATING ENERGY TO RID HIS CLIENTS OF PAIN AND DISEASE. THE METHOD IS CALLED QI-GONG.

MICHAEL JOHNSON>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL HIM YOUR BAD SPOTS ON YOUR BODY. HE'LL FIND THEM.

PHILIP>> DR. EDWARD WAGNER IS A NEW AGE CHIROPRACTOR. HE USES EVERYTHING FROM BLOOD TESTS TO PAST LIFE ANALYSIS TO CURE HIS PATIENTS.

>> IT'S LIKE HE'S CRACKED THE CODE. I THINK HE JUST HAS ANOTHER REALM OF DEALING WITH THE INFORMATION.

PHILIP>> MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE REJECTING SCALPELS AND DRUGS AND ARE TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF HEALING FOR THEIR PRIMARY CARE. THIS INCREASED INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HAS FORCED THE AMERICAN MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO EVOLVE.

DR. EDWARD WAGNER>> MORE AND MORE DOCTORS ARE ACCEPTING ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE THEY HAD TO. IT'S NOT FREE CHOICE.

PHILIP>> IN FACT, 13% OF THE NATION'S HOSPITALS INCORPORATE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN THE CARE OF THEIR PATIENTS.

DR. KA KIT HUI>> THE REASON WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW SEARCHING IS BECAUSE THE ACUTE PROBLEMS GET SOLVED. WHAT THEY NOW ARE SUFFERING ARE THE CHRONIC PROBLEMS OF PAIN, FATIGUE, ANXIETY, INABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE STRESS OF MODERN LIVING. SO THAT'S WHERE THE ALTERNATIVE PRACTITIONERS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.

PHILIP>> DR. HUI IS THE DIRECTOR OF UCLA'S CENTER FOR EAST-WEST MEDICINE. HE'S BLENDING BOTH EASTERN AND WESTERN MEDICAL TECHNIQUES IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE PATIENTS THE ALTERNATIVE CARE THEY'RE SEEKING WHILE MAINTAINING THE STRUCTURE AND SCIENTIFIC PROOF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY FEELS IS NECESSARY.

DR. KA KIT HUI>> THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOR PATIENTS WHO GO DIRECTLY TO ALTERNATIVE PRACTITIONERS IS THAT SOME PROBLEMS THAT ARE MORE LIFE-THREATENING, THAT ARE MORE OF CONCERN TO THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE PATIENT, MAY BE MISSED.

PHILIP>> BUT MANY PATIENTS WHO'VE SUFFERED SO-CALLED INCURABLE DISEASES BELIEVE THEIR TREATMENTS HAVE AFFORDED THEM PARTIAL, IF NOT FULL, RECOVERY.

MICHAEL JOHNSON>> WELL, THE DOCTORS SENT ME HOME AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY. AFTER MY FINAL ROUND ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THEY SENT ME HOME AND DIDN'T EXPECT ME TO LIVE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.

PHILIP>> MICHAEL JOHNSON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER THREE YEARS AGO. TWO TUMORS ON HIS THYROID GLAND HAD SPREAD TO HIS LUNGS. HE WAS TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY, BUT HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO WORSEN AND, AT SIX FOOT SEVEN, HE WAS DOWN TO 103 POUNDS.

MICHAEL JOHNSON>> I WAS TOO SICK TO DO CHEMOTHERAPY ANYMORE, SO I DECIDED TO COME HERE AND MASTER ZHOU STARTED WORKING ON ME. I DIDN'T COME HERE HOPING FOR ANYTHING. I WANTED TO PROVE EVERYBODY WRONG AND SAY THIS DOESN'T WORK, BUT IT DID. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. I CAME HERE NOT WANTING IT TO WORK BECAUSE I WAS READY TO DIE BECAUSE I WAS SO SICK, AND IT CHANGED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT BECAUSE OF HIM, I'M STILL HERE AND I OWE MY LIFE TO HIM JUST LIKE A HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT WOULD A HEART SURGEON.

PHILIP>> MASTER ZHOU IS A MASTER OF QI-GONG, A CENTURIES-OLD METHOD FOR TREATING DISEASE AND FOR MAINTAINING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. QI MEANS ENERGY AND REFERS TO THE LIFE FORCE THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE BODY. QI-GONG INVOLVES WORKING DIRECTLY WITH A PERSON'S LIFE FORCE TO IMPROVE HEALTH. MASTER ZHOU WORKS WITH THE QI ENERGY BY FOCUSING AND MOVING HIS FINGERS TO CREATE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HEAT. HE SAYS THIS IS A HEALING ENERGY.

MASTER ZHOU (INTERPRETED)>> EVERY SYSTEM NEEDS ENERGY. EVERY ORGAN NEEDS ENERGY. IF THE ORGANS OR SOME SYSTEM HAS WEAK ENERGY, THEN YOU HAVE A DISEASE OR YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

MICHAEL JOHNSON>> I'VE BEEN SEEING HIM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW. I'M NOT TAKING ANY MEDICATION. I'M NOT DOING ANY OTHER THERAPY AT ALL. NO MORE CHEMO, NOTHING. THIS IS THE ONLY THING I'M DOING. I'M NOT ON A SPECIAL DIET, NO SPECIAL EXERCISE PROGRAM, AND MY BLOOD COUNTS ARE EVEN RIGHT NOW.

PHILIP>> DR. MICHAEL UPSHER HAS EXPERIENCED MASTER ZHOU'S QI-GONG AND HE'S NOW A FIRM BELIEVER IN KEEPING AN OPEN MIND TO ALTERNATIVE METHODS.

DR. MICHAEL UPSHER>> IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT THERMOMETER. I MEAN, HE CAN RAISE THE TEMPERATURE ON MY BACK TO 202 FAHRENHEIT. IT'S REAL. IT HAS BEEN RECORDED ON FILM. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY HE CAN DO IT. I THINK PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO EXPLAIN IT IS TO BELIEVE WHAT HE SAYS. THERE'S SOME FORM OF ENERGY THAT WE DON'T COMPREHEND OR UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS ABLE TO CHANNEL AND FOCUS AND HE CAN DO EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS HE DOES.

PHILIP>> MOST PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER MASTER ZHOU'S METHOD OF HEALING AS LESS THAN MAINSTREAM, BUT DR. WAGNER IS EVEN FURTHER OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

DR. EDWARD WAGNER>> NOW IT HAS COME TO THE POINT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN'T BE TREATED BY ANY MEANS OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE OR REGULAR MEDICINE THAT, IF I GO INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALM FOR THEM, THERE ARE REMARKABLE, REMARKABLE TURNAROUNDS.

PHILIP>> WAGNER IS A CHIROPRACTOR AND NUTRITIONIST, BUT HE CAN ALSO CHECK YOUR BLOOD ON A STATE-OF-THE-ART COMPUTER, LOOK FOR TOXINS IN YOUR SYSTEM AND DEVISE HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES. BUT ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, AFTER REALIZING THAT HE HAD PATIENTS WHO WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF TREATMENT, WAGNER STARTED INVESTIGATING THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES.

DR. EDWARD WAGNER>> WE'LL CHECK THEIR CHAKRAS, THEIR AURAS, THEIR MERIDIAN, THEIR ENERGY FIELD, AND THEN WE'LL START UNRAVELING AN ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE SOUL. WE'VE HAD UNBELIEVABLE MIRACLES. PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT BE ALIVE, STILL ALIVE, DOING REALLY WELL.

PHILIP>> MOST AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AGREE THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO TRAUMA, WESTERN MEDICINE IS THE BEST. THEY ALSO AGREE THAT OUR APPROACH TO MEDICINE SEPARATES THE BODY AND THE MIND. HOWEVER, THEY'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THE MERIT IN HOLISTIC METHODS WHICH INTEGRATE THE BODY AND THE MIND.

DR. MICHAEL UPSHER>> IT APPEARS TO ME THAT WESTERN MEDICINE IS RATHER MECHANISTIC. THE BODY IS A MACHINE, WE'LL SORT OF OIL THIS PART, TAKE OUT THAT PART, SEW THAT PART TOGETHER AND IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER, WHEREAS IT'S FAR MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT. IT INVOLVES ENERGY, IT INVOLVES A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T HANDLE THAT WAY.

PHILIP>> THE FACT REMAINS THAT AN EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF DOCTORS AND PATIENTS ARE TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF HEALING.

VAL>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE LOOK AT HEALTH CARE AMONG IMMIGRANTS, SPECIFICALLY LATINO IMMIGRANTS. MORE THAN FOUR OUT OF TEN LATINOS IN L.A. COUNTY ARE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

JESS>> MAKING MATTERS WORSE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY NEEDS ABOUT 30,000 LATINO PHYSICIANS, BUT IT HAS ONLY ONE-TENTH OF THAT NUMBER. BUT NOW A NEW KIND OF HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS HELPING TO FILL THE GAP. GAY YEE HAS THIS STORY.

GAY>> MONIC URIATE MARCHES AROUND HER NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE A FOOT SOLDIER IN A WAR TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

MONIC URIATE>> I KNOW EVERY SINGLE FAMILY THAT LIVES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

GAY>> YOU WALK THIS STREET FIVE DAYS A WEEK?

MONIC URIATE>> YES.

GAY>> FIVE TO --

MONIC URIATE>> NINE.

GAY>> FIVE TO NINE EVERY NIGHT?

MONIC URIATE>> EVERY NIGHT.

GAY>> KNOCKING ON DOORS?

MONIC URIATE>> KNOCKING ON DOORS.

GAY>> SHE KNOWS EVERY BUILDING, EVERY APARTMENT AND JUST ABOUT EVERY FAMILY.

MONIC URIATE>> IT'S WONDERFUL FOR ME. EVERYBODY KNOWS ME IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

GAY>> THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE MAPLE ADAMS AREA/HOOVER ADAMS AREA, A THREE-SQUARE-MILE SECTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL LA. MOST RESIDENTS ARE LATINO WHO WORK IN THE GARMENT AND TOY FACTORIES CLOSE BY, WHERE THE WAGES ARE CHEAP AND HEALTH BENEFITS OFTEN NON-EXISTENT. AN ALARMING 46 PERCENT OF LATINOS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE NO HEALTH COVERAGE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS REGION IS RANKED THIRD IN THE NATION FOR UNINSURED RESIDENTS.

NANCY HALPERN IBRAHIM>> THE CONCEPT OF PAYING FOR INSURANCE IS AN ABSTRACTION THAT DOES NOT FIT CULTURALLY. IF YOU'RE PAYING, CONSERVATIVELY SPEAKING, TWO-THIRDS TO THREE-QUARTERS OF YOUR EARNINGS PER MONTH ON HOUSING, THE NOTION OF PAYING A PREMIUM FOR HEALTH INSURANCE THAT YOU DON'T IMMEDIATELY NEED IS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND.

GAY>> LIVING WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE TRIGGERS A FAMILIAR SERIES OF EVENTS. PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO GO FOR CHECKUPS. ILLNESS OR INJURIES GET WORSE UNTIL A PERSON IS FORCED TO GO TO AN OVERCROWDED EMERGENCY ROOM. OR IN THE CASE OF LATINOS, MANY WILL TURN TO STOREFRONT FARMACIAS THAT SOMETIMES DISPENSE DRUGS AND TREATMENT ILLEGALLY ALONG WITH BAD MEDICAL ADVICE. A YEAR AGO IN ORANGE COUNTY, A LITTLE GIRL DIED AFTER GETTING INADEQUATE TREATMENT FROM A BACKROOM FARMACIA.

NANCY HALPERN IBRAHIM>> IN OUR SITUATION, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO THEY TRUST, WHO THEY CAN GET MORE INFORMATION FROM. IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE CHILD BEGINS TO DEMONSTRATE CERTAIN SYMPTOMS, THAT THEY CAN CALL SOMEONE THEY TRUST WHO IS FULL OF ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND CAN TELL THEM PRECISELY WHERE TO GO.

GAY>> AS THE HEALTH DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT ESPERANZA COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION, NANCY IBRAHIM BEGAN A PROJECT TO DO JUST THAT. THE RESULT? PROMOTOROS DE SALUD.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY>> DIRECT TRANSLATION FOR PROMOTOROS DE SALUD MEANS "PROMOTER OF HEALTH". AS FAR AS OUTREACH GOES, IT'S AS GRASS ROOTS AS IT GETS, TAKING HEALTH CARE DOOR TO DOOR. THE FEELING IS, IF THEY DON'T REACH THESE PEOPLE, NO ONE WILL.

MONIC URIATE>> MY JOB IS MY PASSION. I LOVE MY JOB, YES.

GAY>> MONIC WAS A PROMOTORE IN HER NATIVE MEXICO, AS SHE IS TODAY. IT'S IN HER BLOOD. THE IDEA IS TO BE PRO ACTIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THE HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE OLDER AND CONTAIN LEAD PAINT. LEAD POISONING DOES SERIOUS HARM TO A CHILD'S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. THE ONLY WAY TO CONFIRM LEAD POISONING IS A BLOOD TEST.

ON A PREVIOUS VISIT TO THE VALASQUEZ HOME, MONIC SUGGESTED THE YOUNGEST GIRLS, MARILYN, AGE THREE, ESPERANZA, AGE FIVE, BE TESTED. TRANSPORTATION WAS A PROBLEM, SO MONIC PICKED THEM UP AND DROVE THEM IN FOR THE TEST HERSELF. THE PROMOTOROS WORK WITH THE ST. JOHN WELL CHILD CENTER'S PROGRAM TO PREVENT LEAD POISONING.

DR. STEVEN KAPLAN>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE VERY EFFECTIVE. IT'S AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, WHO KNOW THE PEOPLE, WHO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS, TO GET OUT THERE AND REFER THEM TO A PLACE LIKE THIS. WE THINK WE PROVIDE GOOD CARE, BUT UNLESS WE GET PEOPLE TO REFER THEM TO US, NO ONE'S GOING TO COME HERE.

GAY>> PROMOTOROS ALSO SERVE AS THE EYES AND EARS OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. A PAP SMEAR REVEALED ALICIA DE LEON HAD CLASS THREE DYSPLASIA, A POSSIBLE INDICATION OF CERVICAL CANCER. WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, ALICIA CALLED MONIC, WHO BROUGHT HER IN FOR A BIOPSY. SEVERAL DAYS HAVE PASSED AND ALICIA IS NOW EXPERIENCING PAIN AND WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE CAN SEE THE DOCTOR. BUT EVEN WITH HER ENGLISH SKILLS, MONIC HAS NO LUCK GETTING THROUGH.

MONIC URIATE>> I'M TRYING TO CALL TO THE OFFICE DOCTOR OR THE HOSPITAL AND I ASKING FOR THAT DOCTOR AND SHE HANG UP. THIS IS FRUSTRATING ME. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE BECAUSE DON'T SPEAK VERY WELL ENGLISH, I DON'T KNOW. WE NEED TO TRY AND TRY AND TRY A LOT OF TIMES.

GAY>> AND AS A PROMOTORE, MONIC DOES NOT DEFINE HER JOB IN PURELY MEDICAL TERMS.

MONIC URIATE>> THIS IS SOME CONDITIONS IN SOME APARTMENTS.

GAY>> SHE'S ALSO A HOUSING ADVOCATE BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS IN THE HOME CAN AFFECT HEALTH.

MONIC URIATE>> IF YOU LIVE IN SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS, YOUR HEALTH IS GOOD? I DON'T THINK SO.

GAY>> THE PROMOTOROS DE SALUD PROGRAM EMERGED IN RESPONSE TO THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT OF THE EARLY 1990'S. PROP 187, WHICH DENIED PUBLIC BENEFITS TO UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, KEPT MANY AWAY FROM PUBLIC CLINICS. TODAY ESPERANZA HAS 107 PROMOTOROS WORKING IN LOS ANGELES. LIKE MONIC, THEY ARE PAID STIPENDS. THOSE WHO WORK WITH THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO FURTHER TRAINING. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE, ESPERANZA HEALTH DIRECTOR, NANCY IBRAHIM, SAYS THEY DO PROVIDE VITAL PREVENTATIVE INFORMATION AND THEIR PROGRAM IS A MODEL THAT COULD WORK IN MANY LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

NANCY HALPERN IBRAHIM>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN A HEALTH CARE CRISIS IS THAT CARE HAS BEEN DROPPED OUT OF THE EQUATION. AS SOON AS YOU START DEFINING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY AS A COMMUNITY THAT'S INSURED, THE EMPHASIS IS ON INSURANCE RATHER THAN ON PEOPLE.

GAY>> AS FOR MONIC, SHE'S TAKING CLASSES AND HAS PLANS TO ADVANCE IN THE HEALTH PROMOTION FIELD. IN THE MEANTIME, BEING A PROMOTORE HAS PLENTY OF REWARDS.

MONIC URIATE>> WHEN I SEE THAT SMILE FOR THANK YOU, FOR GRATEFUL, I FEEL LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THIS WORLD.

GAY>> I'M GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. 

JESS>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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