V. I. P.

One Community’s Proactive Approach to Vascular Disease


 





    Vascular disease, the #1 threat to adult life, is often attacked by those of us in the medical profession in a haphazard manner and as office time and office personnel allow. Now, one local Community Hospital in Anderson, Indiana is stepping up the attack against vascular disease in a proactive and comprehensive fashion. It has been estimated that if all modifiable risk factors for vascular disease were eliminated, life expectancy in the United States would increase by roughly 10 years.

    Utilizing a cooperative effort between local physicians and personnel at Community Hospital of Anderson, Indiana, an educational program of vascular risk factor reduction has been undertaken. This program utilizes:

  1. V. H. S. Tapes
  2. World Wide Web site available by internet
  3. A Vascular Improvement Program Committee with input from physicians, hospital personnel, and hospital administration
  4. Previously established out-patient hospital programs aimed at individual vascular risk factors
This program is in keeping with the Community Hospital Anderson mission and philosophy of service to the community:     The simplicity of the Vascular Improvement Program allows for ready duplication of this program in even the smallest of United States hospitals. V.H.S. format tapes covering various risk factors for vascular disease were filmed at the local hospital utilizing various hospital personnel (being careful to avoid using any practicing physician and being careful to avoid reference to any physician or to any group of physicians).
 

Segment: Presenter: Time In Minutes/ Total Minutes

Introduction: Hospital C.E.O.: 02:28/ 02:28

Program Overview: R.N.: 09:29/ 11:57

Exercise: Health Promotions: 13:41/ 25:38

Stress Management: R.N. (Stress Center): 36:24/ 62:02

Diet: Registered Dietitian: 28:46/ 90:48

Weight Management: R.N.: 08:04/ 98:52

Smoking Cessation: Respiratory Therapist: 11:01/ 109+

Hypertension: R.N.: 07:40/ 117+

Diabetes Mellitus: R.N.-Diabetic Educator: 12:32/ 130+

Medicines: Clinical Pharmacologist: 23:07/ 153+

Longevity: R.N.: 09:02/ 162+

C.P.R.: R.N.-C.P.R. Instructor: 11:02/ 173+

Post-Script: Hospital C.E.O.: 01:42/ 174+

Credits: Computer Graphics: 03:28/ 178+

    Graphics segments introducing each of the above topics were generated using a Digital Video Producer computer program, but other commercially available computer programs would also be satisfactory. The computer graphics were captured on V.H.S. tape. Audio (music) segments to accompany tape graphics were obtained via internet vendors and written permission to use these audio segments commercially was purchased. A master tape of computer graphics (segment lead-ins and credits), audio segments, and clinical segments was then completed using a maximum tape size of T-180 which allows 3 hours of taping at "SP" (standard play speed) to assure capture of the highest quality audio. Upon completion of the master tape, 300 copies of a V.H.S. tape were ordered from the "best dollar" local tape duplicating company without labels or packaging.

    Attractive, colorful labels were designed for the V. H. S. tapes using Avery Media Label software available commercially via OfficeMax or business supply retailers. The final label format was given to OfficeMax for label production in quantity.

    V.H.S. cassette cases were purchased at best price (58 cents) in bulk boxes of 100. Clear cases with full, clear, wrap-around plastic window (sleeve) on the outside of each case were selected.

    Inserts for the outside of the V.H.S. cases (to fit in the plastic sleeves around the V.H.S. cases) were designed using a standard Microsoft Publisher program and the size of the inserts was determined by measuring and cutting pages to fit and to insert snugly in the V.H.S. cases. A prototype of a final color insert (taped together and complete with graphics) was presented to OfficeMax for color copy duplication in a heavier stock paper.

    Final assembly of the cassette tapes with their labels, of cassette cases with their inserts, and finally of cassette tapes into their cases was accomplished.

    Colorful, laminated posters (18" by 24") were created by using a standard Microsoft Word computer program. The original of the poster was all black print or black design on an 8 ½ by 11 inch white paper. The enlargement, copying, and laminating was done by OfficeMax (offering many poster colors).

    A letter of program design, intent, and rationale (see attached) was composed and duplicated on quality stationery by OfficeMax. Also, a standard columnized form was created using a standard Microsoft Word computer program for the purpose of tracking V.H.S. tape loans. Copies of the program letter and 2 copies of the tape-tracking forms were placed in colorful Smead file folders.

    Five copies of V.H.S. tapes, a colorful, laminated poster, and a colorful file folder containing a letter of program description and tape-tracking forms were taken to each physician having primary care responsibilities (including family practice, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology) or vascular surgery responsibilities. The color poster indicating tape loan availability was posted prominently in waiting rooms and office personnel were instructed on tape-tracking forms. One-on-one contact with individual physicians for program familiarization was accomplished. Local libraries, the Community Hospital Anderson library, and the Community Hospital Anderson Nursing Education section were contacted and agreed to host V.H.S. tape rentals for the program. Future plans will include school libraries for program tape hosting as numbers of tape copies permit.

    A World Wide Web site was designed with links for the various cardiac risk factors to other internet sites and reference links were posted to other internet sites for healthy eating, cardiac information, stroke information, longevity calculator, body mass index calculator, and other health issues. An easy to remember web site address was selected and acquired as http://V-I-P.ORG and was referred to on the V.H.S. cassette case, on office posters, and frequently in the V.H.S. tape graphics and clinical segments.

    A program launch was held in the Community Hospital Anderson physician lounge to introduce the program to local physicians and to visibly thank program participants. Valentine’s day in the middle of National Heart Month was selected as the kick-off day for the program.

    Funding for this program came from pharmaceutical grants. The participating companies were:

    Funds from the grants were deposited in a V.I.P. account managed by Community Hospital Anderson Foundation. All disbursements from the account required valid receipts which were in turn reimbursed. A written indication that any donation to the V.I.P. production could be made to the C.H.A. Foundation in care of the V.I.P. program was placed on all V.H.S. tape boxes and in the credits of each V.I.P. V.H.S. tape. No hospital funds were utilized in the program development. All program presenters were asked to sign a permission slip allowing the V.I.P. program the ability to use their film segments.