To date, the Preventorium has seen more than 15,000 patients. Most are recent immigrants who have been convinced by Dr. Huerta's broadcasts that prevention and early detection of illness are essential. Dr. Huerta said he believes that using the media to sell a disease prevention and health promotion message and providing preventive care and screening in an affordable, one-stop setting could work with almost any underserved group. This model could save thousands of lives and millions of dollars in health care costs by enabling physicians to treat patients at an earlier stage, he added.