FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marion Crawford CaroMont Health (704) 898-1548 CaroMont Health Hosts Free Screenings and Dinner for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Gastonia, NC – September 24, 2010 – September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and CaroMont Health will provide free prostate cancer screenings to the community at Gaston Memorial Hospital from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, September 27th. All men are at risk for developing prostate cancer and it has been recognized as the most common malignancy in American males and the third highest cause of cancer deaths next to lung and colon cancer. Today, one in six U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime and approximately one in 36 men will die from prostate cancer. The greatest risk factor is age though race and family history may contribute. CaroMont Health’s free prostate cancer screenings -- available to males ages 50 and older and African American males ages 45 and over -- will include a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). Gaston Urological Associates, Piedmont Urology Associates, and Southeast Radiation Oncology will perform the screenings. Fortunately, various treatment options exist that help men overcome this disease. A key factor in fighting prostate cancer is early detection. Since introduction and approval of the PSA test by the Food and Drug Administration in 1986, prostate mortality in the United States has drastically declined. Dr. Ciamack Kamdar, Urologist from CaroMont Health, explains, “Prostate-specific antigen is a serine protease that is produced by the prostate. Prostate cancer can elevate the PSA value, but other benign conditions such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (an enlarged prostate) and prostatitis (an infection in the prostate) can also elevate the PSA.” In addition to the free screenings, CaroMont Health held a Prostate Cancer Awareness Dinner on September 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gaston Memorial Hospital in the Pine/Elm Rooms. CaroMont Health experts shared vital information about prostate cancer, prevention, detection and treatment. -MORE- About CaroMont Health – CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina is a regional, independent, not-for-profit health care system, and nationally recognized “value-based” healthcare provider (high quality, low cost). CaroMont Health is the only hospital in the region named by Thompson-Reuters as a 100 Top Hospital for quality care, and is one of only two HealthGrades’ Clinical Excellence recipients in North Carolina. CaroMont Health is among an elite group of only 19 selected participants (out of 3,000 national hospitals/systems) engaged in demonstrating “Accountable Care Organizations” (hospitals focused on accountability for highest outcomes at the lowest cost for individualized patient care). CaroMont is engaged in innovative Chronic Disease Management pilot projects in partnership with local and regional employers, is implementing innovative prevention and wellness focused on individual and population health, and has a unique national partnership with GE and Sg2 to reduce costs and create integrated and coordinated systems of care. CaroMont Health also is among a select few hospitals to be granted affiliation with Columbia HeartSource of New York—a clinical partnership that provides patient access to world-class clinical guidance and research trials. CaroMont was recently upgraded by S & P to an AA bond-rating category—based on key rating factors that include: exceptional quality and clinical outcomes, excellence in governance and management structure, comprehensive information technology infrastructure, engaged excellence and integrated medical staff, fiscal accountability, operating performance, strong financial position and low cost structure. CaroMont Health System encompasses Gaston Memorial Hospital with 435-beds; Courtland Terrace, a 96-bed skilled nursing facility; Gaston Hospice, which includes the 12-bed Robin Johnson House inpatient facility; and CaroMont Medical Group, a network of 44 primary and specialty physician offices. The CaroMont Heart Center provides a full range of life-saving cardiac care, including open heart surgery. Additionally, the CaroMont Cancer Center provides advanced 3-D radiation treatment planning and chemotherapy. An expansive, surgical suite offers the latest advancements such as stereotactic technology, which utilizes computer simulation, microscopic surgery and x-ray images to achieve pinpoint accuracy. CaroMont also offers a level III neonatal intensive care unit for high risk infants and a pre-adolescent psychiatric center. CaroMont Health is proactively engaged is achieving its vision: To be a nationally recognized leader and valued partner in promoting individual health and vibrant communities. CaroMont Health employs 3,800 health care professionals, including a medical staff membership of 455. CaroMont Health is located at 2525 Court Drive in Gastonia, N.C. and can be reached at 704-834-2000. CaroMont Quality Awards Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care CIGNA highest quality rating for Patient Outcomes in Angioplasty, Cardiac Catheterization, Colon Surgery, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Craniotomy-Adult, Disc Surgery, Heart Attack, and Spinal Fusion -MORE- Top Performer status (3rd highest score among all participating U.S hospitals, and highest score of any NC hospital) in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Premier Healthcare Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration project Aetna - Recognized Institute of Quality Cardiac Care Advanced Certification in Stroke Care from the Joint Commission Advanced Certification in Diabetes Care from the Joint Commission Hospital Value Index: Top 100 Best in Value Hospital American Heart Association Heart Failure Silver and Bronze Performance Achievement Awards. Certification in Hip and Knee Surgery from the Joint Commission Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award from College of Surgeons ACS MIDAS+ Platinum Quality Award Winner for Excellence in Clinical Performance HealthGrades - 7 five-star designations in Back and Neck Surgery (spinal fusion), Heart Valve Replacement Surgery, Sepsis Care, Respiratory Failure Care, Pulmonary Care and Gastrointestinal Procedures & Surgeries. This includes an award for excellence in care of the Back and Neck Surgery Cleverley + Associates Five-Star Honor for high community value Among only 6 percent of national hospitals to achieve Magnet recognition status for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Association -XXX-