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USF Health Joins U.S. Prevention Network As Exclusive Partner in Tampa Bay Area

Posted on: Thursday, 26 April 2007, 12:11 CDT

TAMPA, Fla., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Preventive Medicine(R) today announced that USF Health will be the first academic medical institution to join the U.S. Prevention Network(TM), a national network of prestigious health systems that recognize the importance of prevention. As the exclusive member of the Network in the Tampa Bay area, USF Health will open several Centers for Preventive Medicine(R) dedicated to helping individuals detect and treat health risks at the earliest stages, thereby preventing them from becoming life-threatening or chronic diseases. In addition, USF Health will introduce The Prevention Plan(TM), a ground-breaking benefit that will make preventive health services available to thousands of area employees through their employers.

In becoming a member of the U.S. Prevention Network, USF Health joins with U.S. Preventive Medicine, a healthcare company dedicated entirely to prevention. U.S. Preventive Medicine is currently forming partnerships with health systems across the country to establish a culture of prevention in America by heightening awareness among consumers and healthcare providers. Additional health system partners around the country will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We are committed to providing consumers and employers with the best, most comprehensive suite of prevention services available in the Tampa Bay area," said Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, Vice President of USF Health and Dean of the College of Medicine. "We believe that focusing on prevention and very early treatment -- even before symptoms appear -- can be extremely beneficial in helping individuals stay healthier for longer."

Through the Centers for Preventive Medicine and The Prevention Plan, USF Health will offer extensive preventive services, including an in-depth health risk assessment, clinically appropriate diagnostics, counseling and medical intervention. These services are expected to be available in spring 2008.

"Our goal in joining with USF Health and other prestigious health systems across the country in establishing the U.S. Prevention Network is to create a culture of prevention as the first priority in healthcare, enabling individuals to enjoy more good years and to provide society with a healthier, more productive population," said Christopher T. Fey, founder and CEO of U.S. Preventive Medicine. "We believe that USF Health's commitment to prevention will encourage other health systems and physician groups based on the West coast of Florida to join our network. We firmly believe that prevention is the solution to America's healthcare challenges."

The Centers for Preventive Medicine at USF Health will integrate existing medical resources into an efficient new system of personalized, preventive care that goes far beyond a typical annual physical. The specific tests selected for an individual will be based on such factors as the person's age, gender and health risk assessment. Particular emphasis will focus on preventive cardiology and cardiovascular risk evaluation, cancer screening, hearing, vision and pulmonary function evaluations and women's health screening. To engage Tampa Bay area consumers in a prevention movement, USF Health -- in partnership with U.S. Preventive Medicine -- will also develop and disseminate innovative media properties using entertainment and education strategies.

Despite $2.2 trillion dollars in annual healthcare spending, Americans are experiencing high levels of obesity and serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The lion's share of healthcare spending is currently devoted to treating people after they become sick -- when costs are highest and achieving positive outcomes is most difficult -- rather than on prevention and treatment at much earlier stages.

About USF Health

USF Health is a partnership of the University of South Florida's colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of basic biomedical sciences and physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. It is a partnership dedicated to the promise of creating a new model of health and health care. One of the nation's top 63 public research universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, USF received more than $310 million in research contracts and grants last year. It is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one of the nation's fastest growing universities for federal research and development expenditures. For more information, visit http://www.health.usf.edu/.

About U.S. Preventive Medicine(R)

U.S. Preventive Medicine(R), a privately owned company, is organizing and commercializing the market for proactive preventive health services in partnership with established hospitals and physician groups. The Company licenses its proprietary methodology, technology and branding assets to a health provider, which operates a local point-of-care -- The Center for Preventive Medicine(R) -- in a geographic territory on an exclusive basis. Individually, The Center for Preventive Medicine delivers a consistent suite of prevention services; collectively, Centers across the country form the U.S. Prevention Network(TM). For more information, please visit http://www.uspreventivemedicine.com/.

U.S. Preventive Medicine(R) and/or The Center for Preventive Medicine(R) do not themselves provide physician or professional services. All physician services are provided by independent practitioners exercising independent professional medical judgment. In addition, U.S. Preventive Medicine and/or The Center for Preventive Medicine do not interfere with or regulate the private physician-patient relationship. This document neither offers for sale nor solicits offers to purchase a franchise or investment unit in a Center for Preventive Medicine(R) or any other security.

Contacts: USF Health: Susanna Martinez, Media Relations, 813-974-2776 or smartin1@health.usf.edu U.S. Preventive Medicine: Carrie Mummert, 843-327-4065 or cmummert@uspreventivemedicine.com U.S. Preventive Medicine: Susan Pralgever, CooperKatz, 212-455-8019 or susan@cooperkatz.com U.S. Preventive Medicine: Rachael Adler, CooperKatz, 212-455-8037 or radler@cooperkatz.com

U.S. Preventive Medicine(R)

CONTACT: Susanna Martinez, Media Relations, USF Health, +1-813-974-2776,smartin1@health.usf.edu; or Carrie Mummert, U.S. Preventive Medicine,+1-843-327-4065, cmummert@uspreventivemedicine.com; or Susan Pralgever,+1-212-455-8019, susan@cooperkatz.com, or Rachael Adler, +1-212-455-8037,radler@cooperkatz.com, both of CooperKatz, for U.S. Preventive Medicine

Web site: http://www.uspreventivemedicine.com/http://www.health.usf.edu/

Source: PRNewswire

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