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CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 27 /PRNewswire/ — USHIFU, LLC, the exclusive distributor of the minimally invasive Sonablate(R) 500 for prostate cancer Treatment in North and South America, announced that the June 16, 2008 edition of ABC News NIGHTLINE featured a segment on high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for treating prostate cancer outside of the United States using the Sonablate(R) 500.
According to the segment, men diagnosed with prostate cancer have the ability to travel outside of the United States to receive HIFU, a non invasive, outpatient procedure for prostate cancer.
The segment failed to mention that the Sonablate(R) 500 HIFU Treatment is currently involved in two different FDA-approved clinical trials in the United States to gather data important for analysis of the technology by the FDA. The first is a pivotal trial for the Treatment of primary organ confined prostate cancer that will enroll 466 participants at 24 different centers. A second pivotal trial will begin for the Treatment of recurrent prostate cancer in men who have failed external beam radiation therapy.
Dr. Herbert Lepor, Chairman of Urology at NYU School of Medicine and medical monitor for the trials said, “I have personally reviewed the preliminary data and observed the Sonablate(R) 500 in action and I am impressed with this advanced technology for ablating the prostate. These rigorous clinical trials will add to the international data already available and will further help define the appropriate role of the Sonablate(R) 500 device in the Treatment of prostate cancer,” Lepor added.
If patients meet the enrollment criteria they may qualify to enroll in the U.S. HIFU clinical trials. For more information about the clinical trials eligibility criteria call USHIFU at 1-877-874-4389.
“HIFU offers non invasive Treatment option for men who are looking for a therapy that will not completely disrupt their lives. A story on a prominent news program, such as ABC, NIGHTLINE increases awareness of the procedure and encourages people to conduct personal research to see if HIFU is a Treatment option they should consider,” said Steve Puckett, Jr., USHIFU Chief Executive Officer.
In the program, NIGHTLINE followed HIFU patient Richard Brightmire, as he traveled to Cancun, Mexico to have HIFU in February. According to the story, Brightmire chose HIFU because he wanted to preserve his quality of life and he was not satisfied with the other Treatment options that were presented to him.
Four months after his procedure, Brightmire’s PSA is zero and he has maintained his quality of life. “I’m doing fine since the HIFU procedure. Everything is back to normal,” Brightmire said.
“I think that NIGHTLINE stressed sexual preservation as the main reason for going with HIFU. It’s my belief that sexual preservation is only one of several important aspects,” Brightmire continued. “For me, I went with the procedure because of the results outside the U.S. that show it to be non-invasive and show a lower risk of long-term hospitalization, and a lower risk of incontinence as well as impotence especially compared to surgery and other treatments available today.”
USHIFU recognizes that, as the segment mentions, not all physicians are advocates of new prostate cancer therapies, “We understand that there is a very high bar of scrutiny for new prostate cancer Treatment modalities, as there should be,” Puckett said. “We highly encourage physicians to evaluate the technology for themselves and explore the international clinical outcomes that exist.”
“In the program I found it particularly interesting that Dr. Patrick Walsh, of John Hopkins University was referenced as an expert with regards to HIFU. To my knowledge he has never seen or used our technology. We extend an invitation for him, as well as any other physician, to come see HIFU firsthand and learn,” Puckett added.
The Sonablate(R) 500 was developed by Focus Surgery, Inc. and is manufactured by Misonix, Inc. who also holds distribution rights in Europe. Takai Hospital Supply Ltd. and THS International distribute the Sonablate(R) 500 in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
USHIFU, LLC

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 15 /PRNewswire/ — Diagnostic health Corporation (DHC), an independent provider of diagnostic imaging services, has announced the appointment of Robert E. Gontarek as its chief operating officer effective Monday, May 19, 2008. In this role, Gontarek will oversee the operations of DHC’s more than 45 diagnostic imaging centers across the country.
Gontarek joins DHC with nearly 20 years of experience in radiology and outpatient imaging business management. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of operations for CBIZ Medical Management Professionals, Inc. (MMP), the nation’s second-largest provider of outsourced practice management services.
“We are pleased to have someone with Rob’s industry experience join our leadership team,” said Diane Munson, president and chief executive officer of DHC. “His expertise in radiology and outpatient imaging management, business development, and strategic planning will be critical as we continue to provide quality services to our patients and focus on positioning Diagnostic health Corporation for future growth.”
At MMP, Gontarek was responsible for all business operations in the Western United States, including 35 business operations in 11 states and a senior management team of 30 practice managers providing business management services to hospital-based physician and outpatient imaging centers. Prior to his role at MMP, Gontarek served as senior vice president of operations for Medaphis Corporation where he was responsible for the growth and profitability of Medaphis Corp’s operating units in the central United States.
“I am very excited to be part of this growing and dynamic company,” said Mr. Gontarek. “The industry is becoming increasingly complex and we have a great opportunity to build on the quality services provided by DHC’s more than 1,000 employees across the country while creating a strategy for a successful future.”
About Diagnostic health Corporation
Diagnostic health Corporation is a stand-alone provider of diagnostic imaging services with more than 45 freestanding locations across the country. DHC is a fully owned subsidiary of The Gores Group and offers a combination of outpatient diagnostic imaging services, including MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine services. For more information, please visit .
About The Gores Group
Founded in 1987, The Gores Group is a private equity firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm’s operating experience and flexible capital base. The Gores Group has become a leading investor, having demonstrated over time a reliable track record of creating substantial value in its portfolio companies alongside management. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, The Gores Group maintains offices in Boulder, Colorado and London. For more information, please visit .
Diagnostic health Corporation

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MELVILLE, N.Y., April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Gentiva Health Services, Inc. , the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive home health services, announced today that it is scheduled to present from 8 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. ET, Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the SunTrust Robinson Humphrey 37th Annual Institutional Unconference in Atlanta.The presentation will be available to the public via a live audio web cast, which may be accessed by visiting to register for the live event or listen to the archived version. Visitors to this site will also be able to request advance notifications of this and other upcoming Gentiva events.Gentiva executives will give attendees an overview of the Company’s operations and strategic priorities, and review opportunities for growth as the U.S. home health industry provides more services to an aging population.About Gentiva Health Services, Inc.Gentiva Health Services, Inc. is the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive home health services. The Company serves patients across the United States, through its direct service delivery units or through CareCentrix(R), which manages home health services for major managed care organizations. Gentiva is a single source for skilled nursing; physical, occupational, speech and neurorehabilitation services; hospice services; social work; nutrition; disease management education; help with daily living activities; respiratory therapy and home medical equipment; infusion therapy services; and other therapies and services. Gentiva’s revenues are generated from federal and state government programs, commercial insurance and individual consumers. For more information, visit Gentiva’s web site, , and its investor relations section at . GTIV-GForward-Looking StatementCertain statements contained in this news release, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believes,”"anticipates,”"intends,”"expects,”"assumes,”"trends” and similar expressions, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current plans, expectations and projections about future events. However, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the Company’s ability to successfully execute its growth strategy; the impact of significant indebtedness on the Company’s liquidity and its ability to meet the requirements of its creditors; general economic and business conditions; demographic changes; changes in, or failure to comply with, existing governmental regulations; legislative proposals for healthcare reform; changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels; effects of competition in the markets in which the Company operates; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; availability and terms of capital; loss of significant contracts or reduction in revenues associated with major payer sources; ability of customers to pay for services; business disruption due to implementation of new business systems, or due to natural disasters or terrorist acts; a material shift in utilization within capitated agreements; and changes in estimates and judgments associated with critical accounting policies and estimates. For a detailed discussion of certain of these and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in this news release, please refer to the Company’s various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the “Risk Factors” section contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2007. Financial and Investor Contact: John R. Potapchuk 631-501-7035 Media Contact: David Fluhrer 631-501-7102 516-589-0778Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

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