SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT ON BONE HEALTH PRAISED BY COMPUMED INC.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21, 2004 -- CompuMed, Inc. (CMPD.OB) -- a developer of Computer Aided Diagnostic (CAD) solutions for the healthcare industry -- praised the U.S. Surgeon General's first-ever report on bone health and osteoporosis. The company supports the Surgeon General's unprecedented efforts to raise awareness of bone diseases and the need for widespread screening to diagnose and prevent their progression.
"We applaud the insightful and dedicated action taken by the Surgeon General," said Jerry McLaughlin, CompuMed's CEO. "Stopping the epidemic of bone disease requires timely screening and treatment of at risk patients."
Osteoporosis is a silent disease that affects more than 44 million Americans and costs the nation's health care system in excess of $17 billion annually. About half of all women and one-fourth of men over the age of 50 will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Hip fractures are by far the most devastating, accounting for 300,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. alone.
In the report, the Surgeon General recommends screening tests for individuals with risk factors that indicate a strong potential for osteoporosis. These include women, especially those who are small-boned and thin; those over 65; smokers; those who rarely exercise; those with a family history of osteoporosis; and individuals who take certain medications like steroids.
CompuMed is on the vanguard of new technology that achieves such widespread testing via low cost, point of care diagnostics to meet the growing U.S. and international demand. The company's OsteoGram system uses a conventional film-based hand x-ray or digital image to screen, diagnose and monitor osteoporosis. The software-based imaging system is far less costly and cumbersome than conventional bone mass density (BMD) screening systems, which require dedicated and expensive equipment, computers, office space and staff. CompuMed is working with computed radiography (CR) providers to integrate the OsteoGram with a range of leading digital imaging platforms.
The OsteoGram is based on a bone mass measurement technique called radiographic absorptiometry (RA), which was cited in the Surgeon General's report. RA uses a conventional x-ray of the hand, scanned at high resolution, to measure bone density.
"The RA technique not only measures bone mass, but also the cortical thickness of bones," added McLaughlin. "Recent studies affirm the importance of cortical thickness as an additional measure of bone strength and overall fracture risk. CompuMed's development team is working diligently to add cortical thickness measurement to the existing OsteoGram report."
About CompuMed:
Founded in 1973, CompuMed, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CMPD) is a leading provider of computer-aided telemedicine and diagnostics technology. The company's core products are the OsteoGram and CardioGram systems. The OsteoGram, which is cleared by the FDA for commercial use, is an accurate and precise technology for low-cost osteoporosis testing. The CardioGram system remotely interprets electrocardiograms and is used by private practice, government and corporate healthcare providers nationwide. The CardioGram has the additional capability to automatically provide an over-read (i.e., follow-up review) by a cardiologist. CompuMed is headquartered in Los Angeles. Visit CompuMed at www.compumed.net.
This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, ability to raise capital, the availability of appropriate acquisition candidates and/or business partnerships, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, government regulation and other risks defined in this document. All such forward-looking statements whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
CONTACT: Erik Deutsch - Tellem Worldwide, +1 (310) 479-6111 x.15, edeutsch@tellem.com