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GBMC Opens Asthma Sinus Allergy Program
Patient-Centered Philosophy, Use of Technology, and “One-Stop” Care Are Cornerstones Of New Center

BALTIMORE – November 14, 2005 –Greater Baltimore Medical Center announces a melding of medicine and modern technology with the opening of its Asthma Sinus Allergy Program (ASAP). Co-located with a large ear, nose & throat (ENT) medical practice, ASAP offers patients "one stop" care for allergy, asthma, nasal and sinus disease & related conditions under the medical direction of Alvin Sanico, M.D., FAAAAI. 

ASAP is dedicated to the comprehensive diagnosis and management of environmental allergies, asthma and nasal or sinus disease with a strong emphasis on patient education and personalized care. Initial patient assessment includes a comprehensive history and physical exam, diagnostic evaluation including allergy skin testing to identify environmental factors that could contribute to one’s condition, spirometry to assess lung function, and nasal endoscopy, which produces digital images of nasal passages for further evaluation.

The center maximizes the use of technology to improve patient care and allow for more personalized treatment.

• During the check-in process, a digital photo is taken of each patient and added to their electronic medical record, both allowing staff members to identify and personally greet patients in the reception area without having to call out their name and improving patient safety. 
• Computer workstations in each exam room allow the medical team to efficiently access and add information to a patient’s electronic medical record, enabling more time for education, examination and dialogue between patient and physician.
• Since patients having allergy skin tests or injections must wait up to 20 minutes for results, ASAP provides a complimentary coffee bar and free access to a wireless network and plasma TV at their on-site internet café.

ASAP’s location in Physician’s Pavilion North I, GBMC’s brand-new third on-site medical office building, is another example of the center’s patient-focused care model. "ASAP offers a comprehensive way of managing the airway from the nose to the lung," Dr. Sanico said.  "Patients with sinus problems can be seen not only by an allergist, but also by an ENT specialist, and can have a sinus CT scan done on-site during the same visit. This approach allows the patient to have everything done in one place at one time, eliminating the “old” model of patients having to go to different places on different days for evaluations and tests."

"By treating nasal, sinus and asthma disorders as related conditions, and having these services co-located, we can provide more efficient and effective care for patients," added Dr. Sanico, a resident of Perry Hall, Md.

Dr. Sanico is board certified in Internal Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.  He received advanced training at the Johns Hopkins Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, where he served as deputy clinical director before establishing the ASAP center at GBMC.  A member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Dr. Sanico’s interest centers on underlying mechanisms and management of allergic airways disease.

Across the United States, asthma and related conditions account for about 1.8 million emergency department visits, 465,000 hospital admissions and more than 4,400 deaths annually.  Nasal and sinus disease rank among the most common chronic conditions, affecting up to 40 million people in the United States.

For more information about GBMC’s Asthma Sinus Allergy Program, visit www.asap-gbmc.com

About GBMC
GBMC includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital; Hospice of Baltimore, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Community Health Center, which offers comprehensive health and family services to the residents of East Baltimore; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 300-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 50,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to go to www.gbmc.org. 

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