Media Contact: Michael Schwartzberg, GBMC Media Relations Manager

(O): 443-849-2126/Cell: 410-258-3465eMarch 2:]

 GBMC Hosts Free Asthma & Allergy Screening Event  

BALTIMORE, Md. –   April 21, 2007 – The Asthma Sinus Allergy Program at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (ASAP@GBMC) is hosting a free asthma and allergy screening on Tuesday, May 22, 8 a.m.-10 a.m., as part of the 11^th Annual Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, co- sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Across the United States, asthma accounts for about 1.8 million emergency department visits, 465,000 hospital admissions and more than 4,400 deaths annually.

The screening will take place in the Civiletti Conference Center (Room F) in Physician's Pavilion East, 6565 N. Charles St.  Appointments are not required.  Participants should park in Garage E/Iris Park.

The program screened more than 100,000 people and referred more than half for a professional diagnosis in its first decade. During the screening, open to both adults and children, participants will complete a brief questionnaire and undergo a breathing test that involves blowing into a tube. In addition to identifying people who might be at risk for asthma and allergies, the screening program provides an opportunity for those who already know they have asthma or allergies to talk with a specialist about their condition and how to keep it under control.

“Since asthma and allergies are chronic conditions, some patients begin to think that it is normal to have symptoms and they simply have to live with the problem,” said Alvin Sanico, M.D., FAAAAI, medical director of ASAP.  “The fact is that these conditions can be controlled and should not negatively affect their quality of life.”

“We can even find ways to treat the disease without having to rely on medications forever,” Dr Sanico added.  “The first step is to identify the root cause of the problem.”

Co-located with a large ear, nose & throat practice, ASAP@GBMC (www.asap-gbmc.com) offers patients "one stop" care for allergy, asthma, nasal and sinus disease & related conditions. The center offers painless (no needle) allergy testing, with results in 20 minutes.   Patients with co-existing conditions such as chronic sinusitis, which can impact their asthma, can receive a sinus

CT scan and be evaluated by a specialist during the same visit, eliminating the need for multiple appointments.

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; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 292-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 60,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to www.gbmc.org

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