IntegraMed America plans to open new vein clinic in Columbia, Maryland

Jan 9 2010

IntegraMed America, Inc. (NASDAQ: INMD), the nation’s leading manager of specialty outpatient healthcare facilities in the emerging, technology-focused medical niches of fertility and vein care, today announced plans to open a new vein clinic in Columbia, Maryland in mid 2010. The clinic, the company’s 35^th vein clinic, will add interventional radiology (IR) treatments to the full range of vein treatments provided at existing IntegraMed vein clinics, enabling patients to undergo a host of additional procedures. The new center will be led by Dr. Scott Buckner, a board-certified Interventional Radiologist.

Jay Higham, President and Chief Executive Officer of IntegraMed, commented, “We are excited with the prospect of bringing interventional radiology capabilities to our vein care business so that we can target a broader array of vein related conditions or disease throughout the body. We have completed extensive research on the IR market opportunity and find it to be an attractive addition to our vein care practice. There are also potential synergies with our fertility practices and consumer services affiliates, as IR is utilized in procedures such as uterine fibroid embolization, gonadal embolization and fallopian tube recannalization. Importantly, we think our patients will benefit from the center’s expanded capabilities, technology and top level patient care.”

IR is a subspecialty of radiology in which minimally invasive treatment or diagnostic procedures are performed using small catheters inserted into the body which are directed by external image guidance using live, intensified X-ray image produced by a Fluoroscope or “C-Arm.” The treatments, which require a highly skilled, board-certified Interventional Radiologist and state of the art equipment and imaging, address a broader array of procedures in new treatment areas including gynecology and urology. With IR techniques, Dr. Buckner and his team will be able to assess and non-surgically treat diseases at their source - via the venous system. This approach offers patients lower risk, less pain and reduced recovery time compared to invasive surgeries, and patients are often able to return to home or work the same day.

Dan Doman, President of the Vein Care division, added, “The Columbia vein clinic requires a board-certified interventional radiologist, a larger medical staff, a larger footprint and specialized equipment such as a C-Arm. We believe these incremental investments will be more than offset by the additional base of patients, procedures and referral sources that this capability can provide. We look forward to rolling-out this concept in new and existing markets and view Columbia as an ideal opportunity to review and refine the strategy.”