September 13, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Communications Department
443-643-4200

KICKING OFF RAVENS SEASON WITH MAMMOGRAMS IN MIND
$50,000 NFL’s “A Crucial Catch” Grant in support of the American Cancer Society Provides Free Mammograms for Underserved Harford County Women In partnership with Upper Chesapeake Health

WHAT: Three hundred women, ages 40 and older, who live in Harford County and are either uninsured or medically underserved, will be able to receive mammograms, breast screenings and breast health education thanks to a generous $50,000 Crucial Catch grant made by the National Football League and the Baltimore Ravens to the American Cancer Society.

The Crucial Catch national initiative is a Community Health Empowerment Program that provides breast cancer screenings to high-need communities nearby 17 NFL team locations in the U.S. This program is made possible with funds raised by the National Football League’s A Crucial Catch campaign in support of the American Cancer Society. Harford County was identified as one of these high-need areas based on its high breast cancer incidence and mortality. The county’s growing Hispanic and minority population and rural character are contributing factors to these health disparities, requiring greater outreach and access to health services. In total, the grant provides provide community outreach and education on breast health to 400 underserved women ages 40 and older, including 300 mammograms.

A Crucial Catch is being implemented as a partnership with Upper Chesapeake Health, which has a primary care clinic in Havre de Grace as well as a mobile van that travels to four locations, specifically serving low-income patients in need.

To be eligible for the Crucial Catch program, women must be:
• Age 40 and up
• Uninsured or underinsured with an income ceiling of up to 300 percent of the Federal poverty level
• Residents of Harford County

WHEN: Screenings begin in September 2012.

WHO: Gloria Crockett, Maryland State VP, American Cancer Society
Vickie Ensor Bands, MSN, MSA, RN, Director of Community Outreach and the Primary Care Clinic at Upper Chesapeake Health

CONTACT: For information about the program or an appointment with the Upper Chesapeake
Health System Primary Care Clinic, call 443.843.5758.

"We are proud that the NFL is investing in Maryland to support women's health through the Crucial Catch program,” said Gloria Crockett, Maryland State VP of the American Cancer Society. “We are very happy to partner with the Upper Chesapeake Health System, which has a strong commitment to serve the medically underserved and minorities in need. The American Cancer Society has a mission to ensure access to mammograms for women, and thanks to the NFL Crucial Catch program and Upper Chesapeake Health, we will be able to increase the fight against breast cancer in Harford County.”

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. For cancer news in your community, visit sacancernews.org.

About Upper Chesapeake Health
Established in 1984, Upper Chesapeake Health is a not-for-profit health organization based in Harford County. The organization owns and operates Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Harford Memorial Hospital and Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation and is an affiliate partner with the University of Maryland Medical System. One of the largest private employers in Harford County, Upper Chesapeake employs almost 3,000 team members. Visit www.uchs.org to learn more.

March 22, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Communications Department
443-643-4200

UCH Primary Stroke Center Wins Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

Havre de Grace. MD- The Primary Stroke Center at Harford Memorial Hospital (HMH), a member of Upper Chesapeake Health, has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the Center’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients. When a stroke strikes, Harford and Cecil County residents can rely on receiving unparalleled care close to home.

The goal of the stroke program is simple—to improve outcomes for individuals who suffered this medical emergency. This is especially important considering that in the state of Maryland, a patient arrives at the hospital every 30 minutes suffering from a stroke.

To receive the Gold Plus Award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke quality achievement indicators for two or more consecutive years and achieve 75 percent or higher compliance with five of 10 quality measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and this award demonstrates Harford Memorial’s commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care,” said Syed Shaukat, M.D., Medical Director of the Primary Stroke Center.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

For more information on Get With The Guidelines® and Stroke Gold Plus recognition, visit heart.org/quality.

Established in 1984, Upper Chesapeake Health is a not-for-profit organization based in Harford County. The organization owns and operates Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Harford Memorial Hospital and Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation. One of the largest private employers in Harford County, Upper Chesapeake employs almost 3,000 team members. Visit www.uchs.org to learn more.