Liberty Pacific Medical Imaging of San Francisco Brings First Toshiba 64-Slice CT Scanner to the San Francisco Area Medical Community.

Revolutionary Technology to Aid in Prevention and Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease 

SAN FRANCISCO -- Liberty Pacific Medical Imaging (LPMI), a developer, owner and operator of diagnostic imaging centers, announced today that its San Francisco center, San Francisco Advanced Medical Imaging, has unveiled the area's first Toshiba 64-slice CT scanner to the local medical community.

The Toshiba scanner features cutting-edge CT imaging, 3-D data processing technology and tele-radiology systems that will be used to help screen and diagnose cardiac disease among patients. The scanner will also allow patients access to advanced cardiac calcium scoring and cardiac CT angiography exams. These tests help to prevent and detect cardiovascular disease in patients. Additionally, with the new 64-slice technology at LPMI-San Francisco, patients' own cardiologists are able to read, diagnose and design a treatment plan of care most suitable for them.

San Francisco Advanced Medical Imaging, located at 325 Sacramento Street - 415-321-4674 (4MRI), has already built a strong presence within the cardiovascular CT angiography arena. Since its establishment in the San Francisco marketplace in 2004, the center has served as a state-of-the-art physician education and training center.

Additionally, the center was recently selected as an official authorized Toshiba training site, offering physicians from around the country education platforms about cardiac CT.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single leading cause of death in the United States for men and women, according to the American Heart Association. It afflicts more than one million people in the U.S. annually. Currently, cardiac CT angiography is the most non-invasive approach to diagnosing cardiovascular disease and providing early detection.

Dr. Anthony DeFrance, LPMI's medical director for its San Francisco location and a leading national cardiologist specializing in CT angiography, heads the innovative physician-training program in San Francisco. Under his leadership, physicians from all over the world attend training programs at San Francisco Advanced Medical Imaging to learn how to perform and interpret cardiovascular CT angiography.

DeFrance commented on the new Toshiba 64-slice CT and the center's advancements, stating: "The addition of the 64-slice at our San Francisco location will bring many benefits to patients, payors and physicians alike throughout the Bay area. This technology is the most advanced available in the marketplace today, and we are pleased to be the first to introduce it to the San Francisco area medical community. This new technology, coupled with our recent partnership with Toshiba and established cardiac CT angiography training programs, places LPMI at the forefront in diagnostic imaging throughout the greater Bay area. We are now unrivalled in the marketplace in terms of capabilities offered here."

Steven R. Renard, president and chief operating officer at LPMI, stated: "By bringing this technology to the Bay area, we are helping to enhance the delivery of care to this vast medical community. Now, LPMI can work closely with local area cardiologists to bring them the latest and greatest technology available."

To showcase the new 64-slice CT scanner, San Francisco Advanced Medical Imaging will host an open-house event for the media and local medical community on Thursday, November 17 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the center.

Encino, Calif.-based Liberty Pacific Medical Imaging (LPMI) develops, owns and operates medical diagnostic imaging centers, primarily in Northern and Southern California. LPMI offers high technology imaging solutions in the areas of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed

tomography (CT), ultrasound and fluoroscopy. LPMI currently operates three imaging centers throughout California (in Encino, Long Beach and San Francisco) and anticipates the opening of two high-end multi-modality sites by the end of 2006.

LPMI also operates a management company that provides its imaging center clients with operational leadership and support services. San Francisco-based Liberty Pacific Medical Management (LPMM) applies its extensive experience in the successful operation of profitable centers nationwide to clients and delivers a broad range of management services including site development, business planning, daily operations, strategic marketing, payer contracting/ credentialing, billing/collections, accounting, information systems, compliance, human resources management, GPO purchasing, utilization management and construction for facility build-out.