HIFU for Prostate Cancer now Available at North Carolina Specialty Hospital in Durham, North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 13, 2017 -- HIFU Prostate Services, LLC, the leading provider of HIFU technology to physician practices in the United States, has partnered with North Carolina Specialty Hospital to offer HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) for prostate cancer at their state-of-the-art hospital in Durham, N.C.

“At North Carolina Specialty Hospital, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional patient care while exceeding our patient’s expectations for quality and satisfaction. We are excited to partner with HIFU Prostate Services to provide prostate cancer patients minimally-invasive options in our patient-centered facility,” said Joy Boyd, director of surgical services, North Carolina Specialty Hospital.

Frank Tortora, MD, treated the first prostate cancer patients with HIFU this week at North Carolina Specialty Hospital.  Michael Wolff, MD will begin treating patients next month.

HIFU uses ultrasound energy that is precisely focused to rapidly heat and destroy tissue in the prostate. Due to its accuracy and precision, areas around the prostate are undamaged which greatly reduces the risk of side effects. Earlier this summer, a Medicare code was issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that may help some patients cover part of the cost of the HIFU procedure.

"The most recent decision by Medicare to issue coverage for the facility charge for HIFU is a wonderful acknowledgement of the needs of men for a treatment that offers effective treatment of prostate cancer while maintaining a high quality of life,” said Tortora of Associated Urologists of North Carolina.  “I am proud of our ability to help men achieve a satisfactory solution to control the cancer but maintain their continence and sexual ability.”

“HIFU is now a more accessible and more affordable minimally-invasive prostate cancer treatment.  It has become a lower cost alternative to prostate cancer treatments such as surgery and radiation, that also carries less risk of side effects,” said Wolff of Alamance Urological.

Although HIFU is designed as a single treatment, it can be repeated if needed. HIFU may also be used to treat patients that have failed radiation therapy and it does not preclude any future treatments including surgery or radiation. HIFU offers patients an outpatient treatment that is bloodless and allows patients to return to their normal lifestyles within a few days after treatment. 

“We have always seen high demand from patients for HIFU. The more places that we can make the non-invasive prostate cancer procedure available, the more we can do to meet the demand of those patients,” said John McLean, chief operating officer, HIFU Prostate Services.

HIFU is already available at outpatient treatment facilities throughout the United States with the most experienced HIFU physicians in the country. To learn more about where HIFU is available, visit https://www.hifuprostateservices.com/treatment-locations.

About HIFU Prostate Services, LLC
HIFU Prostate Services was founded to provide men access to a less invasive treatment option for prostate cancer that has the ability to eliminate cancer and preserve patient quality of life. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality of care, support, and technology to the patient and to the urology community for the treatment of localized prostate cancer using Sonablate^® HIFU. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and with locations in 12 cities throughout the US. Learn more at http://www.hifuprostateservices.com.

About North Carolina Specialty Hospital
North Carolina Specialty Hospital is a physician owned surgical hospital that has been serving “The Triangle” since 1926. North Carolina Specialty Hospital’s state-of-the-art medical facility specializes in orthopedics, ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat as well as sports medicine, oral, plastic, podiatry, general, bariatric, interventional radiology, pain management, and reconstructive surgery.

Media Contact:
John Linn (704) 248-7562