Help Us Detect Lung Cancer Sooner: Refer Your Eligible Patients for Low-Dose CT Screening

Results from the National Cancer Institute National Lung Screening Trial showed that low-dose CT lung cancer screening has the ability to reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% compared to chest X-ray. Unfortunately only around 4 to 6% of people eligible for lung cancer screening are actually getting screened.

The
UVA Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program is committed to altering that
statistic. With your help, we can work to identify those patients at elevated
risk, diagnose lung cancer in its earliest stages and provide treatment when
the disease is most combatable.

Patients Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer screening is recommended for asymptomatic patients who:

• Are between the ages of 55 and 77
• Have smoked the equivalent of one pack a day
  
  for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years
• Are current smokers or have quit within the
  
  past 15 years.

Advanced

Screening Tools

The
screening process is quick, easy and non-invasive, with no IV required, no
contrast dye and minimal radiation exposure. Plus, compared to five years ago,
results are more accurate thanks to the Lung-RADS® reporting tool that
standardizes screening reporting methods and helps reduce false-positive
readings.

Encouraging

Smoking Cessation

Patients who smoke are not required to quit prior to lung cancer screening. However, smoking cessation counseling is a key component of the lung cancer screening program, and many patients find this to be one of the most beneficial aspects of their screening experience, says program coordinator Aimee Strong, DNP, AGACNP. “The UVA team meets patients where they are. We can counsel those patients who wish to quit, prescribe smoking cessation medications, and connect them with resources to help them succeed. If they’re not ready to quit, screening is still an option,” she says.

Insurance Coverage

for Screening

The
United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended the use of low-dose CT
for lung cancer screening in 2013. Since 2015, the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services has been covering low-dose CT for lung cancer screening.
Almost all private insurance companies now cover the screening as well. “The
lung cancer screening team at UVA Health receives pre-authorization from
insurance providers to ensure patients are approved and aware of potential
costs upfront,” says Strong.

Comprehensive

Follow-Up

All
patients screened for lung cancer are tracked via EpicCare after screening to
ensure they’re not lost to follow up. If something is revealed on the scan,
patients are promptly referred to a team of lung cancer experts, which may
include medical oncologists, pulmonologists, radiation oncologists and thoracic
surgeons who collaborate to ensure patients receive well-rounded care; they
have a direct link to all of the resources provided by UVA’s NCI-designated
cancer center.

To learn more or to refer a patient for lung cancer screening, call 434.924.9333. You may also submit your referral via EpicCare Link.