Lung Cancer Screening Workflow

Lung Cancer Screening

Based on the results of the 2011 study from the New England Journal of Medicine on low dose CT screenings, UMC now offers lung cancer screening through the Southwest Cancer Center. 

This service is covered by Medicare as health maintenance if the following guidelines are met:

1. The patient must have a documented shared decision making visit at a Screening Center
2. The patient must meet the USPSTF requirements for screening
   1. Ages 55 to 80
   2. Smoking history of 30 years or more (an average of one pack a day for 30 years)
   3. Currently smoking or have quit within the last 15 years
   4. No current cancer symptoms requiring a diagnostic workup
   5. Counseling must be provided on the importance of maintaining cigarette smoking abstinence if the patient is a former smoker; or the importance of smoking cessation if the patient is a current smoker and they must be furnished with information about tobacco cessation interventions, if appropriate.
   6. The patient must be entered into the National Lung Cancer Screening Registry through the American College of Radiology

Patients referred to the Lung Cancer Screening program will have a shared decision meeting scheduled with either Dr. Yepes or Dr. Islam.  Our pulmonologists will order the screening CT and provide follow-up on the results of the scan; e.g. regular visits for observation of a nodule, biopsy of a nodule, yearly follow-up for surveillance of a negative CT. 

To order your patient’s lung cancer screening, please select the Consult/Referral SWCC Lung Screening order in PowerChart.  Please educate your patients, they will be receiving a phone call from the SWCC Lung Cancer Screening Program Patient Navigator for scheduling of the initial screening appointment, which will take place at the SWCC, and scheduling of the Low Dose Screening CT of the chest.