Quick and easy screening program uses ultra low-dose CT scanners, meets all specified USPSTF requirements, and is coordinated through the patient’s primary care physician.
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest for patients age 55-80, with a 30 pack-year history of smoking, who continue to smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years, and would be willing and able to undergo curative treatment. The Oregon Clinic has a Lung Cancer Screening program that meets all of the USPSTF requirements, including a multidisciplinary review of CT scans with nodules that are greater than 8mm in size, and using one of the few ultra low-dosage CT scanners in the Portland-metro area.
“Our lung cancer screening program provides a simple process for referring providers and helps them get the information they need to ensure their patients receive appropriate follow up. It minimizes anxiety for patients, provides options for smoking cessation, and allows patient care to be coordinated through their own doctor,” stated Dr. Bradford Glavan, Medical Director for The Oregon Clinic’s Lung Cancer screening program.
Most insurance providers are approving screening CT scans at this time (of note, Medicare is not covering lung cancer screening yet, but expect they will soon now that the USPSTF has recommended it). The referring physician will order the CT scan, The Oregon Clinic Diagnostic Imaging Services will obtain prior authorization from the patient’s insurance, and the final report will go to the primary care physician with a copy to The Oregon Clinic Lung Cancer Screening program.
To refer a patient for screening, please contact our scheduling department at (503) 963-3030. After receiving the referral, our Clinical Coordinator will contact the patient and make sure they meet the USPSTF recommendations for lung cancer screening; provide resources and counseling for smoking cessation if needed; offer the patient more information about lung cancer screening (e.g. 27% of patients who get a screening CT will have some abnormality on their CT scan, but only 1% of them will end up having cancer; 10% will have some abnormality unrelated to their lungs); explain that the report will go to their physician/provider and to the Oregon Clinic Lung Cancer Screening program; and answer any questions the patient may have about lung cancer screening.
The Oregon Clinic Lung Cancer Screening Program will track reports from the lung cancer screening CTs. If there is a nodule less than 8mm in size the report will include recommendations for a follow up diagnostic CT scan. The CT scans with a nodule greater than 8mm will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team. One of The Oregon Clinic Pulmonologists will contact the referring physician/provider to discuss the options available for further evaluation and the recommendations of the multidisciplinary team. The ordering physician/provider can then choose where to refer their patients for further evaluation.
The Oregon Clinic’s Lung Cancer Screening program is by referral only through a care provider. To refer a patient, physicians may go online or call (503) 963-3030. To learn more about our Lung Cancer Screening Program, please contact our Clinical Coordinator, Caitlin Conrad, PA at [email protected] or (503) 963-3178.