Temple Health in Philadelphia is urging long-time smokers and former smokers to undergo yearly lung cancer screenings, with the addition of a simple test that can provide doctors with valuable information. Low-dose CT scans are a quick and easy procedure that could potentially save many lives from lung cancer. However, only about 6% of eligible individuals are actually getting screened, and even fewer do so on a regular basis.
Melissa Liverpool, RN, a nurse navigator with the Temple Healthy Chest Initiative, explains that adults over the age of 50 who have smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 20 years are eligible for the CT scan, as well as heavy smokers who have quit within the past 15 years. The procedure is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies, and can offer insights into various internal organs, detecting issues such as thyroid nodules and osteoporosis.
In addition to the CT scan, Temple also includes a lung function test to screen for COPD, measuring the lungs’ capacity and checking for any obstructions or restrictions. Liverpool emphasizes that this comprehensive approach is crucial for identifying potential health concerns in the lungs early on, allowing for prompt referral to specialists for further assessment and treatment.
To encourage more frequent testing, Temple provides education to patients, sends reminder calls and letters, pre-orders and schedules future tests, and plans to introduce reminder texts. Liverpool is hopeful that with increased participation, lung cancer screenings could become as routine as screenings for breast and cervical cancer in the future.
Overall, the efforts by Temple Health aim to catch health issues in the lungs early, ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate care.