SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital will participate in National Lung Screening Day by offering a limited number of free low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screenings to eligible uninsured and underinsured individuals on Saturday, November 14.
The initiative, supported through a grant from the American Lung Association, means to increase access to potentially life-saving lung cancer screenings for individuals who may otherwise delay care due to financial barriers. SSM Health will provide screenings for up to 12 qualifying patients at no cost.
“Low-dose CT screening has been a remarkable tool in the fight against lung cancer,” said Gayla Hall, RN, Clinical Trial Coordinator for SSM Health in Southern Illinois. “We’ve seen an increase in patients being diagnosed at earlier stages of lung cancer which significantly improves survival rates and quality of life.”
SSM Health first became involved with LDCT screening when the program was part of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP), a clinical trial initiative that helped establish lung cancer screening as a preventative measure. Medicare began covering LDCT screenings in 2015, allowing SSM Health to formally launch the program in Southern Illinois.
In addition to providing screenings, SSM Health has introduced a regional multidisciplinary review process designed to accelerate care for patients with concerning findings. Patients whose scans receive a Lung-RADS score of four are reviewed by a team of cardiothoracic surgeons, pulmonologists and radiologists who collaborate to determine the most appropriate next steps.
“This process helps patients move more quickly from abnormal imaging to diagnosis and treatment when needed,” Hall said. “By bringing specialists together to review each case, we’re able to reduce delays and help patients navigate follow-up care more efficiently.”
The screening process is simple, painless and typically takes less than 30 minutes from registration to completion. No IV contrast is required, and the CT scan itself is only five to 10 minutes.
To participate, patients must first schedule an appointment by calling Karen Kelley, RN, at 618-899-1894. Prior to the scan, patients will meet with Nocole Abenes, APRN-CNP- for a shared decision-making visit to confirm eligibility, review smoking history and discuss any potential follow-up care if abnormalities are detected.