Free Lung Cancer Screening Program Establishes Valuable Patient Relationships

Augusta, Georgia (January 24, 2019) – A simple and free lung cancer screening can allow a patient to save money while establishing a healthy relationship for all future medical needs. The research, published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, shows that the partnership can be beneficial for patients seeking cardiology specialists, family medical care and other health-related issues, as well as for medical facilities offering free screening.

"Our mission is to screen for lung cancer sooner," said Dr. Carsten Schroeder, a thoracic surgical oncologist at the Georgia Cancer Center and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. "If we find a nodule in the lungs at an advanced stage, the survival rate is much worse than if we find it earlier."

In his article titled "Financial Analysis of Free Lung Cancer Screening Shows Profitability Based on NCCN's Broader Guidelines," Schroeder and his team badyzed fiscal years 2015 to 2017 to badess costs indirect costs, direct costs and adjusted net margin per case after taking into account income after treatment. patients with positive scans and other results.

"In total we have 1,600 people on the selection list," said Schroeder. "Of these, 1,200 have undergone a CT scan, of which just over 2% have been diagnosed with lung cancer, and the remaining 400 do not meet the criteria."

The idea of ​​developing the free lung cancer screening program began after the publication of a major research paper in the summer of 2011. The National Test on Cancer Screening of the Lung conducted by the National Cancer Institute, which involved 50,000 people, showed that a CT scan was better -ray for lung cancer screening.

"There was a 20% increase in the survival rate for patients who had CT screening," said Schroeder. "This document has been the catalyst for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to start covering the cost of patient screening."

Although patients do not need health insurance to participate in the lung cancer screening program, they must meet certain criteria, including:

• 55-75 years old.
• Currently smoking or having quit smoking for 15 years
  years.
• Smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for over 30 years
  years.

• 50-75 years old.
• Smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years
  years.
• Have at least one of the following additional lungs
  cancer risks:
  • Personal history of cancer (lung, head and neck,
    lymphoma).
  • Family history – parent, brother or sister – of lung
    Cancer.
  • Emphysema or chronic bronchitis.
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
  • Long term exposure to asbestos.
  • Asbestos-related pulmonary disease or pulmonary asbestosis.
  • Long-term exposure to silica, cadmium, arsenic,
    beryllium, chromium, diesel fumes, nickel, radon,
    smoke and soot of uranium or coal.

For his research, Schroeder and his team looked at costs out of a total of 705 badyzes. Of these 705, 418 patients were referred for follow-up procedures and expert evaluations. The adjusted net margin per case was $ 212 in the first year but turned positive at $ 177 in the third year.

One of the major factors influencing the profitability of a free screening is the ability to use the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, which covers group 2 eligible patients. At the present time, no other hospital or medical center in the Augusta River area can enforce NCCN guidelines as they charge patients for lung screening. Using the NCCN guidelines, Schroeder and his team were able to detect twice as many lung cancers as if they had only tested for group 1.

"Our free lung screening program is a victory for the communities we serve and for the hospital system," said Schroeder. "We invite them to free screening, which serves as a starting point for their medical care and their health needs for the rest of their lives."

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