Elevating Lung Cancer Screening
Nevada has made significant progress in boosting its lung cancer screening rate in recent years. Renown Health has played an important part.
IN 2020, ONLY 1 % OF ELIGIBLE NEVADANS received a lowdose CT lung cancer screening, according to the American Lung Association( ALA). By 2023, with Nevada still languishing near the bottom of state lung cancer screening rates, physicians at Renown Health took action.
“ The health system decided to put substantial backing behind a public health effort to improve Nevada’ s screening rate,” says Kathleen Graham, DO, MPH, lung nodule provider at Renown Medical Group – Pulmonary Medicine.“ They brought me on as medical director of the lung screening program to see if there was an innovative way to improve our rate.”
Dr. Graham’ s efforts are bearing fruit.
Positive Trends Dr. Graham streamlined the process for scheduling yearly screenings, making it easier for patients to book each annual screening after the initial one.
“ Instead of requiring patients to get an order from their primary care provider for subsequent lung cancer screenings, we send patients a letter reminding them about the screening that includes a number to call to schedule,” Dr. Graham says.“ Once they call, our team verifies their eligibility and I order the CT. Afterward, I call patients with the results and send information about any incidental findings to their provider for further evaluation and workup. It’ s a collaborative effort.”
WHO NEEDS LUNG CANCER SCREENINGS?
Candidates for an annual low-dose CT screening for lung cancer include those age 50 to 80 who:
• Are current for former smokers AND
Kathleen Graham, DO, MPH
• Have a 20 pack-year history( smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years, etc.)
Those with life-limiting illnesses or would not get lung cancer treatment should not be screened.
Designated a Screening Center of Excellence for lung cancer screening by the GO2 Foundation, the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown Health has helped drive an impressive improvement in Nevada’ s screening rate. In 2024, 12.3 % of Nevadans at high risk for lung cancer received a screening, less than four percentage points below the national average of 16 %, according to the ALA. That was good enough to rank Nevada 43rd among all states – notable progress that leaves plenty of room to improve.
At Renown Health, more than 22 % of eligible patients are getting screened across the health system’ s four screening locations.
“ We see CTs for lung cancer screening at Renown Health going up year after year,” Dr. Graham says.“ The number of these screenings at the health system has increased by 20 % each year since I took on my role with the program. That’ s exciting to see. We’ ve detected a lot of cancers, the majority at an early stage.”
For lung cancer screening referrals, call 775-982-2605.
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