To have a successful low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening program, several stakeholders—including referring physicians, technologists and schedulers—need to understand key elements of the program.
In part three of our video blog series about LDCT lung cancer screening programs, Leslie Ciancibello, RT, R, CT, from the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, shares how his facility educated hospital staff and referring physicians.
Importance of Staff & Physician Education
The Seidman Cancer Center has several scheduling departments, as well as multiple Electronic Medical Records. To ensure a successful LDCT lung cancer screening program—schedulers were educated on the importance of inclusion/exclusion criteria and how to determine what study was needed.
It also was key for technologists and referring physicians to understand inclusion/exclusion criteria, follow-up processes and eligibility.
To educate patients, the Seidman Cancer Center presents a patient information sheet to those receiving a screening, along with a follow-up letter after the exam detailing next steps.
It also is a requirement, per CMS, that smoking cessation is discussed with patients receiving lung cancer screenings. Studies show that smokers who are counseled regarding smoking cessation as part of a screening program are more likely to quit smoking.
Stay tuned for the final part of our blog series to hear lessons learned from implementing a lung cancer screening program at the Seidman Cancer Center. Check out part one and part two.
Looking for more information about low-dose CT lung cancer screenings? Download our trend report for five tips to create a positive and safe LDCT screening experience for patients. Or check out our Siemens CT solutions that can help make your low-dose screening program possible.
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