UVA Cancer Center, Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance and Buchanan General Hospital (BGH) have teamed up to make getting screened for lung cancer easier for residents of rural Virginia and West Virginia.
By simplifying the referral process and expanding community outreach, the newly formed Rural Appalachian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (RALCSI) aims to increase screening access and improve early detection rates across the region.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America, yet only 7 percent of eligible Virginia residents are screened, according to the American Lung Association. With smoking rates reaching 26.4 percent in rural areas such as Lenowisco, Mt. Rogers and Cumberland Plateau, increasing access to lung cancer screenings is vital for early detection and improved health outcomes, Virginia Department of Health data shows.
Healthcare providers in Buchanan County, Virginia, McDowell, W.Va., and surrounding areas can now easily refer patients for screenings at BGH. The initiative offers:
virtual education about screening eligibility
patient education materials
materials to guide doctor-patient conversations about screenings
streamlined scheduling for lung cancer scans, with results reviewed by UVA Health radiologists
Annual lung cancer screenings with Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) can detect cancer earlier when it is more easily treatable. Recommended by the United States Preventative Task Force, LDCT scans are quick, safe, painless and covered by most insurance plans.
A key part of the initiative is the outreach work led by Jessica Roark, a UVA Cancer Center navigation outreach specialist. Roark works with communities to raise awareness about the benefits of early detection and helps connect residents with local screening resources.
“Reaching out to the community is essential to improving health,” said Roark. “My goal is to make sure that everyone who might be eligible for a screening knows and feels comfortable taking the next step.”
BGH Director of Radiology Marty Dale said the partnership is making access of care easier for patients.
“Our collaboration with UVA Cancer Center allows us to provide essential lung cancer screenings to more patients in the community,” Dale said.
As part of the collaborative effort, UVA Cancer Center’s lung cancer screening nurse coordinators play a critical role in patient support. They schedule screenings, explain results and guide patients through any follow-up care. Coordinators also connect patients to additional resources, including programs to help quit tobacco use and cancer care services as needed.
Individuals may be eligible for lung cancer screening if they:
- are between ages 50 and 77
- have a history of smoking one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years or more or two packs a day for 10 years or more
- currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
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Rebecca Barnabi
