July 12, 2017 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has been named a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance for its ongoing commitment to responsible lung cancer screening.
Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer saves tens of thousands of lives a year, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance. To ensure that screening is carried out safely, efficiently, and equitably, patients need to be assessed by their physician for eligibility and must engage in counseling and a shared decision-making visit. Designation as a Screening Center of Excellence demonstrates that Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is committed to providing clear information, based on current evidence, on which patients are a candidate for lung cancer screening and compliance with comprehensive standards developed by premier professional organizations for controlling screening quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures within an experienced, multidisciplinary clinical setting.
“Since we began performing low-dose CT scans for lung cancer in 2014, we have screened more than 600 at-risk smokers and former smokers. Six cancers were diagnosed,” said Mark Shapiro, MD, chief of radiology at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Prior to the introduction of this important tool, physicians had little to offer for the early detection of lung cancer. The demonstrated value in this screening, however, entails adhering to evidence-based criteria and guidelines. Earning this designation is a reflection of the commitment to patient safety and quality of every member of our team.”
“We are proud and honored to be working with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as a Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, president and CEO of the Lung Cancer Alliance. “Their commitment to practice responsible lung cancer screening will lead to advancements in research and many lives saved. They are an example to follow.”