For several years, this healthcare system struggled to find a sustainable program to perform outreach to patients with outstanding orders for lung, breast, and colon cancer screenings. A financial analysis of associated expenses, reimbursement, payer mixture, and downstream revenue of these screening efforts demonstrated positive net return on investment, allowing for expansion and implementation of the Population Health Support Services team to perform this task. In 2022, 12 outreach specialists scheduled visits that accounted for 38% of completed lung cancer screenings and 15% of completed breast cancer screenings for this healthcare system.

Guest:

Michael Gieske, MD

Medical Director, Lung Cancer Screening

St. Elizabeth Cancer Center

"We've demonstrated through a financial analysis of our screening programs that colon, breast, and lung cancer screening definitively have a net positive revenue. There's a return on investment for every lung cancer screen we do, for every mammogram we order, for every colon cancer screening we do. The more [screening] you do, the more volume is generated, and the better business case you make for supporting a screening program."

This podcast is part of a special series with the 2023 ACCC Innovator Award winners. For a deeper dive into this and other content that will help your team reimagine how care is delivered at your cancer program or practice, register today for the ACCC 40th National Oncology Conference, Oct. 4-6, in Austin Texas.

Resources:

ACCC Spotlights Critical Lung Cancer Screening Needs in Appalachia

Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance: Who We Are and What We Can Accomplish

PCP Insights Needed to Improve Cancer Screening in Rural Appalachia

Oncology Capture of ED Patients with Incidental Radiologic Findings

Leveraging a 3D Lung Nodule Educational Tool to Reduce Patient Distress

The Role of Population Health Navigators

Population Health Navigators: An Innovative Approach for Supporting Underserved Patients