New lung cancer screening program offered at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center

“Veterans enrolled with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, who are at risk for lung cancer, now have access to a formal screening program designed to identify lung nodules, tracking and monitoring those types of findings, and, when necessary, ensure timely diagnostic follow-up for highly-suspicious findings,” said facility Lung Cancer Screening Coordinator, Kevin Lovette.

The medical center was recently approved for the new program, Lovette noted, and through the VHA Lung Precision Oncology Program has partnered with both the Kansas City and St. Louis VA health care systems for additional services.

“Being a Veteran myself, and having many friends and family that are as well, I am thrilled we have this program,” he added. “It will be a great asset to all of our rural Veterans living in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.”

The Veterans Health Administration, Lovette said, recommends annual screening for lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography for adults fitting specific criteria, including those age 50 to 80 who have a 20 or more pack-year history of smoking, or currently smoke, or have quit within the past 15 years and have a life expectancy of more than 5 years.

VA’s screening guidance, he said, aligns with that of the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), using the best scientific evidence.

Under the program, Veterans meeting the qualifying criteria are scheduled for screenings at the facility through their primary care provider. If a radiologist notes anything suspicious in the imaging, the findings are forwarded to specialists in Kansas City to determine if more workup needs to be completed.

“With the current collaboration we have with Kansas City and St. Louis VAMCs, we can offer pulmonary and oncology review of results, and when needed, follow-up diagnostic services, including PET scanning, cutting-edge ION bronchoscopy, and ultimately, if necessary, a thoracic surgical evaluation,” Lovette explained.

The timeline for services, Lovette said, is a big benefit to Veterans.

“Most often, we can complete these services at half the time it takes to get such services in the local community,” he said. “We can do almost the whole thing usually within 2 weeks.”

Dr. Ginger Potts, quality management coordinator for the facility, was instrumental in getting the program established and is grateful for the benefits it will bring.

"Our facility is so proud to have achieved approval of the lung cancer screening program,” she said. “The relationships with Kansas City and St. Louis VA medical centers ensure rural Veterans receive top-notch, high quality care.

“Through the collaboration, we are able to coordinate care quickly for patients with suspicious findings. This results in earlier evaluation and treatment, which improves survivability for this deadly disease."

For more information about this and other programs and services offered at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, call 573-686-4151 or go online to https://www.va.gov/poplar-bluff-health-care/.