title: Establishing a computed tomography screening clinic.
abstract: Since the publication of the National Lung Screening Trial results, there has been increasing interest among radiologists to establish computed tomography (CT) screening centers. During the past 10 years, we have operated a CT screening center in suburban Boston, MA. The purpose of this paper is to describe our process for performing self-referred CT lung screening exams, including our organizational structure, marketing, patient selection process, and standardized workflow. Direct communication between the patient and radiologist, both before and after the CT scan, in our opinion, is critical to a successful screening program. In many ways, CT screening offers radiologists a wonderful opportunity to interact directly with patients. Showing abnormal lung findings to patients on their CT scans may help create a unique "teachable" moment for current smokers and may help motivate patients to quit smoking.
authors: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mrosen2@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors: Max P
authors: MP
authors: Rosen
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Corey
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Siewert
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011871:Radiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed