Northern Light Health enhances Lung Cancer Screening Program technology

Date: 10/11/2021

Bangor, Maine (October 5, 2021) – Northern Light Health is now using advanced technology to identify, screen, and support more patients with lung cancer throughout the state of Maine. Lung Cancer accounts for 25 percent of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and causes more deaths than the next three cancers combined. Maine’s lung cancer rates are 30% higher than the national average, and 75% of lung cancer cases diagnosed in Maine are detected too late and, as a result, are less likely to be curable. However, lung cancer screening rates remain some of the lowest. By using advanced technology Northern Light Health is now able to automatically identify patients at a higher risk of lung cancer and notify these patients that they should be screened. Increased screenings rates result in increased early detection improving the 5-year survival rate from 6 percent to 57.5 percent according to the American Lung Association.
 
Amy McClary, RN BSN, lung cancer screening nurse navigator, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center says, “Northern Light Health is excited to use this new technology to support our lung cancer screening patients and providers. We look forward to the in-depth analytics it will provide to help us better understand our opportunities for improvement so we can continue to meet the needs of the communities we serve.”
 
Northern Light Health’s investment in state-of-the-art lung cancer screening technology is a further commitment to improve population health in Maine through lung cancer education, eligibility identification, lung cancer screening outreach programs, and a more effective and efficient lung cancer screening program.
 
To speak to Amy, please contact Marketing and Communications at 207.973.9530 or emmcmediarequest.northernlight.org