Local Franciscan Alliance Hospitals Selected as Screening Centers of Excellence by Lung Cancer Alliance

rot4Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point, Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City and Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Hammond recently were named Screening Centers of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance.

The hospitals were cited for their ongoing commitment to responsible lung cancer screening. Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer, carried out safely, efficiently and equitably, saves tens of thousands of lives a year, according to the alliance.

“We are proud and honored to be working with the Franciscan Alliance hospitals as Centers of Excellence. Their commitment to practice responsible lung cancer screenings will lead to advancements in research and many lives saved. They are an example to follow,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, Lung Cancer Alliance president and CEO.

Designated Screening Centers of Excellence are committed to providing information based on current evidence for identifying candidates for lung cancer screenings and to comply with comprehensive standards, based on best practices developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program, for controlling screening quality and radiation dose and diagnostic procedures, within an experienced, multi-disciplinary clinical setting.

Michael Meska, Franciscan Alliance regional administrative director of respiratory therapy-sleep and neurodiagnostics, was honored to hear of the recognition.

“Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point and Michigan City and St. Margaret Health-Hammond, are dedicated to providing patients with the highest-quality care. Low-dose CT screening has shown to be the only proven method to detect lung cancer at an early and treatable stage. We are thrilled to be part of this elite group, setting an example for responsible screening practices across the country,” he said.

Meska pointed out Franciscan Alliance has four of the 11 Centers of Excellence in Indiana; three within the Northern Indiana Region alone.

“With nine screening locations in Lake, La Porte and Porter counties, it’s easy to be screened. We are sending a clear message and making a statement to the communities we serve that there are no better hospitals or health system in Northern Indiana to have your lung cancer screening performed.”

For more information on the Franciscan Alliance lung screening program, or to make an appointment, call (855) 472-1659, or visit: FranciscanAlliance.org/cancer.

About the Lung Cancer Alliance
The Lung Cancer Alliance is committed to saving lives and accelerating research by empowering people living with or at risk for lung cancer. It provides live, professional support, referral and information services to patients, their loved ones and those at risk for lung cancer; conducts national awareness campaigns, including the award-winning No One Deserves to Die Campaign attacking the stigma of the disease and the Moments Campaign, spreading word about the risk and screening with a risk navigator tool for consumers; and advocates for multiple millions in public health dollars for lung cancer research. For more information, visit: www.lungcanceralliance.org