Steps for Increasing Lung Cancer Screening: A Guide for Primary Care Practices
The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT) has developed the Steps for Increasing Lung Cancer Screening: A Manual for Primary Care Practices. This guide offers evidence-based, expert-endorsed recommendations to help improve lung cancer screening (LCS) rates in the primary care setting.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.1 For people at higher risk of lung cancer (mainly because they smoke of used to smoke) annual low-dose computed tomography scans can save lives. Yet, LCS is underutilized.2
Watch the Steps Guide launch webinar (held August 6, 2025) to learn all about this incredible new resource! A PDF of the slide deck is also available.
Designed for Your Workflow
This manual provides 6 easy-to-follow steps that can help your practice develop, refine, and optimize an LCS program.
- Identify eligible patients for LCS using tobacco history documentation.
- Determine an LCS screening model that works best for your practice.
- Review or refine LCS workflows for shared decision-making, tobacco cessation, and patient education.
- Build proficiency in LCS conversations with stigma-free, patient-centered language.
- Get patients screened by navigating insurance, referrals, and incidental findings.
- Measure and improve performance of LCS efforts with tracking tools and reminder systems.
References
- Siegel RL, Kratzer TB, Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Jemal A. Cancer Statistics, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin. 75(1):1-36. doi:10.3322/caac.21871
- Bandi P, Star J, Ashad-Bishop K, Kratzer T, Smith R, Jemal A. Lung Cancer Screening in the US, 2022. JAMA Intern Med. 2024;184(8):882-891.