St. Tammany Health System Partners with American Lung Association to Save Lives by Increasing Lung Cancer Screenings in St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Health System is proud to announce its partnership with the American Lung Association in the Louisiana Lung Cancer Screening Initiative. The program offers free lung cancer screenings to eligible Louisiana residents through November 30.

Early detection is essential when it comes to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in Louisiana and nationally. When the disease is detected at an earlier stage, it is more likely to be curable. In fact, if lung cancer is caught before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more improves to 64%.

Only about 15% of high-risk Louisianans are getting screened. The Louisiana Lung Cancer Screening Initiative seeks to increase awareness of lifesaving scans and reducing barriers to care.

“It’s right here in our vision statement, ‘We will strengthen the health of our community with compassion, innovation, and partnership,’ and that is exactly what this initiative embodies,” said Joan Coffman, President, and CEO of St. Tammany Health System. “As the community hospital for this region for 70 years, we are proud to partner with the American Lung Association in this effort to reach more people and ultimately, increase the chances of early detection for those who are at-risk and eligible for these screenings.”

“St. Tammany Health System is thrilled to partner with the American Lung Association. The process for referrals and support has been seamless, and we are already seeing an increase in screenings thanks to the invaluable resources provided to our patients. Their commitment to eliminating barriers to care aligns perfectly with our mission to provide care for patients and families with compassion, teamwork, and excellence. Although our partnership is just beginning, we look forward to a long and impactful collaboration in serving our community,” said Megan Broussard, Lung Cancer Screening Coordinator, St. Tammany Health System.

Individuals in St. Tammany, face higher rates of lung cancer than those in neighboring parishes and are encouraged to participate in the program. Individuals must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• 50 – 80 years of age
• Have a 20 pack-year history of smoking (one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years)
• Currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years

“With the Louisiana Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, we hope to empower the St. Tammany community to understand their risk for lung cancer and eligibility for a lifesaving low-dose CT scan,” said Allie Kelsey, Manager of Health Promotions at the Lung Association. “We are excited to collaborate with St. Tammany Health System on this important initiative. Together, we can make meaningful strides in increasing lung cancer screening rates and saving lives in Louisiana."

For more information about the Louisiana Lung Cancer Screening Initiative or to learn if you are eligible for a lung cancer screening, please visit Lung.org/lcs-assistance or call 844-ALA-LUNG (844-252-5864). The scans are covered by most insurance plans. However, the Lung Association can assist with financial barriers by covering the screening costs for all eligible individuals. Assistance with financial barriers, including arranging a free ride to the screening location, is available.

About St. Tammany Health System

The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is nationally recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. The health system is home to 281-bed St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, three diagnostic centers and 12 medical clinics throughout western St. Tammany Parish. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is AA- rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.