WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital now certified to join Lung Cancer Screening Program

The WVU Medicine Cancer Institute has long offered the highest quality lung cancer screening services to detect cancer at its earliest stages before symptoms develop. Using a low-dose CT scan of the chest, lung cancer screening can reduce the mortality rate for some eligible, high-risk individuals. In November of 2021, the WVU Medicine Lung Cancer Screening Program was extended locally to Wheeling Hospital and will now be extended to Reynolds Memorial Hospital for additional screening opportunities.

“This program has been such a benefit to our local community,” says Douglass Harrison, President and CEO of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. “We were extremely pleased to be able to add this service at Wheeling, and are equally excited to now offer services now at Reynolds Memorial Hospital,” he continues. In December of 2023, WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital received certification from the American Cancer Society to utilize one of their low-dose CT scanners as part of the Lung Cancer Screening Program. This will help alleviate patient wait times at Wheeling and will provide a more convenient location for patients living closer to Reynolds.

“Reynolds will be a site of service to the Wheeling program,” said Marquis Demniak; Advanced Practice Professional with the Lung Cancer Screening Program. “All abnormal screenings will be followed up by Dr. Robert Herron in Thoracic Surgery at Wheeling Hospital, and the program will initiate and coordinate all referrals and updates with the patient’s care team,” she added. The top risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. The WV Cancer Registry and Health Statistics Center reports that in the US, cigarette smoking is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancers. Other risk factors include secondhand smoke; radon; other substances (including asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, and some forms of silica and chromium); personal or family history of lung cancer; radiation therapy to the chest; and possibly diet.

“We are very excited to add this service at RMH,” said Tony Martinelli, President of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital. “We want to make this as seamless as possible. If you have a history of smoking, or another risk factor, don’t wait to get screened.”

The program accepts self-referrals and referrals made by a primary care provider. Patients seeking a self-referral can fill out a simple form online that will then trigger a consultation with a nurse practitioner, either in clinic or via telemedicine. Information on eligibility, and the online consultation form can be found at: wvumedicine.org/lungcancerscreening.