Respiratory care
Respiratory care at King's Daughters' Health (KDH) is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with registered or certified therapists. All of our staff members are state licensed. KDH follows national guidelines for its Lung Screening Program. These guidelines were developed by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Low-dose CT lung cancer screening
King's Daughters' Health offers a low-dose CT lung cancer screening (LDCT) program. Unlike a chest x-ray, a CT scan produces a 3-D image of the lungs that provides greater clarity and reveals more details. A CT is able to detect very small nodules or other abnormalities that could indicate lung cancer in its early—and most treatable—stages.
Eligibility criteria:
- Be between the ages of 55 and 77 years of age.
- Be a current smoker or have quit smoking within the past 15 years.
- Have a 30 pack year or greater history of tobacco smoking.
- Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer.
Appointments
For Medicare patients and those with commercial insurance, your provider's office will have the screening schedulers contact you to set up an exam date and time. If you are a self-pay patient (no insurance), you may register through the Direct Access Testing program at the hospital; the cost will be $88, due at the time of registration. Please note: As self-pay patients arriving for Direct Access Testing will have not have an appointment time, patients will be worked into the CT schedule at the earliest possible time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my provider to order the screening, or can I request one myself?
Medicare or commercial insurance patients. If you have Medicare or commercial insurance, you must have a written order from your provider to complete the LDCT screening.
Self-pay (no insurance) patients. If you do not have medical insurance, you are not required to have a written order prior to registering for an LDCT screening (exam).
Is this free for Medicare patients?
Yes. If you meet the eligibility requirements, Medicare will cover the cost of the screening.
Will you bill my insurance?
If you have commercial insurance, we will complete a precertification to be sure that your insurance will pay for the screening scan.
How much does the screening cost?
If you have commercial insurance, costs may vary depending upon your insurance plan and deductible. If you do not have medical insurance (self-pay), the cost of the screening will be $88.
How do I find out the results of the screening?
One of our board-certified radiologists will review your CT exam. If something abnormal is found, you will be contacted by your primary care provider or referring physician/provider.
How long does the screening take?
When arriving, plan on about 30 minutes to complete the registration process and another 15 minutes to complete a mandatory questionnaire. The CT scan itself should last only a few minutes.
How often can I have the screening test?
The LDCT screening exam may be repeated at 12-month (or greater) intervals if the previous scan was negative. Any suspicious finding removes the patient from eligibility for screening follow-ups.
A previous exam came back with abnormal results; can I have another screening?
Any suspicious finding in a previous scan removes the patient from eligibility for screening follow-ups. Follow-up CT scans for suspicious or abnormal finding are considered diagnostic and must be ordered by a provider. For self-pay patients, the $88 screening fee would no longer apply.
Additionally, the LDCT screening exam cannot be performed as a follow-up to an abnormal chest x-ray. If a chest x-ray has been done and it is abnormal, a follow-up CT would be considered diagnostic and must be ordered by a provider.
Where is the screening performed?
The LDCT screening exam is performed in the Medical Imaging Department at the hospital. Please call 812.801.0132 for additional information.