UI Lung Cancer Screening Program helps patients stay on track with early detection

Lung cancer can develop without noticeable symptoms, making screening an important tool for finding the disease before it advances. Since 2018, the University of Iowa Lung Cancer Screening Program has helped patients access annual screening, understand their results, and receive follow-up care when needed.  

Led by Kimberly Baker-El Abiad, MD, clinical associate professor in pulmonary, critical care, and occupational medicine, and Sara Kraus, ARNP, DNP, FNP-BC, a pulmonary nurse practitioner in the same division, the program provides annual screening with patient education and coordinated follow-up. 

The program uses a hybrid model that allows clinicians to manage screening independently or to refer patients to a centralized team for additional coordination and support. For those enrolled in the program, the team confirms eligibility, discusses the benefits and risks of screening, schedules low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans, reviews results, and helps patients return for annual screening.  

“Lung cancer can develop without causing symptoms, and by the time symptoms appear, it may already be more advanced,” Kraus said. “Screening allows us to identify cancers earlier, when they are often more treatable and potentially curable.”  

Connecting eligible patients with screening
Under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines followed at UI Health Care, people generally qualify for lung cancer screening if they are between 50 and 77 years old, have a smoking history of smoking at least one pack a day for 20 years, and either currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years. Eligible patients are screened annually with a low-dose CT scan.  

Any provider who believes a patient meets these criteria can refer them to the program. Before the scan, patients participate in a shared decision-making visit by phone or in person with a screening specialist to discuss possible benefits and risks. Support for quitting smoking is also made available when needed.  

Despite the benefits, many eligible people are unaware they qualify, especially when they feel healthy. Other barriers to getting screened include transportation, insurance or cost concerns, difficulty accessing primary care, and stigma surrounding smoking.  

“Our goal is to make screening as accessible and straightforward as possible,” Kraus said. “Helping patients understand their eligibility, navigate the screening process, and receive appropriate follow-up is an important part of reducing those barriers.”  

Care coordination after initial scan
The program’s work continues after a patient receives their results. When a scan identifies an abnormal finding, Kraus personally reviews the results and contacts the patient to explain what they mean and what should happen next.  

Depending on the results, patients may need repeat imaging or further evaluation by lung nodule specialists at UI’s Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. If cancer is diagnosed, the team helps connect patients with the appropriate specialists for treatment, which could involve a variety of approaches.  

The team also works to address barriers to care and keeps referring providers informed.  

Strong patient follow-up
The UI Lung Cancer Screening Program expects to screen approximately 1,500 patients in 2026. Since its launch, the program has completed nearly 7,000 low-dose CT screenings. 
Patient retention is another measure of its impact. Among patients without abnormal findings, 89% return for annual screening, compared with the national average of 57% or less. More than 90% of patients with high-grade findings return for recommended follow-up.  

Kraus attributes the program’s success to the collaboration within its core team, which includes Mindy Coghlan, RN, lung cancer screening specialist; Blanca Ginez, clinic services specialist; and Kim Baker-El Abiad, MD, medical director. The team also works with Health Care Information Systems partners to support the program’s operations. UI Health Care is recognized as a Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence.  

“What I’m most proud of is our team and the commitment everyone brings to our patients. We don’t just perform the screening CT; we stay connected with patients and help them navigate whatever comes next,” Kraus said.  

The program will host its annual Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Day on Nov. 11 from 8am–4pm in the first-floor atrium on the UI Health Care main campus. The event will feature educational resources, giveaways, a giant inflatable lung display, and the ion robotic bronchoscopy system.  

By combining screening with continued patient outreach, the program aims to help more people access early detection and receive timely care when it matters most.