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SJHH / Health Services/ Chest Program/ Ontario Lung Screening Program

Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP)

The St. Joe’s OLSP will accept referrals and phone calls as of April 15^th, 2024

What this program does...

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Program (OLSP) promotes prevention and early detection of lung cancer in high-risk patients by conducting a short, non-invasive diagnostic exam (low-dose computed tomography/LDCT).

Regular screening can lower your risk of dying from lung cancer by 20% if you are at high risk for lung cancer.

If you would like to be part of St. Joe’s OLSP, you can enroll yourself in the program or ask your doctor to refer you to the program. To take part in St. Joe's OLSP, you must:

Be 55 to 74 years of age
Be a smoker or former smoker. Have smoked cigarettes daily for at least 20 years (it does not have to be 20 years in a row)

To enroll in the program you can,

Call 905 522 1155 ext. 32115
Click here to book an appointment with the Screening Clerk
Or ask your doctor to submit a completed OLSP referral form.

Click here to download the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Program Referral Form.

For additional information, click here to review the OLSP information brochure.

How this program helps...

Importance of Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Ontario
Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can find lung cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful

Potential benefits and harms of lung cancer screening

Potential benefits

Finding lung cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful
Reducing lung cancer death
Assurance and understanding of your own personal health

Potential harms

False-positive results
Over-diagnosis

Your Care Team

The St. Joe’s OLSP Team provides participants with navigation support throughout the screening process. If you have any questions during the screening process, ask a member of your team.

Contact

OLSP Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel: 905 522 1155 ext. 32115
Fax: 905 528 2918

Referral Process

To be referred to the program, you must:

Be 55 to 74 years old
Be a current or former smoker who has smoked cigarettes daily for at least 20 years (does not have to be 20 years in a row)

You must have OHIP coverage to participate in the program, except for Quebec residents of the Akwesasne First Nation.

Once you are referred to the program* (by yourself or your doctor), a Patient Navigator will conduct a detailed risk assessment by telephone with you to determine if you meet the criteria for screening. If you do meet the criteria for screening, the Patient Navigator will help schedule a screening low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for you. Not everyone referred to the Lung Screening Program is eligible for screening.

Click here for information about your first visit.

To be referred to the program, patients must:

Be 55 to 74 years old
Be a current or former smoker who has smoked cigarettes daily for at least 20 years (does not have to be 20 years in a row)

Patients cannot be referred to the program if they:

Have been diagnosed with lung cancer
Are under surveillance for lung nodules
Have experienced hemoptysis (coughing up blood) of unknown cause or unexplained weight loss of more than five kilograms (11 pounds) in the past year*
Are currently undergoing diagnostic assessment, treatment or surveillance for life-threatening conditions (such as a cancer with a poor predicted outcome) as assessed by the referring physician.

*People with these symptoms should receive appropriate diagnostic investigation and consultation.

To learn more about St. Joe’s Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program (LDAP), click here.