This structure enables a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, facilitating efficient workflow and effective patient care across the mobile unit, screening program, and incidental nodule follow-up process. Each role is critical in streamlining communication, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring that patients receive timely, coordinated follow-up care. An effective staffing structure ensures seamless operations and coordinated care for a mobile lung cancer screening program that integrates with a lung cancer screening and incidental pulmonary nodule program. Here’s a suggested structure based on best practices:
Medical Director / Program Lead
Responsibilities: Oversee clinical guidelines, ensure compliance with screening protocols, and maintain overall program quality. They also collaborate with radiologists, referring to providers, and hospital administration.
Role Requirements: Typically, a pulmonologist, radiologist, or oncologist with expertise in lung cancer screening and the management of incidental findings.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) / Physician Assistant (PA)
Responsibilities: Provide initial assessments, manage follow-up care, interpret screening results with radiologists, and educate patients on the importance of screening and follow-up.
Role Requirements: Experience in pulmonology, oncology, or a similar field to help manage incidental findings and maintain continuity of care.
Radiologist / Thoracic Radiology Team
Responsibilities: Interpret low-dose CT scans, identify pulmonary nodules, classify findings according to established guidelines (e.g., Lung-RADS), and provide feedback to the mobile unit and care team.
Role Requirements: Specialization in thoracic imaging, with experience in assessing the malignancy risk of nodules. The candidate should collaborate closely with the incidental nodule program.
Examples: The mobile unit transports the film to the radiologist at the hospital. Once the radiologist reviews the film, the results are sent via Electronic electronic Health health Record record (EHR) through a cell tower or Starlink. After receiving the results, the Nurse nurse Practitioner practitioner (NP) will contact the patient using HIPAA-compliant text messaging or a phone call. Some mobile units may benefit from having a dedicated thoracic radiologist who exclusively reviews mobile scans.
Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Program Coordinator
Responsibilities: Track patients with incidental nodules, manage follow-up imaging or referrals as needed, and communicate with patients and primary care providers. This role ensures nodules found outside the lung cancer screening are appropriately followed.
Role Requirements: A background in patient navigation, case management, or care coordination. A registered nurse (RN) or similar professional often fills this role.
Mobile Unit Coordinator / Navigator
Responsibilities: Handle logistics for the mobile unit, including scheduling, location setup, patient intake, and patient follow-ups. The coordinator often serves as the main point of contact for patients.
Role Requirements: Strong organizational and communication skills. They should be knowledgeable about screening eligibility criteria and help patients navigate through any further diagnostic steps.
Respiratory Therapist / Screening Technician
Responsibilities: Perform and manage low-dose CT scans, ensure proper imaging protocols are followed, and educate patients on the screening process.
Role Requirements: Certified radiology technologists (RTs) or respiratory therapists (RTs) with training in low-dose CT imaging.
Patient Navigator
Responsibilities: Assist patients through the screening process, explain findings, and facilitate referrals to pulmonologists, oncologists, or other specialists if a concerning nodule is identified..
Role Requirements: A healthcare professional with strong patient education skills and is knowledgeable about lung cancer risks and local healthcare resources.
Administrative Support Staff
Responsibilities: Handle scheduling, record-keeping, billing, insurance authorizations, and any other logistical needs of the mobile unit and the integrated screening program.
Role Requirements: Administrative or clerical experience in a healthcare setting, ideally with familiarity in electronic health record (EHR) systems and billing for lung cancer screenings.
Data Manager / Quality Assurance Specialist
Responsibilities: Collect, analyze, and report data related to screening outcomes, incidental findings, follow-up compliance, and patient demographics. Ensure adherence to quality standards and continuous program improvement.
Role Requirements: Background in data management, public health, or healthcare quality assurance, with proficiency in data analysis tools and reporting software.