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.
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.