Protocol to evaluate an enterprise-wide initiative to increase access to lung cancer screening in the Veterans Health Administration.

INTRODUCTION: The Veterans Affairs Partnership to increase Access to Lung Screening (VA-PALS) is an enterprise-wide initiative to implement lung cancer screening programs at VA medical centers (VAMCs). VA-PALS will be using implementation strategies that include program navigators to coordinate screening activities, trainings for navigators and radiologists, an open-source software management system, tools to standardize low-dose computed tomography image quality, and access to a support network. VAMCs can utilize strategies according to their local needs. In this protocol, we describe the planned program evaluation for the initial 10 VAMCs participating in VA-PALS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The implementation of programs will be evaluated using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to ensure broad contextual guidance. Program evaluation measures have been developed using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework. Adaptations of screening processes will be assessed using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence Based Interventions. Measures collected will reflect the inner settings, estimate and describe the population reached, adoption by providers, implementation of the programs, report clinical outcomes and maintenance of programs. Analyses will include descriptive statistics and regression to evaluate predictors and assess implementation over time. DISCUSSION: This theory-based protocol will evaluate the implementation of lung cancer screening programs across the Veterans Health Administration using scientific frameworks. The findings will inform plans to expand the VA-PALS initiative beyond the original sites and can guide implementation of lung cancer screening programs more broadly.

Implementation of low-dose CT screening in two different health care systems: Mount Sinai Healthcare System and Phoenix VA Health Care System.

Implementation of lung screening (LS) programs is challenging even among health care organizations that have the motivation, the resources, and more importantly, the goal of providing for life-saving early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. We provide a case study of LS implementation in different healthcare systems, at the Mount Sinai Healthcare System (MSHS) in New York City, and at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PVAHCS) in Phoenix, Arizona. This will illustrate the commonalities and differences of the LS implementation process in two very different health care systems in very different parts of the United States. Underlying the successful implementation of these LS programs was the use of a comprehensive management system, the Early Lung Cancer Action Program (ELCAP) Management SystemTM. The collaboration between MSHS and PVAHCS over the past decade led to the ELCAP Management SystemTM being gifted by the Early Diagnosis and Treatment Research Foundation to the PVAHCS, to develop a "VA-ELCAP" version. While there remain challenges and opportunities to continue improving LS and its implementation, there is an increasing realization that most patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of annual LS can be cured, and that of all the possible risks associated with LS, the greater risk of all is for heavy cigarette smokers not to be screened. We identified 10 critical components in implementing a LS program. We provided the details of each of these components for the two healthcare systems. Most importantly, is that continual re-evaluation of the screening program is needed based on the ongoing quality assurance program and database of the actual screenings. At minimum, there should be an annual review and updating. As early diagnosis of lung cancer must be followed by optimal treatment to be effective, treatment advances for small, early lung cancers diagnosed as a result of screening also need to be assessed and incorporated into the entire screening and treatment program.