Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) by GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) for its ongoing commitment to providing the Queens community with patient-centered, evidence-based lung cancer screening.
Each year, approximately 237,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer, with most cases discovered at an advanced stage of the disease. As a result, lung cancer has consistently been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. However, screening individuals who are at high risk for lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can significantly reduce mortality rates. This is because LDCT allows for the early detection of cancer when it is most treatable and even curable.
As a GO2 Center of Excellence designated in lung cancer screening, Jamaica Hospital implements screening in accordance with current evidence and clinical guidelines developed by professional bodies such as the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). “We are proud to have Jamaica Hospital join the community of GO2 for Lung Cancer Centers of Excellence that is national in scope and local in impact,” said GO2 Chief Healthcare Delivery Officer, Joelle Fathi. “Across the U.S., the majority of people at risk for or living with lung cancer are served by a local community hospital near their home. Through the GO2 COE network of community hospitals, clinics, and academic and VA medical centers, we are fostering and supporting essential knowledge sharing and collaboration that brings national and global advancements in early detection, treatment and care close to home.”
In 2024, Jamaica Hospital launched a comprehensive lung cancer screening program focused on early detection to help reduce disparities in lung cancer outcomes within its community. The hospital serves a high-risk population that faces elevated mortality rates. Many individuals in this group are less likely to undergo lung cancer screenings due to socioeconomic barriers to healthcare.
Jamaica Hospital’s lung cancer screening program aims to address these challenges and remove barriers by engaging high-risk individuals through education, utilizing assessment tools, offering screening opportunities to eligible candidates, and improving access to high-quality healthcare. As part of its proactive approach to screening, the program reaches out to patients with a history of smoking by employing dedicated patient navigators. These navigators help identify potential candidates and schedule essential appointments with primary care doctors. Furthermore, to ensure comprehensive care, the program coordinates patient follow-ups using healthcare management tools and collaborates with specially trained medical specialists.
“Our goal is to improve lung cancer mortality rates through early detection, and we are making significant progress with our screening program. Since its launch, we have screened nearly 400 patients and hope to reach more community members to inform them about the valuable resources and benefits our program offers. Lung cancer screening can identify cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer early have a five-year survival rate of 80%. Lives can be saved through screening, which is why we strongly encourage those at risk—people aged 50 to 80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years—to get screened,” explained Dr. Luigi Tullo, Jamaica Hospital’s Vice Chair of the Department of Ambulatory Care and Medical Director of the Division of Population Health.
Jamaica Hospital is honored to receive the Center of Excellence designation by GO2 for Lung Cancer. This achievement demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to delivering the gold standard of care in lung cancer screening and providing high-quality, equitable care.