Our Health Screening Van is a state-of-the-art imaging facility, equipped with advanced CT scanning and compassionate staff trained in navigation services. Our mission is to foster streamlined, accessible and equitable care along the lung cancer continuum. Through community outreach, the program aims to:
- Build partnerships with neighborhoods across New York City with a focus on areas experiencing cancer disparities.
- Coordinate baseline and annual lung screening appointments in convenient locations. We bring care to you.
- Provide tobacco treatment counseling for individuals interested in quitting smoking.
- Support and navigate patients through any recommended follow-up diagnostic appointments and treatment.
DIRECTOR'S WELCOME
In New York State, only 4.9% of individuals eligible for lung cancer screening undergo Low-dose CT screening, a potentially lifesaving exam. Our vision is to empower our society to be fearless in our fight against lung cancer.
Bradley B. Pua, M.D., FSIR
Director of Lung Cancer Screening Program
Chief of Interventional Radiology
What do you do on the Health Screening Van?
The Health Screening Van offers early detection and health education services including lung checks.
Where will we be next?
The Health Screening Van will be launching in Summer 2025. Until then, we will be visiting local community events to provide education and risk assessments. Calendar coming soon.
What is a lung check?
If you smoke or have a history of smoking, it might be time for a low-dose CT lung cancer screening, or lung check. A lung check is quick, painless, and gives you the best chance at a lung cancer-free life.
Just like a skin check or blood pressure check, a lung screening exam should be done yearly. Getting your lungs checked should be part of your annual checkup routine.
Early detection is key. Most lung cancers are found late, after people develop symptoms and treatment options are limited. If lung cancer is found earlier, it is easier to treat and cure. If your doctor recommends lung screening, they do NOT think you have lung cancer, they’re just checking!
Am I eligible for a lung check?
Our Nurse Practitioner (NP) will review these criteria with you to see if a lung check is right for you:
- Between 50-80-years old (50-77 years old with Medicare & Medicaid)
- At least a 20 pack-year smoking history (we will help you calculate this)
- Currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years
- No signs or symptoms of lung cancer
What happens during my appointment?
First, you will complete phone or video shared decision-making visit with our NP to discuss eligibility, risks and benefits, and what to expect. If appropriate, the NP can order and schedule the lung check. Our insurance team will work on coverage verification and pre-authorization.
Lung checks are done on the Health Screening Van, in a location convenient to you such as near your local clinic or during a neighborhood festival. You will lie on your back on the CT scanner table. The technologist will ask you to hold your breath for several seconds while they take pictures of your lungs using x-rays. The check takes less than 5 minutes and is completely painless. Then you’re done and free to go about your day without any restrictions.
The NP will follow up with you about results, typically within 24-48 hours of the lung check. If there are any findings that require follow-up, we will help you navigate care.
For patients interested in quitting smoking, we also offer tobacco treatment counseling via phone or video visit.
How much does a lung check cost?
As a preventative health service, consultations and low-dose CT screening for eligible patients are typically completely covered by commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Please call us to discuss specific coverage questions.
Scheduling
For more information or to schedule, please call 646-962-5864.
Self-scheduling is coming soon.
Partner With Us
If you are interested in the Health Screening Van unit coming to your clinic, organization or an upcoming event, please complete this form Health Screening Van Partner Interest Form or email us at lungscreen@med.cornell.edu.
Contact us
Phone: 646-962-5864 (LUNG)
Email: GetCheckedNY@med.cornell.edu
Fax: 212-746-7664
Team Publications
1. Pua BB, O'Neill BC, Ortiz AK, Wu A, D'Angelo D, Cahill M, Groner LK. Results from
Lung Cancer Screening Outreach Utilizing a Mobile CT Scanner in an Urban Area. J
Am Coll Radiol. 2023 Nov 19. pii: S1546-1440(23)00936-5. doi:
10.1016/j.jacr.2023.10.025. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed [citation] PMID:
37984766
2. Jiang LG, Cahill M, Chansakul A, Steel PAD, Sullivan D, Pua BB. A Collaborative
Emergency Medicine and Radiology Pulmonary Nodule Program: Identification of
Associated Efficacy and Outcomes. J Am Coll Radiol. 2023 Aug;20(8):796-803. doi:
10.1016/j.jacr.2023.04.020. Epub 2023 Jul 7. PubMed [citation] PMID: 37422161
3. Groner LK, Lee M, Gil HDJ, Min RJ, Babagbemi K. Hiding in plain sight: How
incorporating honest discussion of racial and social (in)justice into medical
education can inspire change. Clin Imaging. 2022 Sep;89:37-42. doi:
10.1016/j.clinimag.2022.04.018. Epub 2022 May 7. PubMed [citation] PMID: 35696946
4. Escalon JG, Sullivan D, Pua BB, Girvin F, Verzosa Weisman S, Steinberger S, Toy
D, Groner L, Legasto AC, Gruden JF. Management of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules:
Influencing Patient Care Through Subspecialized Imaging Review. Curr Probl Diagn
Radiol. 2022 Jul-Aug;51(4):524-528. doi: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2021.11.004. Epub
2021 Dec 2. PubMed [citation] PMID: 34974882
5. Escalon JG, Crawford CB, Tang E, Cahill M, Toy D, Sullivan D, Pua BB.
Communication of CT Lung Screening Results: Referring Providers' and Patients'
Preferences. J Am Coll Radiol. 2021 Oct;18(10):1447-1450. doi:
10.1016/j.jacr.2021.06.014. Epub 2021 Jul 9. No abstract available. PubMed
[citation] PMID: 34252372
6. Isakov KMM, Legasto AC, Hossain R, Verzosa Weisman S, Toy D, Groner LK, Feibusch
A, Escalon JG. A Case-Based Review of Vaping-Induced Injury-Pulmonary Toxicity
and Beyond. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2021 May-Jun;50(3):401-409. doi:
10.1067/j.cpradiol.2020.06.003. Epub 2020 Jun 26. Review. PubMed [citation] PMID:
32703539
7. Kamel MK, Lee B, Harrison S, Port JL, Pua B, Altorki NK, Stiles BM. Do the
surgical results in the National Lung Screening Trial reflect modern thoracic
surgical practice? J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 May;157(5):2038-2046.e1. doi:
10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.11.139. Epub 2018 Dec 15. PubMed [citation] PMID: 31288364
8. Green DB, Pua BB, Crawford CB, Abbey GN, Drexler IR, Legasto AC, Gruden JF.
Screening for Lung Cancer: Communicating With Patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2018
Mar;210(3):497-502. doi: 10.2214/AJR.17.18836. Epub 2017 Nov 22. Review. PubMed
[citation] PMID: 29166146
9. Stiles BM, Pua B, Altorki NK. Screening for Lung Cancer. Surg Oncol Clin N Am.
2016 Jul;25(3):469-79. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2016.02.002. Review. PubMed [citation]
PMID: 27261909
10. Pua BB, Dou E, O'Connor K, Crawford CB. Integrating smoking cessation into lung
cancer screening programs. Clin Imaging. 2016 Mar-Apr;40(2):302-6. doi:
10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.05.004. Epub 2015 May 16. Review. PubMed [citation] PMID:
26088006
