An innovative lung nodule program at Med Center Health is changing the landscape of health care by detecting lung nodules that were previously undetected, saving countless lives. At the core of this program is the revolutionary Ion Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy, which detects lung nodules — small masses of tissue — in their earliest stages. This cutting-edge technology provides a higher resolution and greater accuracy, enabling doctors to detect issues that standard scans could miss.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 1990, deaths due to lung cancer peaked at the highest number for males — and in 2002 for females — and have been on the decline ever since. But the Bluegrass State continues to lead the nation in the highest rate of new lung cancer diagnoses, with 84.8 people per 100,000 diagnosed annually. This rate is over 1 1/2 times higher than the national average.
Jennifer Finch, who has a doctorate in business administration and is the director of clinical integration, vividly recalls the phone call she received from her father in 2009 after a nodule was found on his lung. Although he had a history of smoking, he had quit many years earlier. His physician recommended they wait and see if the nodule grew. When it was biopsied, the results revealed he had non-small cell cancer. After Finch lost him to lung cancer two years later, it became her mission to ensure that patients at Med Center Health have access to a program that provides earlier detection.
“This program is very special to me because I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I went through. If we can save just one person, this program will be worth it,” said Finch. “If this program had been in place and the Ion Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy technology had been available, my father would probably still be with us today.”
This technology has been described as a “game changer” because it allows physicians to biopsy nodules in the lungs located in previously unreachable areas.
“More than 10,000 people die from cancer each year in Kentucky, with lung cancer being one of the most common cancers in our state. Prior to the creation of the lung nodule program in 2024, 63% of the lung cancer diagnoses at Med Center Health were found at stage three or stage four, while just 37% were found at stage one or two. The survivability rate when diagnosed with lung cancer at stage four is just 10%, while the rate at stage one is 90%,” said Finch. “But since the inception of this program nearly 11 months ago, we’ve been able to flip those numbers around. Now, just 43% of patients are being initially diagnosed with stage three or four, while 57% of lung cancer patients are now finding their cancer at stage one or two. This is truly a life-altering change for so many lung cancer patients in the Southcentral Kentucky area. More patients are now looking at a better chance of survival following a diagnosis.”
After a nodule is detected, patients are referred to the fast-track clinic, where a team of 11 providers work alongside a patient’s primary care physician to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
“Our fast-track clinic examines incidental nodules and those detected through low-dose CT scans, working directly with primary care providers to schedule eligible patients for consultations with our team of physicians, which includes pulmonologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.”
This team of dedicated physicians has more than 200 years of collective clinical experience. They meet every Friday to view the records of and discuss patients who need further examinations. Plans of action through this program may include additional testing, diagnostic imaging, scheduling a biopsy using the Ion Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy technology, or surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
“The best way to treat lung cancer is to find it early and to treat it quickly,” said Finch. “With Medical Center Health’s new lung nodule program, patients now have an even better chance of surviving lung cancer. This technology detects nodules in their earliest stages so we can quickly treat concerns by offering options tailored to the diagnosis.”
Anyone over the age of 50 should undergo yearly lung screenings, particularly smokers or those with a history of smoking, vaping, or other risk factors. By prioritizing early detection and creating the Lung Nodule Program, Med Center Health is paving the way for a healthier tomorrow and ensuring that every breath counts. GN
