HCA Florida Blake Hospital designated Center of Excellence in lung cancer care and screening
HCA Florida Blake Hospital has been named a Center of Excellence by GO2 for Lung Cancer.
BRADENTON, FL — HCA Florida Blake Hospital has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) by GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) for its ongoing commitment to providing the Manatee County community with patient-centered, evidence-based lung cancer care. An estimated 237,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer annually, and while it remains the leading cause of cancer deaths, lung cancer survival rates are growing at a rapid pace thanks to the availability of new, groundbreaking treatments for people diagnosed with the disease.
“HCA Florida Blake Hospital is dedicated to providing patients with the highest quality care,” said Steve Young, HCA Florida Blake Hospital CEO. “We are thrilled to be recognized for our lung cancer program and proud to help people diagnosed with lung cancer in our community live longer, higher-quality lives.”
GO2 Centers of Excellence in lung cancer care are committed to the principles of patient-centered communication and decision making across the entire care pathway. Centers of Excellence demonstrate access to standard cancer services within medical, radiation, surgical oncology and pathology; follow practice standards based on evidence, expert consensus and clinical guidelines; and engage team-based mechanisms for multidisciplinary input to guide care and treatment recommendations and inform shared decision making.
“We are proud to have HCA Florida Blake 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 addition to receiving this newly awarded designation as a Center of Excellence in Lung Cancer Care, HCA Florida Blake Hospital is also recognized by GO2 as a Center of Excellence in Lung Cancer Screening, for implementing a structured low-dose CT screening program that adheres to NCCN, USPST, or CMS criteria and uses a standardized process to manage patient follow-through.
“Lung cancer does not show symptoms in its early stages,” said thoracic surgeon, Dr. Robert Ferguson. “By the time symptoms begin, the cancer can be harder to treat. I recommend anyone over the age of 50 get a lung cancer screening, especially if you are or were a smoker.”
To get a low-dose CT scan, people over the age of 50 are encouraged to speak with their primary care physician or to call an HCA Florida Healthcare lung cancer screening coordinator at (941) 342-8031.