Lung screening in Canada, 2023-24
Initial lung screening referrals
Six jurisdictions have strategies to refer people to lung screening, including referral from a physician or other healthcare provider, or via self-referral.
Initial lung screening referral strategies
| P/T | Physician referral | Other healthcare provider referral (e.g., nurse practitioner, community health nurse) | Self-referral | Other referral source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | – | – | – | – |
| NT | – | – | – | – |
| NU | – | – | – | – |
| BC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | |
| AB | ✓ | ✓ (NP) | May 2023 — working on a plan to accept self-referrals starting July 2023^ | |
| SK | Under development | |||
| MB | – | – | – | – |
| ON | ✓ | ✓ (NP) | ✓~ | |
| QC | ✓ | ✓ (Specialized Nurse Practitioner) | ✓ | |
| NB** | – | – | – | – |
| NS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (Existing waitlists) |
| PE‡ | – | – | – | – |
| NL | ✓ | ✓ (NP)*** | ✓*** |
*BC: Self-referral requires PCP attachment
^AB: Updated March 2024
~ON: If a person self-presents and is found to be eligible, they still need a referral from a doctor or NP to authorize the LDCT scan. Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) sites facilitate attachment and maintain a list of primary care providers willing to assume responsibility for screening referral and management of any actionable incidental findings for eligible participants who do not have a primary care provider.
**NB: To be determined in consultation with Provincial Lung Cancer Screening Implementation Advisory Committee
‡PE: Planning for provider and self-referral. Considering phased approach depending on planning and readiness
***NL: Program is planning to have an NP available for the program to requisition LDCT, etc.