The
Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) is an organized lung cancer screening program for people at high risk of getting lung cancer. People ages 55 and older may be eligible for screening through the OLSP if they meet certain referral criteria and are eligible upon risk assessment.
How to Refer Patients to the OLSP:
If you are referring someone age 55 to 80, they must:
- Have a smoking history of any amount of cigarettes daily for 20 years
- Have OHIP coverage
Anyone age 80 or older requires a new referral every year.
If you are referring someone age 81 or older, they must:
- Have a smoking history of any amount of cigarettes daily for 20 years
- Have Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage
- Have discussed risk and benefits of lung screening with you
- Be well enough to undergo and recover from lung cancer treatment
- Have a lifespan (over 5 years) to benefit from treatment
Exclusion criteria (for anyone 55+):
- Diagnosed with lung cancer or is actively under surveillance for lung nodules
- Hemoptysis of unknown cause or unexplained weight loss of more than 5 kg (11 lbs) in the past year
- Undergoing diagnostic assessment, treatment or surveillance for life-threatening conditions (e.g., a cancer with a poor prognosis)
Not everyone who meets the referral inclusion criteria will be eligible for lung cancer screening in the OLSP. Refer to the OLSP referral form and eligibility to learn more about referring patients at high risk of getting lung cancer to an OLSP location. Upon referral to an OLSP location, patients will undergo a risk assessment to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria for low-dose CT lung screening (<2% risk of developing lung cancer over the next 6 years).
Fax the completed referral form to the OLSP hospital location.
OLSP Locations in the Toronto Central Region
Find a list of OLSP sites in Ontario here.
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