Association Between Electronic Health Record Health Maintenance Topic and Lung Cancer Screening Completion in a Resident-Run Clinic.

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer-specific mortality in high-risk populations, yet screening rates remain low nationwide. Electronic health record (EHR) health maintenance tracking may support guideline-concordant screening, but implementation varies across outpatient settings.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between manually adding the LCS health maintenance topic in the EHR and completion of LDCT screening in a resident-run outpatient clinic.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated adult patients at a resident-run Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike clinic who met age and smoking history criteria for LCS in October 2024. Patients were categorized based on whether the LCS health maintenance topic was manually added within the Epic EHR and whether LDCT screening had been completed. Screening completion rates were compared using a chi-square test.

RESULTS

Among 305 eligible patients, 130 (43%) completed LDCT screening. Of screened patients, 96 (74%) had the LCS health maintenance topic added, compared with 86 (49%) of 175 (57%) unscreened patients. Adding the LCS health maintenance topic was significantly associated with LDCT screening completion (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Having the LCS health maintenance topic activated in the EHR was associated with higher rates of LDCT screening completion in a resident-run clinic compared with not having the LCS health maintenance topic activated. These findings support the role of having the LCS health maintenance topic added in the EHR as a practical strategy to reinforce preventive care delivery in outpatient practice.