AdventHealth Ocala First in Marion County to be Named Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance

OCALA, Fla., April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- AdventHealth Ocala and its partners at Radiology Associates of Ocala have been named a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA). Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the U.S., and lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan makes it possible to detect the disease early when it is most treatable and even curable. Low dose CT screening for lung cancer carried out safely and efficiently, saves tens of thousands of lives a year.

"We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to every patient, every time," said Joe Johnson, President and CEO of AdventHealth Ocala. "This recognition highlights our commitment to elevate the level of health care in our community and our dedication to help all we serve live their healthiest lives possible."

AdventHealth Ocala and Radiology Associates of Ocala offer the lung cancer screening initiative at the Medical Imaging Center of Ocala and the TimberRidge Imaging Center.

"We are pleased that our centers are being recognized as Centers of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance," said Dr. Brian Cartwright of Radiology Associates of Ocala. "The remarkable detail of the low dose CT scans reveals even the tiniest lung abnormalities. The clarity captures minute nodules that x-ray can miss."

Designated Screening Centers of Excellence are recognized for their ongoing commitment to lung cancer screening and to complying with comprehensive standards based on best practices developed by professional organizations such as the American College of Radiology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program.

"We are honored to be working with AdventHealth Ocala as a Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence. Their commitment to practice responsible lung cancer screening will lead to advancements in research and many lives saved. They are an example to follow," says LCA President and CEO, Laurie Fenton Ambrose.

AdventHealth, formerly Florida Hospital, is committed to providing our unique brand of inspired, compassionate whole-person care to the communities we serve.

About AdventHealth West Florida Division (Formerly Florida Hospital)
The West Florida Division of AdventHealth has some of the nation's brightest medical minds making lifesaving breakthroughs with surgical pioneers, scientists and researchers using leading edge technology and innovation to deliver our brand of whole-person care. Our network of care includes AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wauchula, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, as well as three freestanding offsite Emergency Rooms including AdventHealth Central Pasco ER, AdventHealth Palm Harbor ER and AdventHealth TimberRidge ER. We are more than hospitals, as we have a robust system of care including specialty acute care, over 200 primary care and specialty employed physicians, Express Care at Walgreens clinics, urgent care centers, wound care, physical therapy and home health care. AdventHealth is a faith-based not-for-profit health care system with a mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. AdventHealth has hundreds of care sites and nearly 50 hospitals across the United States. For more information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealth, and for West Florida Division, click here.

About Lung Cancer Alliance
Lung Cancer Alliance serves and listens to those living with and at risk for lung cancer to reduce stigma, improve quality of life and increase survival. We empower our community by helping people navigate the paths of early detection, diagnosis and treatment. Insights allow us to improve care, amplify awareness, drive advocacy and lead research with the vision of tripling the number of survivors in the next decade.

Lung Cancer Alliance launched the National Framework for Excellence in Lung Cancer Screening and Continuum of Care in 2012 and now has over 500 sites committed to the guidelines. The National Framework lays out a bill of rights for the at-risk public and guiding principles for lung cancer screening sites. http://www.lungcanceralliance.org

SOURCE AdventHealth