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Every lung cancer screening system is perfectly designed for the results it achieves. Good or Bad.
What if you don’t have a system?
Per the team at the Medical University of South Carolina, a centralized approach to LCS is the way to go: “Emerging data suggest that annual adherence is poor and that a centralized approach to screening improves adherence.
[Within their study] Overall adherence was 56%; however, adherence in the centralized program was 70%, compared with 41% with the decentralized approach (P < .001).” Pubmed link: https://lnkd.in/g9StVnKR
A centralized approach has another critical benefit per Anil Vachani and the team at Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System.
They share that we can begin to address equity with a centralized approach to lung cancer screening.
Black patients were less likely to receive annual LCS compared to White patients at decentralized compared to centralized LCS programs.
Pubmed link: https://lnkd.in/gJw6PGpB
Average % of patients that are screened for lung cancer
The national average for screening sits at around 4% percent while breast for example is at 70%. While 70% is much better, it’s still not 100%. Sites like Penn and MUSC are above the national average and we can learn from their early successes but OatmealHealth’s goal is to improve all image-based screenings, starting with lung, and get to as close to 100% as possible using a combination of machine learning, computer vision, and human kindness.
The reason why we are failing is simple, there is not enough time
At some point, it won’t be realistic to expect primary care providers to do ‘one more thing.’ due to limited time in their already packed schedule, as noted in an article Jonathan Govette wrote called “The Battle Between Primary Care and Time: The Doctors are Losing”. For us to change anything we need to look outside the four walls of our FQHCs and Hospitals and ask for help from those equipped to properly manage screenings, if we do not, our patients will suffer and costs will continue to rise.
What about the states that are blue on this map with the most work to do?
Oatmeal Health is working on it. Please send Jonathan Govette or Ty Vachon M.D. a note if you’d like to learn more.
Link to the comprehensive map shown above: American Lung Association – https://lnkd.in/g8UcaKHK
#primarycare #radiology #lungcancerscreening #LCS #FQHC #leadership #medicaid #medicare #hedis NCQA
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Author:
Jonathan Govette is a seasoned healthcare and technology executive with more than two decades of experience building, scaling, and advising digital health companies. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oatmeal Health, an AI-driven Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnostics company focused on expanding access to early detection for underrepresented populations, particularly patients served by Federally Qualified Health Centers and value-based health plans.
With a background in engineering, product development, and strategic partnerships, Jonathan has founded and led multiple health technology ventures across clinical care delivery, regulated medical software, and AI-enabled diagnostics. His work sits at the intersection of medicine, technology, and health equity, with a consistent focus on translating complex clinical problems into scalable, real-world solutions.
Jonathan has spent much of his professional life dedicated to improving outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities. He has designed and implemented frameworks that align clinical quality, reimbursement, and technology to sustainably advance health equity at scale. This mission is deeply personal and informs his leadership philosophy and long-term vision for healthcare transformation.
In addition to his operating experience, Jonathan is an author and long-time writer in the healthcare domain, with over 20 years of published work covering digital health, medical innovation, and healthcare systems. He is a frequent mentor to early-stage founders and regularly advises startups on product strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution in regulated healthcare environments.
Before entering industry full-time, Jonathan nearly pursued a career in medicine with an early path toward cardiothoracic surgery, an experience that continues to shape his clinical perspective and respect for frontline care delivery.
CEO | Oatmeal Health | AI Lung Cancer Startup | Engineer | Writer | Almost Became a Doctor (Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon) | 3x Health Tech Founder | Startup Mentor | Follow to share what I’ve learned along the way.
