Fruita’s Colorado Canyons Hospital is partnering with Matrix Analytics (now Eon), a local healthcare services start-up, to help track and fight lung cancer before it spreads.

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“If you don’t have them, you can’t survive, but most importantly it’s the leading cause of death in America,” Colorado Canyons, Director of Radiology, Dr. Michael Neste, M.D. said.

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Lung cancer claims more lives each year than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined.

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“The main reason behind that is because by the time it is detected, with our current screening methods, it’s usually too late,” Dr. Neste adds.

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Matrix Analytics is now introducing LungDirect, a software program that will help detect and manage pulmonary nodules.

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“There is a big data requirement that Medicare is requiring hospitals for lung cancer screening to provide so we make that process easy,” founder of Matrix Analytics, Dr. Akrum (Aki) Al-Zubaidi said. “For a patient who has cancer, time is everything so what I’m hoping is that this technology gives patients more time.”  

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Dr. Aki Al-Zubaidi says this program alerts providers, both internally and externally, when a nodule is newly detected, and helps to ensure each patient receives the appropriate follow-up care.

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“It has just been approved by the Center’s for Medicare/Medicaid to be reimbursed because studies have shown that it has been beneficial in decreasing deaths by lung cancer of up to 25 percent,” Dr. Neste said.

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Although the program may be cost-effective solution for lung cancer screening reimbursement, Dr. Neste says it’s not for everyone.

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In order to be considered you must be referred by your primary care physician, be 55 to 77 years of age, have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack-years, and be asymptomatic– meaning no signs or symptoms of lung cancer. ‍

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LungDirect software program will go live at Colorado Canyon Hospital on June 15, 2016.

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