Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Jan;155(1):416-424.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.07.086. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

The economic impact of a nurse practitioner-directed lung cancer screening, incidental pulmonary nodule, and tobacco-cessation clinic

Christopher R Gilbert  1 , Rob Ely  2 , Joelle T Fathi  3 , Brian E Louie  3 , Candice L Wilshire  3 , Hannah Modin  4 , Ralph W Aye  3 , Alexander S Farivar  3 , Eric Vallières  3 , Jed A Gorden  3
Affiliations
Free article

The economic impact of a nurse practitioner-directed lung cancer screening, incidental pulmonary nodule, and tobacco-cessation clinic

Christopher R Gilbert et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jan.
Free article

Abstract

Objective: Lung cancer screening programs have become increasingly prevalent within the United States after the National Lung Screening Trial results. We aimed to review the financial impact after programmatic implementation of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner-led programs of Lung Cancer Screening and Tobacco Related Diseases, Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Clinic, and Tobacco Cessation Services.

Methods: We reviewed revenue from 2013 to 2016 by our nurse practitioner-led program. Encounters were queried for charges related to outpatient evaluation and management, professional procedures, and facility charges related to both outpatient and inpatient procedures. Revenue was normalized using 2016 data tables and the national Medicare conversion factor (35.8043).

Results: Our program evaluated 694 individuals, of whom 75% (518/694) are enrolled within the lung cancer-screening program. Overall revenue associated with the programs was $733,336. Outpatient evaluation and management generated revenue of $168,372. In addition, professional procedure revenue accounted for an additional $60,015 with facility revenue adding an additional $504,949.

Conclusions: A nurse practitioner-led program of lung cancer screening, incidental pulmonary nodules, and tobacco-cessation services can provide additional revenue opportunities for a Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology Division, as well as a health care system. The current national, median annual wage of a nurse practitioner is $98,190, and the cost associated directly to their salary (and benefits) may remain neutral or negative within certain programs. However, the larger economic benefit may be realized within the division and institution. This potential additional revenue appears related to evaluation of newly identified diseases and subsequent evaluations, procedures, and operations.

Keywords: advanced registered practitioner; finance/revenue; incidental pulmonary nodule; lung cancer screening; tobacco-related diseases.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • Lung cancer screening: No more excuses.
    Tong BC. Tong BC. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jan;155(1):369-370. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.08.090. Epub 2017 Sep 5. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018. PMID: 28942978 No abstract available.
  • Lung cancer screening is here to stay, but does it pay?
    Seder CW. Seder CW. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jan;155(1):426-427. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.09.006. Epub 2017 Sep 12. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018. PMID: 28964494 No abstract available.
  • Discussion.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jan;155(1):422-424. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.07.087. Epub 2017 Oct 5. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018. PMID: 28988942 No abstract available.
  • Show me the money.
    Stiles BM. Stiles BM. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Jan;155(1):425. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.08.109. Epub 2017 Sep 8. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018. PMID: 29126616 No abstract available.

MeSH terms