{"id":8247,"date":"2023-05-15T21:31:45","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T21:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merck.ca\/en\/?post_type=story&#038;p=8247"},"modified":"2026-01-28T17:11:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T17:11:58","slug":"how-the-lung-diagnostic-assessment-program-is-improving-access-to-care-for-rural-ontarians-with-lung-cancer","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.merck.ca\/en\/stories\/how-the-lung-diagnostic-assessment-program-is-improving-access-to-care-for-rural-ontarians-with-lung-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program contributes to improving access to care for rural Ontarians with lung cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n.green { color: #1d8680; line-height: 2.5rem; }<br \/>\n.green2 { color: #1d8680; line-height: 2.5rem; }<br \/>\n.greenbg { background: #1d8680; padding: 2rem 10rem 3rem 10rem; }<br \/>\n.offwhite { background: #F7F7F7; padding: 4rem 4rem 0px; }<br \/>\n.white { color: #fff; }<br \/>\n.white ul li::before, .greenbg ul li::before { color: #fff !important; }<br \/>\n.lrg-txt { line-height: 2.5rem; }<br \/>\n.lightgrey { background: #F7F7F7; padding: 2rem 5rem 3rem 5rem; }<br \/>\n.nogap { gap: 0 !important; }<br \/>\n.lftbrdr { border-left: 2px #ffffff solid; padding-left: 2rem; margin-right: 1rem; }<br \/>\n.space { color: #1d8680; line-height: 1.0rem; }<br \/>\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile full has-background\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(29,134,128) 0%,rgb(29,134,128) 100%)\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<span style=\"color: white\">\n\n\n<h1 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\">How the Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program contributes to improving access to care for rural Ontarians with lung cancer<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap;\">\n<p class=\"text-descriptive\" style=\"color: white;\">Share this article<\/p>\n            <p style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.merck.ca\/en\/?post_type=story&amp;p=5882\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share this article on Facebook\" rel=\"noopener\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\">\n    <path fill=\"#ffffff\" d=\"M6.023 16L6 9H3V6h3V4c0-2.7 1.672-4 4.08-4 1.153 0 2.144.086 2.433.124v2.821h-1.67c-1.31 0-1.563.623-1.563 1.536V6H13l-1 3H9.28v7H6.023z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n            \n            <p style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merck.ca%2Fen%2F%3Fpost_type%3Dstory%26p%3D5882\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share this article on LinkedIn\" rel=\"noopener\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\">\n    <path fill=\"#ffffff\" d=\"M15.205 0H.695C.299 0 0 .3 0 .7v14.7c0 .3.298.6.696.6h14.608c.398 0 .696-.3.696-.7V.7c-.1-.4-.398-.7-.795-.7zM4.671 13.6H2.385V6H4.77v7.6h-.1zM3.578 5c-.795 0-1.392-.7-1.392-1.4 0-.8.597-1.4 1.392-1.4.795 0 1.39.6 1.39 1.4-.098.7-.695 1.4-1.39 1.4zm9.938 8.6H11.13V9.9c0-.9 0-2-1.192-2-1.193 0-1.391 1-1.391 2v3.8H6.16V6h2.286v1c.298-.6 1.093-1.2 2.187-1.2 2.385 0 2.782 1.6 2.782 3.6v4.2h.1z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n            <p style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Supporting Cancer Patients Through Scholarships For Nurses&amp;body=https:\/\/www.merck.ca\/en\/?post_type=story&amp;p=5882\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share this article on Mail\" rel=\"noopener\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\">\n    <path fill=\"#ffffff\" d=\"M16 5.7V14c0 .6-.4 1-1 1H1c-.6 0-1-.4-1-1V5.7l7.5 4.2c.28.14.72.14 1 0L16 5.7zM15 1c.6 0 1 .4 1 1v1.5L8 7.9 0 3.4V2c0-.6.4-1 1-1z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>            \n<\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2212\" height=\"1484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merck.ca\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/05\/Screenshot-2023-05-15-at-17.07-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8254 size-full\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>May 15, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"green\" style=\"line-height: 2.5rem;\">Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In early 2021, Merck Canada, in partnership with MaRS Discovery District (MaRS), launched the Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge (LCIC) and asked Ontario-based innovators to identify, implement, and scale solutions that could help enhance the lung cancer patient journey, with the goal of reducing the length of time between diagnosis and treatment, and enabling improved health outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aligned with Merck Canada\u2019s focus, this challenge aimed to optimize healthcare systems and improve the patient journey. Recognizing care gaps within our system, which tend to be greater in rural communities, this was a unique opportunity to improve outcomes for Ontarians who are disproportionally affected by the disease.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To meet this challenge, Dr. Genevi\u00e8ve C. Digby, Respirologist and Clinical Lead for the Diagnostic Assessment Programs at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) along with her colleague and research collaborator Dr. Christopher Parker, proposed a project to help close the identified care gaps that exist for patients with suspected lung cancer who live outside of urban centres.&nbsp; With the support of their regional collaborators, Drs. Digby and Parker started a regional diagnostic lung cancer outreach clinic located at the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital (LACGH) in Napanee, Ontario, with the goal of bringing specialty-level care to a non-urban centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"green\" style=\"line-height: 2.5rem;\">Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program Outreach Clinic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The outreach clinic in Napanee was founded on an existing successful clinical model at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) in Kingston, Ontario. The Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program (LDAP) Clinic seeks to facilitate the care of patients undergoing evaluation for suspected lung cancer. By adapting this model of care into a community-based environment, patients who live closer to Napanee now have a choice of where they would like to have their first consultation with a respirologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"green\" style=\"font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\u201cBased on recent findings, we see that increased patient distance from our regional LDAP at KHSC is associated with worse survival for patients facing a lung cancer diagnosis. Some of the reasons for these observed disparities in care can relate to a geographically dispersed and predominantly rural population, with a large proportion of low-income households,\u201d says <br>Dr. Genevi\u00e8ve Digby, Clinical Lead of the LDAP Clinic. \u201cThe Napanee LDAP outreach clinic aims to counteract these factors, by bringing equitable care closer to home while also removing some of the financial challenges that pose real barriers for residents living in the region.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"green\" style=\"line-height: 2.5rem;\">Lung Cancer in Ontario<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Canada and the leading cause of cancer death across the country.<sup>2<\/sup> Approximately one in two Ontarians is expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, with lung cancer among the top three most probable cancers for both men and women in the province.<sup>3<\/sup> Furthermore, rural populations face higher rates of late-stage lung cancer incidence and mortality.<sup>i <\/sup>Rural populations may experience greater challenges when it comes to accessing health systems and providers, which may deter health-seeking behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"green\" style=\"font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\u201cWe know that rural Ontarians experience higher rates of late-stage lung cancer incidence and mortality due to a variety of factors, including access to care. By making care more easily accessible and reducing patient travel, we aim to shorten the time between a referral to diagnosis for those undergoing evaluation for suspected lung cancer throughout the region, which is critical for improving patient outcomes.\u201d -Dr. Christopher Parker, Site Lead at the Napanee LDAP Clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4209\" height=\"2365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.merck.ca\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/05\/iStock-1210038548.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8275\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"green\" style=\"line-height: 2.5rem;\">The success of the LDAP Outreach Clinic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its inception in November of 2021, the LDAP Outreach Clinic has brought specialized lung cancer care \u201ccloser to home\u201d for a growing number of patients, and in 2022 over 120 patients were assessed at the new clinic at LACGH. By providing an additional site for assessment, the LDAP Outreach Clinic has also opened up clinical capacity at the LDAP Clinic in Kingston, and there were tangible benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average time from LDAP patient referral to assessment decreased from 20 days to 14 days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patient travel was reduced by 8,856 km, an average of 73.2&nbsp;km\/ patient.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patient out-of-pocket expenses saved totaled $5,755.60, an average of $47.60\/ patient, due to reduced travel and parking expenses.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accounting for physician travel from Kingston to Napanee, total driving saved was 5,688 km, for a total CO2 emissions savings of about 1.9 tonnes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"green\" style=\"font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\u201cThe success of the LDAP clinic is a true testament to what can be achieved when organizations work together towards a common goal. It\u2019s encouraging to see the real-world impact that the LDAP team has had on delivering better access to specialized cancer care to rural Ontarians, which help contribute to better outcomes for patients.\u201d &#8211; Marwan Akar, Managing Director at Merck Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about the challenge and KHSC\u2019s winning solution, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/challenges.marsdd.com\/challenge\/lungcancer\/\">The Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"font-size:12px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:12px\">&nbsp;<sup>1<\/sup> Jenkins WD, Matthews AK, Bailey A, et al. Rural areas are disproportionately impacted by smoking and lung cancer. Preventive medicine reports 2018. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5984228\/\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5984228\/<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:12px\"><sup>2<\/sup> Canadian Cancer Society. Lung and Bronchus cancer statistics. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/cancer.ca\/en\/cancer-information\/cancer-types\/lung\/statistics\">https:\/\/cancer.ca\/en\/cancer-information\/cancer-types\/lung\/statistics<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:12px\"><sup>3<\/sup> Cancer Care Ontario. Ontario Cancer Statistics 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancercareontario.ca\/en\/statistical-reports\/ontario-cancer-statistics-2020\/key-findings\">https:\/\/www.cancercareontario.ca\/en\/statistical-reports\/ontario-cancer-statistics-2020\/key-findings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\" style=\"font-size:10px\">CA-NON-02626<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge In early 2021, Merck Canada, in partnership with MaRS Discovery District (MaRS), launched the Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge (LCIC) and asked Ontario-based innovators to identify, implement, and scale solutions that could help enhance the lung cancer patient journey, with the goal of reducing the length of time between diagnosis and treatment, and enabling improved health outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8770,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"bdl_company_name":[],"bdl_item_external_link":[],"footnotes":""},"tags":[27],"content_topic":[],"admin_field":[],"class_list":["post-8247","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-oncology"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.9.1 - 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