Providence Saint John’s Health Center and American Cancer Society Aim to Elevate Lung Cancer Screening

Chris Draft, Former NFL Linebacker and Lung Cancer Advocate, visited with doctors and staff, echoing Saint John’s commitment to community partnership, early intervention, and whole‑person care.

Providence Saint John’s Health Center (PSJHC), in collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS), and through the NFL’s Crucial Catch Initiative, has launched a groundbreaking lung cancer screening project. Commemorated with an award to Lynda Baxter, Executive Director of the Saint John’s Cancer Institute, the NFL grant, presented by the American Cancer Society, reinforces early detection, access, and patient outcomes across its medical network. Saint John’s will provide qualitative and quantitative metrics that reveal the extent of outreach and program success in the years to come.

A System Engineered for Early Detection

This transformation works to eliminate breakdowns in care coordination. Typically, patients are referred to multiple specialists and likely multiple locations by their doctor, making it difficult to track findings and ensure continuity of care. At Saint John’s, the model integrates referral pathways, standardizes screening protocols, and creates a closed-loop, patient-first system.

The urgency behind this work is deeply personal. Chris Draft, NFL Linebacker and Lung Cancer Advocate, reflected on the loss of his wife to lung cancer.

Keasha passed on December 27, 2011, just one month after she and Chris were married. This kind of late-stage discovery is precisely what early screening programs aim to prevent.

Closing the Gap Between Screening and Survival

By providing personalized guidance, appointment coordination, and timely communication, the navigation team ensures that abnormal findings are acted upon quickly and that patients remain engaged in their care journey. “They’re alive because of a scan. They’re alive because of a program. They’re alive because somebody followed up,” says NFL Linebacker Chris Draft.

Mobilizing Providers and Communities

Beyond the clinical approach, Providence Saint John’s implemented a robust engagement strategy aimed at both healthcare providers and the broader community. Educational initiatives were deployed across 16 clinic sites to increase physician awareness of updated screening guidelines and to encourage proactive patient identification.

This work underscores a critical truth in preventative care.

Simultaneously, targeted outreach and marketing campaigns elevated public awareness around lung cancer screening eligibility, particularly among high-risk populations. By addressing awareness gaps head-on, the program ensures that more patients have the opportunity to act before symptoms appear.

A True Team-Based Model of Care

A defining strength of the initiative is its deeply collaborative structure. Providence Saint John’s brings together multidisciplinary stakeholders, from imaging and nursing teams to physicians and electronic medical record specialists, in a coordinated, accountable framework.

This alignment is operationalized through structured planning sessions that track progress, identify gaps, and continuously refine the program. The result is a living system, one that evolves in real time to better serve patients.

Launching a New Lung Cancer Screening Initiative

Measurable Impact: Exceeding State Benchmarks

Providence Saint John’s has achieved a 5.2% increase in lung cancer screening rates, reaching an overall screening rate of 60% within its medical group. This figure stands in stark contrast to the California state average of 16.81%, underscoring the effectiveness of a coordinated, system-level intervention.

More importantly, increased screening directly correlates with earlier-stage diagnoses, when lung cancer is more treatable, and survival rates improve dramatically.

Advancing Clinical Excellence in Lung Cancer Care

By integrating early detection with advanced treatment capabilities, Providence Saint John’s is uniquely positioned to provide a full continuum of care—from screening through survivorship.

A Mission Grounded in Real Lives

At its core, this initiative is about preserving the moments that matter most: “We’re here for the moments that matter in your life… being a mom, dad, going on that special trip,” says Linda Baxter, Executive Director of Saint John’s Cancer Institute. This perspective continues to drive urgency, compassion, and innovation across the program.

Who Should Be Screened

The lung cancer screening program is available to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Ages 50–80
• Current smokers or those who have quit within the past 15 years
• Individuals with a significant smoking history

Screening is conducted using low-dose CT scans, a clinically proven method for detecting lung cancer at earlier, more treatable stages.

Learn more about Lung Cancer Screening.

A Model for the Future of Preventive Oncology

The success of this initiative signals a broader shift in how health systems can address complex, high-mortality diseases. By combining strategic partnerships, operational redesign, and patient-centered care models, Providence Saint John’s Health Center is setting a new standard for lung cancer prevention and early detection. That commitment is now translating into measurable, life-saving impact.