Beaufort Memorial Hospital has been named Screening Center of Excellence — one of only 10 medical centers in the state to receive the designation by the Lung Cancer Alliance — for providing safe, high-quality low dose CT screening for lung cancer.

Endorsed by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American College of Radiology for current and former heavy smokers, low dose CT lung cancer screening is the only proven method to detect lung cancer at an early and treatable stage.&nbsp;

“We use the lowest possible dose of radiation to obtain an image that can pick up lung nodules,” said Beaufort Memorial Senior Director of Imaging Services Daniel Mock. “If you can catch lung cancer at an early stage, it can be the difference between life and death.”

To achieve the designation of Screening Center of Excellence, an imaging center must comply with comprehensive standards based on best practices for controlling screening quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures, and provide current information on who is a candidate for lung cancer screening.&nbsp;

The criteria for designation also requires that an imaging center work with a multi-disciplinary clinical team able to carry out a coordinated continuum of care for screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of the disease.

“We were able to demonstrate we have a path designated for testing, evaluating the results and getting patients through the course of care,” said Matthew Hurtt, Beaufort Memorial’s advanced imaging manager. “Achieving the designation shows our commitment to providing the community with the highest quality of care.”

Claiming more than 156,000 lives in the U.S. each year, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women. More people die of the disease than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. &nbsp;

“We are proud and honored to be working with Beaufort Memorial Hospital as a Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence,” said Lung Cancer Alliance President and CEO Laurie Fenton Ambrose. “Their commitment to practice responsible lung cancer screening will lead to advancements in research and many lives saved.”