Could Al Bridge the Screening Gap? Explore the Next Step in Breast Cancer Detection

Expanding the Healthy Person Program to enhance breast cancer screening and early detection

Our hospital aims to make communities healthier through innovative partnerships and proactive healthcare initiatives like the Healthy Person Program (HPP).

Initially launched to identify patients at risk for lung cancer through incidental findings, we collaborate with EON to leverage advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and remote patient monitoring to facilitate early disease detection. HPP has since expanded to encompass additional conditions, including breast cancer.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women,1 and early detection significantly improves survival rates. However, breast cancer cases-particularly in women under age 40 and men-fall outside traditional screening programs.

A pilot study analyzed 5.6 million radiology reports across 93 facilities over 18 months. Investigators used computational linguistics (CL) models to identify incidentally detected breast lesions-findings that were not part of a formal breast cancer screening program but appeared in imaging exams ordered for other reasons.²

Key Findings from the Pilot Study²:

• 1,685 incidental breast abnormalities were identified.
• 44.7% of these patients did not meet standard breast screening criteria they were either too young, too old, or male.
• 8% of patients with incidental findings were men
• 86% of incidental findings were detected in neck, chest, or abdomen CT exams-not dedicated breast imaging.

The Healthy Lung Program, part of the HPP, has already demonstrated the power of Al-driven screening. By identifying at-risk patients and expediting follow-up, patients return for treatment twice as fast, leading to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.

Based on the results of the breast screening pilot, our hospital is part of an initiative to track and manage all incidentally identified breast lesions. This HPP expansion ensures that patients with unexpected findings receive appropriate follow-up and timely intervention.

We are integrating Al-driven tracking systems that:

• Automatically flag incidental breast lesions found in non-breast imaging exams.
• Ensure radiologists, primary care providers, and specialists are alerted to these findings.
• Help patients navigate follow-up care, reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment.

By expanding our HPP into breast cancer detection, we endeavor to close gaps in care, enhance early diagnosis, and ensure that more patients receive the timely, high-quality medical care they deserve.

As we continue to evolve this program, we remain committed to leveraging AI, data-driven insights, and innovative partnerships to transform early detection for breast cancer and a wide range of conditions that impact our communities.

To Refer a Patient for Screening and Participation in the Healthy Person Program

If your patient needs an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound, they can come by and have their imaging overseen by the Healthy Person Program. If you have a patient with a specific finding, the Care Management team can help manage their condition and any follow-up needs.

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Resources:

1. Key Statistics for Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. Published January 12, 2024. Accessed February 7, 2025.
   https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/howcommon-is-breast-cancer.html
2. Mendez A, Dean T, Schneider E, Rodnova N, Mehta P. Breast cancer screening is not enough: catching incidental breast findings among younger/older women and men. Poster presented at: AONN+ Annual Conference; Las Vegas, NV; November 5-7, 2024.