Lung screening eligibility turns on pack-years and years since quitting, and that is exactly what goes missing. The GP who could refer often has no reliable figure.
Record pack-years and quit date once, then carry them in the header of every follow-up letter with a line on screening eligibility. It takes seconds and makes the referral easy for whoever acts on it.
- Pack-years = packs per day × years smoked.
- Record quit date, not just 'ex-smoker'.
- Add a one-line screening eligibility note to the letter.
Why it matters
The missing number is the main barrier to screening these patients.
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