New Interventional Pulmonary Program Speeds Testing, Employs Newest Technology

In a revolutionary step for people in the region with possible lung cancer, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute has launched a collaborative Interventional Pulmonary Program that enhances the patient experience while using the newest robotic-assisted technology.

“This program is unique in the region, and its focus is twofold: to get biopsy results faster and to guide our patients every step of the way to help reduce anxiety at an understandably challenging time,” says Daniel Schwed, MD, Associate Chief of Pulmonary Medicine. “Getting results faster eliminates the unknown and gets patients to the next step if cancer is detected.”

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is now using the Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest to perform minimally invasive biopsies anywhere in the lungs, including small nodules in the outer reaches of the lungs. LVHN is one of the first in the region to use the system and recently performed its 100th procedure.

“The Ion system allows us to consolidate the biopsy and staging of a potential lung cancer in a single procedure,” says Dr. Schwed, adding that by sampling smaller nodules, the team also can give peace of mind that a lung nodule is not cancerous and eliminate the need for more invasive procedures.

Dr. Schwed says the extended reach of the Ion system into difficult-to-reach nodules in what’s known as the peripheral lung shortens the time to diagnosis and possible treatment if treatment is necessary. There are other procedures that retrieve lung nodule samples, but those do not determine the stage of cancer during that same procedure.

According to Dr. Schwed, the Interventional Pulmonary Program is made up of four doctors, an advanced practice clinician and a nurse navigator. “This allows for streamlining scheduling and places a stronger emphasis on faster time to diagnosis by removing scheduling barriers and ensuring patients are seen in a timely fashion,” he says.

Brian Civic, MD, Chief of Pulmonary Medicine, says the nurse navigator is a key member of the team as the single point of contact for patients’ questions or concerns, and guides them from their initial visit through transition to treatment. “The nurse navigator will be there to help alleviate anxiety during a tumultuous time for the patient. Combined with streamlined processes and the newest technology, we’re getting answers faster and getting treatment started earlier for the best possible outcomes,” Dr. Civic says.