What is the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP)?
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is a landmark initiative designed to save lives by detecting lung cancer before symptoms appear. Using low-dose Computed Tomography (CT), eligible Australians receive a bulk billed screening CT every two years.
By standardising reporting and ensuring radiology providers follow evidence-based protocols, the NLCSP aims to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes nationwide.
Radiology’s Critical Role
Radiologists are the backbone of this program. Cancer Australia and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) have developed accredited training and technical resources, including:
- Nodule Management Protocol – clear guidance for reporting and managing lung nodules.
- Additional Findings Guidelines – definitions of actionable findings to maximise health outcomes.
- Low-dose CT Acquisition Guidelines – technical standards for performing scans.
- Structured Clinical Radiology Report – a nationally standardised reporting template.
These resources ensure radiologists deliver accurate, consistent, and clinically valuable reports every time.
Streamlined Patient Enrolment
Patients are enrolled via a low-dose CT request form, integrated into GP software such as Best Practice, Medical Director, MMEx, and Communicare. This guarantees that registered radiology providers receive all relevant patient information including family history, prior scans, and billing requirements while ensuring scans are bulk billed under new MBS items.
Mandatory Reporting & National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
Radiology providers must submit structured reports to the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR). This ensures:
- National consistency in reporting.
- Automated reminders for follow-up scans.
- A centralised database to monitor program effectiveness.
Reports are based on internationally validated models:
- PanCan risk calculator for baseline scans.
- Lung-RADS for interval scans.
Where Kestral Comes In
Kestral has partnered with the NLCSP and Telstra Health to deliver RIS integration with the NCSR.
With Kestral’s integration, radiology providers can:
- Submit structured reports directly from their Karisma instance.
- Eliminate manual reporting delays.
- Ensure compliance with mandatory reporting requirements.
- Streamline workflows for radiologists and support staff.
Our integration makes compliance effortless—every scan, every report, every patient journey captured seamlessly.
Partner with Kestral
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program is a game-changer for early detection. With Kestral’s RIS integration, radiology providers can focus on what matters most—delivering life-saving care—while we handle compliance and reporting.
Ready to streamline your NLCSP reporting? Contact our sales team today and discover how Kestral can empower your practice.