Urgent care vs. the ER: How to know where to go
June 11, 2026
Visit the ER for serious illness or injuries when you need emergency care. Visit urgent care for minor injuries or illnesses that need same-day care.
Lung screenings
At Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, we provide lung screenings and personalized care for lung cancer and lung nodules.
Lung cancer screening in Wisconsin
At Ascension Wisconsin, we provide lung screenings and personalized care for lung cancer and lung nodules
Lung screenings at Ascension Wisconsin
A lung screening helps you and your doctor better understand your lung health. Getting a low-dose CT scan may help find lung nodules or cancer early, when it is most treatable. Finding cancer early means there may be more options for treatment too. At Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, we deliver advanced screening and surveillance of lung nodules and cancer.
Screen early. Breathe easy.
If you're age 50 or older and currently smoke or have quit smoking, a lung scan is key to knowing your risk of lung cancer.
Understanding low-dose CT screenings
A CT lung screening uses an X-ray device that rotates around your body to create cross-sectional images of the inside of your lungs. When you arrive for your test, you will change into a gown and lie on a table that slides in and out of a large tube, called a CT scanner. It is a painless imaging test that takes only a few minutes. After the scan, a radiologist reviews the images and prepares a report for your doctor. By getting a clear picture of your lung health, your doctor can create a care plan that’s right for you.
When to ask for a lung screening
Talk to a doctor about a lung screening if you:
- Are between age 50 and 80
- Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
- Have a 20 pack-year smoking history, such as smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years
- Do not currently have signs or symptoms of lung cancer
Check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage before scheduling. Low-dose CT screening may be covered by various insurance plans as well as Medicare for those who meet certain high-risk criteria. If you have Medicare Part B and you meet certain qualifications, your screening may be covered. But you will need a referral from your doctor or other provider.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
If a lung nodule is found during screening, our lung specialists at Ascension Wisconsin may recommend a minimally invasive biopsy using endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and navigational bronchoscopy or robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. These technologies help access hard to reach nodules in the lung and can improve the detection of early stage lung cancer — when it’s most treatable.
Once an 3D image-guided roadmap to your lung nodule is created, your lung specialist will use the robotic-assisted technology to guide a very thin catheter with a camera to deliver a real-time view of your airways as they navigate toward the nodule. Once the nodule is reached, your doctor will take a sample of your lung tissue for evaluation.
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy options
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is one of many tools used by our lung specialists at Ascension Wisconsin. Our multispecialty team works together to customize your overall care plan. Talk with your doctor to determine what screening and treatment options are right for you.
Lung nodules are common and appear as white shadows on a chest X-ray or lung CT scan. With the Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscope, your doctor can access hard-to-reach areas in the lung and obtain small tissue samples.
Using a 3D, image-guided roadmap of the airways, your interventional pulmonologist guides a catheter and vision probe through the airways for a real-time view of the target area. A biopsy tool then collects a tissue sample so it can be evaluated for cancer cells.
Compared to CT-guided lung biopsy, this approach is faster, less invasive and can reduce complications and side effects.
We offer a less invasive, high-tech technique to biopsy lung tissue for lung cancer or other diseases. When a lung nodule changes size or shape, our Ion Endoluminal System from Intuitive helps improve accuracy and precision during a peripheral lung biopsy procedure.
How to get lung cancer care
At Ascension Wisconsin, our care teams are ready to answer your questions about lung screenings and any other screenings you may need. If you need additional care, including more advanced treatment options, you are connected to specialists and compassionate care teams who take the time to explain procedures and walk you through every step.
Our multidisciplinary team — which includes pulmonary medicine doctors, thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, nurse navigators and rehabilitation therapists — meets biweekly in a Lung Cancer Tumor Conference to review, discuss and update each patient’s care plan. We follow nationally established guidelines for lung cancer staging and provide advanced treatment options.
Get a second opinion for lung cancer
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion for lung cancer at Ascension Wisconsin. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Financial assistance and support
We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Your cancer care navigator can connect you to a financial counselor. Learn more about our financial assistance program.
Check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage before scheduling. Low-dose CT screening may be covered by various insurance plans as well as Medicare for those who meet certain high-risk criteria. If you have Medicare Part B and meet certain qualifications, your screening may be covered. But you will need a referral from your doctor.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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