Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP)

Welcome to the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) at Unity Health Toronto. This program is a life saving program that promotes prevention and early detection of lung cancer in high-risk patients. Unity Health Toronto is pleased to offer OLSP to provide access to high-quality screening services for eligible individuals in our community. Unity Health Toronto is a designated site for the Ontario Lung Screening Program. Referrals can be sent to St. Joseph’s Health Centre. CT scans are offered at either St. Joseph’s Health Centre or St. Michael’s Hospital, based on scheduling.

Healthcare providers can access the OLSP referral form here.

Office hours are from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact us:

Phone: 416-530-6169 (select option 3).

Fax number: 416-530-LUNG (5864).

Email: SJHCDI@unityhealth.to

What is the OLSP?

The Ontario Lung Screening Program is a province-wide initiative aimed at identifying lung cancer early among individuals at high risk. Through low-dose CT (computed tomography) scans, the program helps detect lung cancer before symptoms appear, improving outcomes and survival rates. Today, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ontario. Lung cancer screening significantly increases lung cancer detection rates at an earlier stage, leading to improved treatment success and survival rates.

How does OLSP work?

Referral – Speak with your healthcare provider to determine if you are eligible for lung cancer screening. If eligible, your provider will complete and submit this referral form. There is a two-step process to determine eligibility.

Step #1: Primary Care Providers or specialists can refer people for lung cancer screening if:

• They are 55 to 80 years old
• Have smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years. Note – it does not have to be 20 years in a row, and they do not have to currently smoke.

Step #2: A health care professional from the OLSP will call anyone who meets the age and smoking history criteria in step 1 to conduct a risk assessment. The results of the risk assessment in step 2 will determine eligibility.

Self referral: Individuals can also contact St. Joseph’s Health Centre at 416-530-6169 (select option 3), without a doctor referral to have their age and smoking history assessed to determine if eligible for screening.

Initial assessment – We will review your referral and contact you to schedule an initial assessment. This will determine your risk factor for developing lung cancer and will identify if a screening CT scan is required.

Screening – Attend your scheduled low-dose CT scan at either St. Joseph’s Health Centre or St. Michael’s Hospital.

Follow-up – You may receive follow-up care or recommendations for future screenings, depending on the results.

Additional Resources

Please find below available resources to learn more about the OLSP program.

• Participant Information Sheet (EN)
• OLSP Fact Sheet (EN)
• Smoking Cessation Program – Brochure
• Quitting Smoking – Helping with Bad Habits

Resources for Primary Care Providers

• OLSP Referral Form and Eligibility
• OLSP Frequently Asked Questions for Healthcare Providers

Screening Locations

Screening is available at our Unity Health Toronto sites.

• St. Joseph’s Health Centre: 30 The Queensway, Toronto, ON M6R 1B5
• St. Michael’s Hospital: 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8