New lung health program available in Southside

(Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

MARTINSVILLE (WSLS 10) - Memorial Hospital in Martinsville is trying to better address the high risk for lung cancer in Southside.

The hospital now has a new comprehensive lung health program.

Recommended Videos



People with a high risk for lung cancer and lung diseases can now be referred to the hospital by their doctors. They can then undergo a scan that uses less radiation than a normal CT scan, and it only takes about 30 seconds.

According to the hospital, research from Virginia Tech shows Martinsville and Henry County have the highest risk for lung diseases in the western district of Virginia.

"[The area] historically has been tobacco country and we've had a lot of factories and mills where people have worked. So, we started looking into what we could do to help move the needle in treating people better," explained Elizabeth Harris, the hospital's marketing director.

Harris said there has been a lot of positive feedback from doctors and patients regarding the program.

For more information about the program, contact your doctor or call (276) 656-DOCS.