Skin biopsy: Identifying and overcoming errors in the skin biopsy pathway

The skin biopsy pathway involves numerous communication requirements, technical events, human handoffs, and cognitive decisions. Every step in the process has an error rate >0. To deliver the highest quality care, dermatologists obtaining skin biopsy specimens should implement systems in their office to minimize errors. This includes the prevention of wrong-site surgery, which in most instances involves accurate communication of the correct biopsy location to the performing surgeon. Part II of this continuing medical education article presents techniques for assessing and planning improvement to the skin biopsy pathway in your office, and provides a simple online quality improvement activity that allows Board-certified dermatologists the opportunity to potentially improve aspects of the skin biopsy process in their own practices, and in the process obtain Maintenance of Certification credit.