Tracking Mohs micrographic surgery referrals at the VA

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Health Care Systems Management
• Oncology

Background:

• Large dermatology centers, like the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, face significant challenges in delivering timely and adequate patient care.
• Managing numerous patient referrals, particularly for biopsies requiring external specialized treatment such as Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS), adds complexity.
• The unique psychosocial needs of the veteran population require specific consideration within health care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss existing tracking systems for patient care in busy hospital settings, focusing on external referrals.
• To address the psychosocial aspects of veteran care within dermatology.
• To describe a novel system for monitoring malignant skin biopsies referred for Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS).

Main Methods:

• Review of current tracking systems in large-scale dermatology referral processes.
• Analysis of psychosocial factors impacting veteran patient care.
• Description of a developed monitoring system for tracking malignant skin biopsies referred for Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS).

Main Results:

• Challenges in providing timely care within large dermatology centers identified.
• The importance of specialized tracking for external referrals of malignant skin biopsies highlighted.
• A system for monitoring malignant skin biopsies referred for Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) has been described.

Conclusions:

• Effective tracking systems are crucial for managing patient care in high-volume dermatology settings.
• Addressing the psychosocial needs of veterans is integral to comprehensive dermatological care.
• The described monitoring system offers a potential solution for improving the management of malignant skin biopsies referred for Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS).