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Skin-cancer screening: a three-year experience that paid for itself
1Chester County Hospital, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Journal of Family Practice
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Free skin cancer screenings in rural family practice settings can detect melanoma and other skin cancers. This approach proved cost-effective, generating significant revenue from follow-up care.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Rising incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma.
- Need for economically viable cancer screening guidelines in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the economic feasibility of a free, rural skin cancer screening program.
- Assess the program's effectiveness in identifying undiagnosed melanomas and other skin cancers.
Main Methods:
- Annual free skin cancer screening clinic over 3 years in a rural family physician's office.
- Brief, undressed skin examinations were performed.
- Data collected on screening costs, follow-up rates, and revenue from subsequent treatments.
Main Results:
- 247 individuals screened; 70 (28%) required follow-up.
- 15% of all screened individuals had biopsy-confirmed malignant or premalignant lesions, including one melanoma.
- Follow-up care generated 3.6 times the marginal cost of the screening.
Conclusions:
- Free mass skin cancer screenings by family physicians in rural areas are effective.
- The screening program can identify melanoma and other skin cancers.
- The screening initiative is economically self-sustaining through generated follow-up revenue.