Total body skin exams in the primary care setting

Abstract

A Total Body Skin Examination (TBSE) for the detection of skin cancer or precancerous lesions are not the standard of care in primary care during wellness screenings. More recent evidence, however, supports their use in primary care noting a significant reduction in time (years) of diagnosis and lesion thickness. In the following practice improvement project, a TBSE was performed on all patients presenting for an annual physical exam at a local primary care clinic. The incidence of referral was documented. Ultimately, TBSEs proved to successfully identify patients with suspicious skin lesions and refer them when necessary. The project change ultimately suggests and supports more recent evidence that primary care providers are able to adequately identify and refer for concerning dermatologic skin lesions such as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.