Retrospective analysis shows the cost of Mohs surgery decreases when adjusted for medical inflation.

BACKGROUND: Mohs surgery (MS) is the gold standard for treating nonmelanoma skin cancers in cosmetically sensitive areas. OBJECTIVE: To investigate MS costs over time when adjusting for medical inflation while considering the perspective of patients, payers, and health care systems. METHODS: A retrospective claim analysis using data from the International Business Machines MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database from 2007 through 2019 was performed. A query of the database for any instance of a MS-specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code in adults (17311, 17312, 17313, 17314, and 17315) was conducted. Aggregate data per claim regarding coinsurance, total cost, deductible, copay, and insurance payout were provided for each CPT code annually. RESULTS: The total adjusted cost per claim decreased significantly (P < .001) for 4 of the 5 MS-specific CPT codes between 2007 and 2019: 17311 (-25%), 17312 (-15%), 17313 (-25%), and 17314 (-18%). The patient's adjusted out-of-pocket expense increased significantly (P < .0001) for 4 of the 5 MS-specific CPT codes: 17311 (33%), 17312 (45%), 17313 (34%), and 17314 (43%). CONCLUSION: Among the 4 most used MS-specific CPT codes (17311, 17312, 17313, and 17314), the total cost per claim decreased and the patient's out-of-pocket expense increased from 2007 to 2019.

A unique case of concurrent cutaneous lichen amyloidosis and myxedema.

Lichen amyloidosis is believed to be caused by damage to keratinocytes, often by chronic scratching. It has also been associated with autoimmune conditions, including thyroid disease. Dermatologic manifestations of poorly controlled thyroid disease are well described within the medical literature, within both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states. Myxedema is a rare complication of Graves disease. We report a unique case of concurrent myxedema and lichen amyloidosis in a 63-year-old patient with uncontrolled hypothyroidism in the setting of post-ablative Graves disease.

Men's Attitudes and Behaviors About Skincare and Sunscreen Use Behaviors.

IMPORTANCE: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and men experience higher rates of skin cancer than women. Despite publicized preventative measures, men are less likely than women to use sunscreen. OBJECTIVE: To assess men's motivations, behaviors, and preferred product characteristics towards daily sunscreen use. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional online survey of 705 men, administered July– August 2019, using Survey Monkey and distributed through Amazon Mechanical Turk. PARTICIPANTS: Men ages 20–70, having completed at least High School/GED, and living in the United States were eligible. Sampling strategy ensured diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Main Outcome(s) and Measures: Men’s sunscreen use, behaviors, and preferred skincare product characteristics. RESULTS: Final participants included 705 men. The most frequent skincare products used regularly were liquid soap/body wash (65%), bar soap (47%), and moisturizers (32%). Most men (n=612; 83%) reported not using sunscreen daily, and 38% reported using sunscreen weekly. Income was related to daily and weekly sunscreen use, as males who earned between $40-$50,000 annually used sunscreen less often compared to people who earned $100,000 annually (OR 0.54%, 95% CI −0.34% to .88%; P = .01). Age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and region were not related to daily or weekly sunscreen use. Main motivators for daily sunscreen use included reducing skin cancer risk (n=575; 82%) and looking younger (n=299; 42%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This survey shows lapses in evidenced-based sunscreen behaviors to reduce skin cancer among men. Campaigns to reduce skin cancer should focus on increasing men's interest in daily sunscreen use and adherence to wearing sun-protective products. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(1):88-93. doi:10.36849/JDD.5470.

Multidisciplinary Update on Genital Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Review.

Importance: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a predilection for the genital region. Genital HS requires medical and surgical management as well as close collaboration among a multidisciplinary team. Observations: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a disease of the hair follicles that results in recurrent nodules, abscesses, and tunneling sinus tracts. Medical treatment mainstays include antibiotics and retinoids, but the evolving class of biologic medications has gained traction in the treatment of moderate and severe disease. Many of the medical therapies come with adverse effects requiring clinical and laboratory monitoring over the course of treatment. When lesions are refractory to therapy or are too large for medical therapy alone, surgical intervention is required. Surgical procedures can include treatment of affected areas with deroofing or excision of affected skin. When large portions of genital skin are removed, reconstruction is necessary to restore function and aesthetics of the genitals. We describe a variety of reconstructive techniques based on the size and location of the skin deficiency. Conclusions and Relevance: Effective management of genital hidradenitis suppurativa requires a thorough understanding of medical and surgical techniques for prevention, treatment, and reconstruction of genital defects.

Using Lean Quality Improvement Tools to Increase Delivery of Evidence-Based Tobacco Use Treatment in Hospitalized Neurosurgical Patients.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers routinely undertreat tobacco dependence, indicating a need for innovative ways to increase delivery of evidence-based care. Lean, a set of quality improvement (QI) tools used increasingly in health care, can help streamline processes, create buy-in for use of evidence-based practices, and lead to the identification of solutions on the basis of a problem's root causes. To date, no published research has examined the use of Lean tools in tobacco dependence. A 12-month QI project using Lean tools was conducted to increase delivery of evidence-based tobacco use treatment (TUT) to hospitalized neurosurgical patients. METHODS: The study team developed a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and counseling protocol for neurosurgery inpatients who indicated current tobacco use and used Lean tools to increase protocol adherence. Rates of NRT prescription, referrals to counseling, and follow-up phone calls were compared pre- and postintervention. Secondary measures included patient satisfaction with intervention, quit rates, and reduction rates at 4 weeks postdischarge. RESULTS: Referrals to counseling doubled from 31.7% at baseline to 62.0% after implementation of the intervention, and rates of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) prescriptions during hospitalization and at discharge increased from 15.3% to 28.5% and 9.0% to 19.3%, respectively. Follow-up phone call rates also dramatically increased. The majority of satisfaction survey respondents indicated that counseling had a positive or neutral impact on stress level and overall satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Lean tools can dramatically increase use of evidence-based TUT in hospitalized patients. This project is easily replicable by professionals seeking to improve delivery of tobacco treatment. These findings may be particularly helpful to inpatient surgical departments that have traditionally been reticent to prescribe NRT.

Electronic Cigarettes on Hospital Campuses.

Smoke and tobacco-free policies on hospital campuses have become more prevalent across the U.S. and Europe, de-normalizing smoking and reducing secondhand smoke exposure on hospital grounds. Concerns about the increasing use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and the impact of such use on smoke and tobacco-free policies have arisen, but to date, no systematic data describes e-cigarette policies on hospital campuses. The study surveyed all hospitals in North Carolina (n = 121) to assess what proportion of hospitals have developed e-cigarette policies, how policies have been implemented and communicated, and what motivators and barriers have influenced the development of e-cigarette regulations. Seventy-five hospitals (62%) completed the survey. Over 80% of hospitals reported the existence of a policy regulating the use of e-cigarettes on campus and roughly half of the hospitals without a current e-cigarette policy are likely to develop one within the next year. Most e-cigarette policies have been incorporated into existing tobacco-free policies with few reported barriers, though effective communication of e-cigarette policies is lacking. The majority of hospitals strongly agree that e-cigarette use on campus should be prohibited for staff, patients, and visitors. Widespread incorporation of e-cigarette policies into existing hospital smoke and tobacco-free campus policies is feasible but needs communication to staff, patients, and visitors.