Skin Cancer Information - OBTAINING TRUE MOHS SURGERY

Doctors in different specialties are taught different methods of skin-cancer treatment. True Mohs surgeons are fellows of the American COLLEGE of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology and study all treatments from A to Z, with the possible exception of radiation. Beware that some dermatologists and few plastic surgeons have formed their own organization with a strangely similar sounding name of the American SOCIETY of Mohs Surgery (beware that the credentialing and training standards differ from those of the official COLLEGE). Plastic surgeons are traditionally trained the less accurate traditional vertical section cutting-out (removal) method. Most dermatologists are taught treatments from A-W and have not been formally trained in Mohs Surgery or radiation therapy for more than a few weeks. Internists and family practitioners learn whatever they can pick up during a few weeks of observational training when they rotate through university dermatology divisions during their internships. Just because you are being billed for Mohs Surgery by your doctor does not mean that you received Mohs Surgery. It is likely that over half the Mohs Surgery that has been billed in the State of Florida does not meet the Medicare definition of Mohs Surgery.

Unfortunately, over the last several years many patients have come to the website author's practice complaining that they had had Mohs Surgery performed somewhere else and that the treatment failed (tumor recurred). Indeed the patients were partly correct - they had a treatment failure. However, just because a surgeon says they are doing Mohs does not mean that they were trained to do it, or even did it right or even did Mohs at all. In every instance that a patient has come to the author and complained of another doctor's treatment failure the website author handed the OFFICIAL roster of the American COLLEGE of Mohs Surgery to the patient and asked the patient to find the name of the doctor who had done the surgery. None of the patients could find their doctor's name in the roster of 600 worldwide American COLLEGE trained surgeons. Unfortunately, these patients were done a disservice by their doctors. For example, in Broward County, Florida, as of 2003, there are currently 8 American COLLEGE of Mohs Surgery trained surgeons and over 30 other doctors who advertise doing Mohs Surgery. What type of training did they receive? And who taught most of them? They themselves, taught themselves.

Some doctors would like to be true Mohs surgeons without having to undergo the rigorous and stringent years of training the College requires. You can check your doctor's status by calling the American COLLEGE of Mohs Surgery in Illinois, USA at (800) 500-7224. Ask the College if the doctor who is about to perform your Mohs Surgery is a member or fellow of the ACMMSCO. If the College says that a particular surgeon's name is not on the official list, then caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

Paul J. Weber, M.D., P.A.
5353 North Federal Highway, Suite 400
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Tel: 954-489-9800 | Fax: 954-489-0401