Mohs Surgery: History, Value, and Referral in Skin Cancer Care

Advanced Dermatologic Surgery is pleased to share that Dr. Thomas Hocker will present at the 2025 Hoeper Primary Care Conference on an essential topic for front-line clinicians: “Mohs Surgery: History, Value, and Referral in Skin Cancer Care.” His session is designed to give primary care providers (PCPs) practical, clinic-ready takeaways to help patients move from suspicion to diagnosis to definitive treatment—efficiently and compassionately.

Mohs in Brief: A Proven Approach with Practical Roots

Developed nearly a century ago and refined over decades, Mohs micrographic surgery removes skin cancer layer by layer, analyzing 100% of the surgical margins in real time. This method pairs two advantages patients care about most:

• Highest cure rates for many basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas
• Maximal tissue preservation, which supports better cosmetic and functional outcomes—especially on the nose, eyelids, lips, and ears.

At Advanced Dermatologic Surgery, Mohs removal and same-day reconstruction are coordinated in our certified ambulatory surgical center, streamlining care, improving outcomes, and reducing repeat visits.

Why It Matters to Primary Care

Skin cancers are often first recognized in primary care—during wellness checks, chronic-disease follow-ups, or when a patient mentions a “new spot.” Early recognition and a clear referral path shorten time to treatment and reduce anxiety for patients. Dr. Hocker’s talk focuses on what busy PCPs can use the same day:

• Pattern recognition: nonhealing or bleeding lesions, rapidly growing nodules, pearly/translucent papules with surface vessels, scaly or tender plaques that persist, and pigmented lesions meeting ABCDE criteria
• Risk context: immunosuppression (including transplant), prior skin cancers, radiation sites, or lesions in the facial “H-zone”
• Right-sized next step: when a same-day surgical consult is preferable to in-office biopsy (e.g., cosmetically/functional­ly sensitive sites)

Referral Essentials: What Speeds Care

A complete referral helps patients get treated sooner and minimizes back-and-forth:

• Lesion details: location, size, duration, recent change, symptoms (bleeding, pain, itch)
• Clinical photo (if permitted), even a smartphone image with good lighting
• Pertinent history: anticoagulants, immunosuppression, prior skin cancers or treatments, cosmetic/functional concerns (airway, eyelid closure, lip competence)
• Ask: biopsy vs. surgical consult; level of urgency if rapid growth or pain is present
• Our team prioritizes urgent lesions and high-risk patients with rapid-access scheduling.

After Mohs: Advanced Dermatologic Surgery Shares Care for Recovery and Prevention

Outcomes improve when PCPs and dermatologic surgeons share a clear plan:

• Wound care & medication guidance patients can follow at home
• Timely communication of pathology and margins back to the referring PCP
• Surveillance cadence tailored to risk (often every 6–12 months, individualized)
• Prevention counseling—sun protection, self-skin checks, and medication considerations for transplant or other immunosuppressed patients

A Note from Dr. Hocker

“Primary care physicians are the first line of defense against skin cancer. When we combine your vigilance with Mohs precision and coordinated reconstruction, patients benefit from faster answers and thoughtful outcomes. Partnerships with PCPs are central to how we care for people.”

Join the Conversation at Hoeper 2025

Join Dr. Hocker’s session at the Hoeper Primary Care Conference   for practical, ready-to-use tools—referral checklists, exam cues, and patient-friendly counseling language.

Primary care referrals & curbside questions

Phone: 913 – 661 - 1755

Secure Fax: 913-242-6921