Skin Cancer Checks and Mohs Surgery in Tennessee: Referrals, Scheduling and What to Expect

How people end up at a skin check

There's no single entry point. You might book a dermatology appointment yourself, your primary care clinician might suggest one, or you may already be seeing a dermatologist for follow-up. However you arrive, whether you need a skin check and how often is a medical decision to make with your clinician, not a rule from a website.

In East Tennessee, the Division of Dermatology at Quillen ETSU Health says skin cancer screening is a regional priority. In Middle and West Tennessee, Vanderbilt and UTHSC both list general dermatology alongside their surgical and cancer-focused services.

From skin check to surgery: a common path

Your path depends on what your clinician finds. If more is needed, care may move through the steps below. Use them to know what to ask, not to predict your own care.

1. ExamA clinician looks at your skin and decides whether anything needs a closer look.
2. Biopsy, if your clinician recommends oneA small sample may be taken and sent for review. Ask when and how you'll hear the result.
3. Pathology reviewThe sample is reviewed in a lab. At Vanderbilt, dermatopathology is done in partnership with Opus Pathology, and the department says most cases are finalized within 24 hours.
4. Results conversationYour clinician explains the result and the options. This is the moment to ask why one approach is recommended over another.
5. ReferralIf surgery such as Mohs is recommended, your clinician's office may send a referral to a surgical team.
6. SchedulingThe surgical team contacts you, or you call them, to set a date.

Mohs referrals at Vanderbilt: what they ask for

Vanderbilt's clinical programs page lists Mohs micrographic surgery at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks, 719 Thompson Lane, Suite 26300, Nashville. It publishes a Mohs scheduling contact: phone 615-320-6647 and email mohsscheduling@vumc.org. It says referrals should include the patient's name, date of birth and contact information.

That short list tells you the first job is identifying and reaching you. If your referring office is handling the referral, ask them to confirm it was sent and which phone number they gave. If you're told to call yourself, have your date of birth, your referring clinician's name and your insurance card ready.

Vanderbilt's department also supports the Dermatologic Surgery Unit at VUMC and runs a cutaneous lymphoma program at One Hundred Oaks. If your referral is for something other than Mohs, ask which program it's going to so you call the right line.

Dermatologic surgery and cutaneous oncology in Memphis

UTHSC's Kaplan-Amonette Department of Dermatology lists dermatologic surgery, dermatopathology and cutaneous oncology alongside general and medical dermatology. It describes itself as a tertiary referral center for Memphis and the Mid-South, a sign that it takes referrals from well beyond the city. The department is at 930 Madison Avenue, Suite 840, Memphis, with a department phone of 901.448.5769 and a University Clinical Health line of 901.866.8805.

Veterans may meet the department through the Memphis VA Medical Center, where an undated UTHSC News article says it runs a dermatology practice. In Nashville, Vanderbilt's department supports the Extracorporeal Photopheresis Unit at the Nashville VA Medical Center. Veterans should check current arrangements with the VA.

East Tennessee: screening as a regional priority

ETSU's division treats skin, nail and hair conditions and belongs to the Department of Internal Medicine, which lists the phone number 423-439-6282. If you live in the Tri-Cities, the department can tell you how its appointments work and how any onward surgical referrals are handled.

Questions to ask before Mohs or other skin surgery

• Who will perform the procedure, and are they board certified in dermatology? You can check their Tennessee license with our verification guide.
• Where will it take place, and how long should I plan to be there?
• What should I do about my regular medications? Follow the surgical team's instructions and don't change anything on your own.
• Should someone drive me home afterward?
• Who reviews the tissue, and when will I hear about results?
• Does my plan need a referral or prior approval, and what will I owe? Our insurance guide lists the questions to ask.
• Who do I call after hours if I have a concern?

Children

At Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, the dermatology clinic says it can arrange more advanced surgery with the Vanderbilt Dermatology Laser Clinic, Vanderbilt Plastic Surgery or Pediatric Surgery. In Memphis, Le Bonheur's dermatologists treat common and rare skin conditions from birth to age 18.