Management of Melanoma in a Patient Population: Using Electronic Health Records to Enhance Postdiagnosis Surveillance

E arly detection of melanoma reduces morbidity and mortality, yet research to evaluate the effectiveness of total-body skin examinations (TBSEs) is lacking. Because a history of melanoma confers a greater risk for developing subsequent primary melanomas (SPMs), the Dermatology Division of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii recommends at least annual TBSEs in these patients. Our study evaluated the benefit of using electronic health records (EHRs) to track patients with a history of melanoma to ensure annual TBSEs.