Choose Skin Health

Anyone! This is a free public service program, and there are no restrictions as to who is eligible. The goal of the program is to screen and educate as many people as possible on sun safety and early detection.

ASDS members can easily sign up to volunteer for CSH and request their free screening materials when registering their event at asds.net/csh-form. A form should be submitted for every screening location. The physician’s contact information and screening event details will be posted on the ASDS website. Consumers can search by location to find the nearest screening.

You can host screenings at public events including health fairs, parades, Red Cross offices, community centers, schools, workplace events, hospital screenings, sporting events, etc.

If you choose to host the screenings at your practice, there are several ways to do this. Choose the one that works best for you:

• Set aside a specific date(s) when you will see skin cancer screening program patients.
• Set aside certain times after your regular office hours or during your office hours that are reserved for these patients.
• Set aside a specific number of appointments for these patients.
• Don’t set limits, and accept as many patients as your schedule will allow.
• If you come up with another method, go ahead and use it. The purpose of the program is to encourage patients to come in for a skin cancer screening. Whatever time you can allocate will be appreciated.
• Be sure to notify your office staff that you’ll be participating in the program and how you’re allocating your time, so they know how to schedule these patients.

CSH is a year-round program, however there is a heavy focus during Skin Cancer Awareness Month (May) and throughout the summer months. Schedule patients at any time of year that is convenient for you.

To be considered a CSH volunteer, you must submit at least one completed screening form to ASDS. Of course, the more patients you can screen, the better chances you have of winning the annual Top Screener award.

Contact CommunicationStaff@asds.net to ensure that your website listing is updated or removed so consumers will know to contact another physician or call your office for availability.

On-site supervision by the ASDS member is required. The ASDS member must oversee resident dermatologists and mid-level providers performing screenings and completing screening forms.

If a suspicious lesion is found, the ASDS member must meet with and inform the patient of the importance of a follow-up examination and reiterate the patient’s responsibility in arranging it with a dermatologist of his/her choosing. The patient is then required to sign the second section of the release form.

No. The Choose Skin Health program is a pro bono effort and should be handled the same way you would handle other pro bono patients.

• Ask the patient to complete the top portion of the form, including the “Release Form.”
• Ask each patient to sign the form before he/she is screened. If the patient refuses to sign this form, no data on that person should be submitted to ASDS.
• If you believe the patient has a precancerous or cancerous lesion, he/she should sign the second section of the release form. Ensure the patient understands that he/she can visit any board certified dermatologist for a follow-up appointment or biopsy and is not required to return to your practice.
• After the screening, fill in the physician section and sign it. The ASDS member must oversee all screenings and forms completed by resident dermatologists and mid-level providers.
• The white copy is retained by the screener.
• The yellow copy is provided to the patient.
• Send the pink copy to ASDS along with a cover sheet or business card that includes the ASDS member's name and ID number. Forms can be sent via:
  • Email to CommunicationStaff@asds.net
  • Fax to 847-956-0999
  • Mail to 5550 Meadowbrook Drive, Suite 120, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008.
• Note: This form is considered a medical record and should be maintained by the screener for a minimum of six years or per the screener’s state regulations, if longer.

• Mark the location of the lesion on the form.
• Discuss your findings with the patient and have him/her sign the second section of the release form.
• Encourage the patient to seek treatment. The patient should understand he/she can visit any board certified dermatologist for a follow-up appointment or biopsy and is not required to return to your practice, as this screening is a pro bono effort.

The skin cancer screening program promotion is for skin cancer screening only. If patients request other procedures or information, you may offer to have your staff set up a separate appointment to address their concerns.

Log in to download your free CSH toolkit, or email CommunicationStaff@asds.net.