NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue now offers Mohs micrographic surgery to treat skin cancer
Hospital unveils new $285,000 lab that allows patients to be treated for skin cancer in one visit
Mohs surgery is the most effective way to treat the two most common types of skin cancer
April 16, 2024
New York, New York — NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced today that it is now offering Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective way to treat basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), the two most common types of skin cancer. Surgery offers less scarring and the highest rate of tumor cure and has a success rate of up to 99 percent. The hospital built a new Mohs laboratory, including an advanced Olympus BX53 dual-view Mohs microscope with a camera, which will allow dermatologic surgeons to remove carcinomas from skin cancer in a single visit, sparing as much healthy tissue as possible and improving healing time for the patient.
William Hicks, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, said: “Skin cancer affects people of all colors and many people with darker skin colors are diagnosed later, making it more difficult to treat. The availability of Mohs Surgery is another vital step in our continued mission to provide comprehensive, high-quality health care services to every patient and help our most vulnerable New Yorkers live healthier lives.”
“I am honored to bring Mohs micrographic surgery to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and offer the gold standard for skin cancer treatment,” said Dr. Maressa C. Criscito, Board Certified Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Through this precise and specialized technique, we are able to provide the highest level of care for every patient diagnosed with skin cancer.”
Trained specialists were recruited to support the new clinic, including a histotechnician responsible for freezing and specimen care, and a nurse with previous Mohs experience. Nurses will be cross-trained in the Mohs procedure.
Patients will be referred through the Bellevue Dermatology Clinic and other NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. Patients outside of NYC Health + Hospitals will need a referral from their provider.
During the Mohs operation, the surgeon removes thin layers of skin one layer at a time and examines each layer under a microscope while the patient waits. This process continues until only cancer-free tissue remains. The patient is given a local anesthetic to numb the area and can complete the process in one visit. Mohs surgery is cost effective because the lab work is done on site and allows as much healthy tissue as possible to remain.
Hospital staff cut the ribbon to dedicate the new Mohs Laboratory, which has met New York State Department of Health requirements and received initial New York State Clinical Laboratory Authorization on March 18, 2024, and has begun treating patients on March 22, 2024. In addition to the dedicated Olympus BX53 microscope, the new lab includes support equipment and lab-specific room renovations such as a ductless workstation and furniture furnishings at a total cost of $285,111.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, and more than 2 people die from skin cancer in the US every hour.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees, including highly skilled interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level 1 trauma center and annually sees approximately 103,000 emergency department visits, more than 520,000 outpatient visits, and nearly 200,000 visits to our COVID-19 testing and vaccine centers. Clinical Centers of Excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Traumatology; Cardiovascular services; Bariatric surgery; Separate regional perinatal center and intensive care unit for newborns; Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and oncology services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X(Twitter).
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health care system, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, community-based primary care and specialty centers anchors care coordination with trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, a home care agency and MetroPlus Health Plan—all supported by 11 major hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest lives possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and LinkedIn.
