Author: Ashley Blachford

Original authors: Kent Erickson and John Shufeldt Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Neck pain is a common presenting complaint in urgent care centers. The challenge is to distinguish minor muscular pain from fracture, spinal cord or nerve root compression, infection, malignancy, and vascular disease. During the aging process, the incidence of cervical disc prolapse, spinal spondylosis, and spinal stenosis …

Original author: William Gluckman Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Flank pain is a fairly common presenting complaint in the urgent care setting. Causes may be related to musculoskeletal injury, retroperitoneal injury or organ problems, or thoracic pathology, or be related to a number of intra-abdominal problems. As with most diagnoses, a good history and physical exam will be important …

Original author: Kimberly Gibson Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children and a major source of morbidity. The challenge is to diagnose, treat if appropriate, triage if hospital work-up and care are necessary, and arrange for timely follow-up care and consultation. Children with fever and no localizing symptoms, as well as those with …

Original author: Kimberly Gibson Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the infections most frequently encountered in urgent care. Dysuria may be caused by bacterial cystitis, urethritis, genital tract disease, or a noninfectious process. The first task is to identify patients with systemic infection, pregnancy, or urinary obstruction who need more than routine outpatient treatment. …

Original author: Jeffrey Collins Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal bleeding (GI) may be described by location (upper versus lower), time course (acute versus chronic), and presentation (overt versus occult). A suspected small-bowel source may be considered when upper and lower endoscopic evaluation is unrevealing. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment depend on the etiology, location, and chronicity of …

Original author: Elisabeth Scheufele Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Abdominal pain is a frequent complaint in the medical setting, with severity ranging from a benign, short-lived issue to a life-threatening condition. The abdomen houses most of the gastrointestinal organs as well as other vital organs and vessels, and it is also adjacent to other major anatomic systems that can …

Original author: William Gluckman Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. Introduction Vomiting and diarrhea may be associated with many gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, both infectious and noninfectious, but may also be symptoms associated with several other disorders and disease entities. A thorough medical history is very important in evaluating the cause for these symptoms. In urgent care, the immediate tasks are to …

Original author: Jeffrey Collins Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. Introduction Peripheral edema is defined as a palpable swelling produced by the accumulation and/or expansion of interstitial fluid volume in the dependent areas of the body. Many clinical conditions and disease states, including heart failure, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, lymphatic disease, and hypothyroidism, can lead to the formation of peripheral edema. The …

Original authors: Ebrahim Barkoudah and Samantha Debold-Hawley Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. INTRODUCTION Palpitations are an unpleasant awareness of the heart beating, often described as a sensation of bounding, racing, fluttering, or skipped heartbeats. They are a common reason for urgent care visits. In most cases, palpitations do not imply a pathologic arrhythmia. The urgent care task is to identify …

Original author: Michael B. Weinstock Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026 to reflect current evidence, guidelines, and urgent care practice. Introduction Chest pain represents a unique challenge in urgent care medicine; many causes are benign, prompting the urgent care provider to let down their guard. If the symptoms are deemed sufficiently concerning for an immediately life-threatening etiology, a second level of decision making occurs: How should the patient be transported? …