Practice Management
Northwell Health this week announced the completion of its acquisition of Nuvance Health, resulting in the establishment of an integrated regional health system serving the greater New York and Connecticut areas. This new nonprofit entity will serve a combined population of about 13 million consumers with an annual budget of $22.6 billion and a workforce of more than 104,000 employees, including 22,000 nurses and 13,500 providers. The deal brings the network up to 28 hospitals, …
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The Urgent Care Association (UCA) recently launched its new map-based career platform for prospective candidates and urgent care employers. UCA’s Urgent Care Compass features the full slate of 15,000 urgent care centers across the United States, enabling career hunters to apply to the roles that attract them the most in the places they prefer to work. What’s different about the new platform is the intuitive mapping feature that offers visual suggestions for candidates to find …
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dihydroergotamine (DHE) nasal powder 5.2 mg for the acute treatment of migraine in adults with or without aura. The new product is currently the only DHE nasal powder available for this indication, according to a press release from manufacturer Satsuma. Clinical studies demonstrated that the formulation offers rapid absorption, quick attainment of high plasma DHE concentrations, and sustained levels over time. It was generally well tolerated both …
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According to the last weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current influenza season in the United States has resulted in the highest number of pediatric deaths since the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009–2010. As of the week ending April 26, 2025, at least 216 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported—well above the 207 deaths recorded during the last flu season and especially concerning given that the season isn’t quite …
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A large-scale clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that one dose of an HPV vaccine is just as protective against infection as the traditional 2-dose regimen. The randomized study, which enrolled more than 20,000 girls aged 12 to 16 years, compared the effectiveness of 1 and 2 does of the bivalent Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline) vaccine and the 9-valent Gardasil 9 (Merck) vaccine. Participants were assigned to receive either dosing regimen, and both groups …
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In practice, just under half of pediatricians (49.5%) follow national recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for use of the antiviral oseltamivir for children hospitalized with influenza, according to survey results published in Pediatrics. The survey polled 787 physicians from 5 specialties among 7 children’s hospitals in the United States from March 2024 to June 2024. AAP recommends that all children hospitalized for flu receive oseltamivir. Knowing about AAP recommendations increased the pediatricians’ …
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Urgent care has long been defined for its model of “test and treat” for minor, non-chronic health conditions. Patients presenting with symptoms typically receive a rapid, on-site lab test, and based on the results, the provider makes a diagnosis and orders a prescription. It’s a given that lab testing is a defining service and core capability of urgent care centers. Based on 34 million patient charts in Experity EMR from January 1 through December 31, …
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Urgent Message: Postpartum vaginal bleeding and discharge have a broad range of etiologies ranging from benign and self-limited to life-threatening. As postpartum patients may present to urgent care centers with concerns for bleeding or discharge, it is important for clinicians to have an understanding of the unique differential diagnosis for causes of hemorrhage in this population. Alexa Bailey, BS; Lauren Kostandaras, BS; Hannah Poorman, BS; Michael Weinstock, MD; Catherine Neal, DO. Citation: Bailey A, Kostandaras …
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Urgent Message: Rapid identification of Lisfranc injuries in urgent care is critical, as delays in diagnosis can lead to chronic disability. Most patients with Lisfranc fractures or dislocations should be referred directly to the emergency department. Cross-sectional imaging (ie, computed tomography) and orthopedic consultation are time-sensitive, and urgent operative repair is often indicated. Alexandra Eby, BS; Nicole Meschbach, MD Questions for the Urgent Care Clinician at the Bedside Abstract A Lisfranc injury is a tarsometatarsal …
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A 51-year-old man presents to urgent care complaining of night sweats and a productive cough with visible blood for the past 2 weeks. He says he’s been feeling rather tired lately. A chest x-ray is ordered. Review the image and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the following page.
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