Ashley Blachford, Author at Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Zantac Is Back—With New Storage Suggestions

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized a new formulation of ranitidine (formerly sold as Zantac) more than 5 years after the agency called for all versions of the drug to be withdrawn because of concerns that it could degrade into a carcinogenic compound. According to the agency, it has now approved VKT Pharma’s 150-mg and 300-mg ranitidine tablets after extensive safety testing and manufacturing improvements. There are also updated, more stringent storage instructions. …

Walk-In Clinic Led By Pharmacists, Thanks to New Practice Rules in Iowa

Authorization rules released in Iowa over the summer now provide for an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in the state, allowing them to diagnose low-risk health conditions, order labs, and prescribe medication. As a result, the Wells Hometown Drug retail pharmacy in Bloomfield, Iowa, recently opened its new walk-in clinic, led by a pharmacist who is able to see patients 6 years and older without physician oversight. The pharmacist-led model was enabled by Iowa’s …

Peanut Patch Slowly Builds Kids’ Tolerance

Just as more evidence is emerging that supports exposure to peanuts for young children as a way to avoid future peanut allergies, a study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found that an epicutaneous patch continued to build peanut tolerance over 3 years, according to a press release. The immunotherapy patch delivers small amounts of peanut protein through the skin, slowly building tolerance and reducing …

GLP-1 Users May Have Higher Risk For Chronic Cough

Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may be associated with chronic cough, as published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. A large study of more than 2 million people with type 2 diabetes across 70 healthcare organizations suggests that adults prescribed a GLP-1RA had a 12% higher risk for developing a new cough persisting for more than 8 weeks, compared with people prescribed other medications, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) …

7-Year-Old With Knee Pain After Activity

A 7‑year‑old male presents to the urgent‑care clinic with left‑knee pain that began after gym class and has gradually worsened over the past several weeks. The mother reports no significant trauma and notes that the pain improves with rest. Physical examination reveals a slightly overweight child with a visible bowing deformity just distal to the knee. The patient demonstrates a full range of motion and normal knee strength, and no bony tenderness, effusion, or laxity …

Chronic Calf Pain and Limp: A Case Report of Pediatric Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Urgent Message: Pediatric patients frequently present to urgent care with musculoskeletal complaints, but clinicians must remain aware of the less common surgical and medical emergencies that can present with these symptoms. Key Words: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis; Pediatric Limp; Antalgic Gait; Obesity; Urgent Care Diagnosis Abstract Clinical Presentation: A 13-year-old male presented to a pediatric urgent care with the chief complaint of left calf pain for a month that had acutely worsened over the past …

STEMI With Musculoskeletal Chest Pain: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Reproducible chest wall pain is often considered a symptom that indicates a musculoskeletal diagnosis. However, it should not be used as the sole criterion for ruling out acute coronary syndrome, especially in high-risk populations. Key Words: STEMI; Reproducible Chest Pain; Atypical ACS; Urgent Care Evaluation Abstract Introduction: Chest pain remains a leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits, and its differential encompasses both life-threatening and benign conditions. In the United States, the lifetime …

Worsening Otitis Media Despite Correct Treatment: A Case Report of Pediatric Leukemia

Urgent Message: Clinical worsening of typically treatable infections should trigger clinicians to dig deeper for possible underlying, undiagnosed conditions. Key Words: Pediatric Leukemia; Otitis-Conjunctivitis Syndrome; Persistent Infection; Urgent Care Diagnosis Abstract Introduction: Clinical worsening of typically treatable infections is a common initial presentation for pediatric patients with developing underlying oncologic conditions such as leukemia. Due to the gradual development of these conditions, patients may come to urgent care (UC) with varied and multiple presentations, which …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – December 2025

Causes, Management, and Outcomes of Diplopia in the ED Take Home Point: For diplopia, binocular diplopia was the most common presentation to the emergency department (ED), with microangiopathies and strokes being the most common etiology. Citation: Occelli C, Coffin V, Raynaud O, et. al. Presentation, management and outcomes of patients with diplopia in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2025;96:170-175. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.06.024. Relevance: Patients with diplopia occasionally present to ED and urgent care (UC) …

Billing Integrity in Urgent Care: How to Manage Risk

Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC, is Revenue Integrity Manager at Experity. The financial and reputational health of an urgent care practice depends on one simple principle: Bill accurately and compliantly. Yet as reimbursement rules evolve and staffing models shift toward greater reliance on non-physician practitioners (NPPs), many centers find themselves at risk for costly missteps. From billing under the wrong provider to out-of-network (OON) complications and False Claims Act (FCA) violations, administrators are …

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