Ashley Blachford, Author at Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Counterfeit Semaglutide Found in U.S. Drug Supply

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration seized several hundred counterfeit semaglutide 1mg injection units that were found in the U.S. drug supply. The agency advises any provider who prescribes or treats patients with semaglutide to check the products for those labeled with lot number PAR0362 and serial numbers starting with the digits 51746517. Counterfeits will contain both of these label features, according to manufacturer Novo Nordisk. It is important to note that lot number …

When Urgent Care Is Available, Emergency Departments Are Less Congested

It’s evident through everyday experience that access to urgent care (UC) can reduce emergency department (ED) congestion and drive better healthcare resource utilization in a community. A literature review published in Cureus recently quantified this same conclusion by analyzing 10 studies conducted between 2015 and 2024, primarily in the United States, which found that the availability of standalone UC centers reduced ED visits by 8% to 17%. One cited study found UC led to a …

KidMed Receives Autism Credential

KidMed Pediatric Urgent Care in Gulfport, Mississippi, was awarded the Certified Autism Center credential from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards this month. To earn the designation, KidMed participated in onsite reviews, and staff completed training on practices, skills, and resources to best care for sensory-sensitive children and those on the autism spectrum, according to a press release. Enhancements include dimmable lighting, noise reduction, visual aid cards, and sensory-friendly spaces. KidMed is …

What Happens When AI Goes Head-To-Head With Urgent Care Doctors?

Accuracy among healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) tools has grown exponentially in a short amount of time, and the place for these tools in urgent care might be that much more evident now. Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine recently concluded that AI has the ability to match and to outperform physicians delivering virtual urgent care. In fact, AI agreed with doctors’ diagnosis and management recommendations 56.8% of the time among the 461 virtual …

CDC Reminds Providers Of Measles Protocol

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week sent an alert to providers concerning the ongoing measles outbreak. While the risk to the general population currently remains low, the agency reminded stakeholders that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way for patients to protect themselves against the disease. At least 3 unvaccinated people have died from measles, and cases have grown to more than 600 as of April 4. …

Heightened Flu Activity Continues as the Season Wanes

The particularly harsh 2024-2025 flu season is now in its seventh week of declining cases, according to fresh Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates. Even so, activity has remained high for 18 weeks and counting, and the season is expected to linger on for several more weeks, says CDC. Pediatric deaths now number 168 for the season. The percentage of outpatient visits has been highest among those aged 0 to 4 years, followed …

ACA Marketplace Enrollment Will Dwindle Without Subsidy Extension

ACA Marketplace health plan enrollment hit a record for the fourth year in a row, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. This year, more than 24 million Americans signed up for plans in the marketplace—more than doubling the enrollment figure from just 5 years ago and triple that of the inaugural marketplace enrollment numbers in 2014. Regionally, enrollment has more than tripled since 2020 in Texas (growing 255%), Mississippi (242%), West Virginia …

Emergency Departments Struggle With Sustainability: RAND

Emergency departments (EDs) will face increased sustainability risks in the near- and long-term future, according to a new report from nonprofit research firm RAND. As EDs struggle with financial prospects and meeting community demand, nearby urgent care operators might see increased volumes of higher-acuity patient visits. Among the leading issues are the fact that some of the necessary services provided in hospital EDs are not directly reimbursed by public or private payers, while at the …

New Outlook Considers 3 Total MMR Vaccines, Starting at 6 Months

Pediatric infectious disease experts are considering revising recommendations to encourage an early, additional dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for 6- to 11-month-old infants in high-risk areas, according to MedPage Today. The shift would change the 2-dose regimen per lifetime to 3 doses, while also getting an earlier start. Public health leaders recently discussed in a JAMA perspective the possibility of expanding vaccine recommendations for infants who live in regions with known …