Practice Management
Urgent Message: With STI rates rising, urgent care centers have a unique opportunity to address a pressing public health need and increase patient volumes and revenue by adding STI testing services. Citation: Ayers A. The Urgent Need for STI Testing in Urgent Care Centers. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(10)39-42 Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day.1 …
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Alan Ayers, MBA, MAcc The following table summarizes the 100 largest urgent care operators by number of locations as of May 2024, based on data provided by National Urgent Care Realty and Experity. Because of the significant number of private operators that also operate facilities with hospital partners, this year’s list delineates the breakdown of health-system-affiliated locations. Data is reported by the parent entity as opposed to regional brands, partnerships, or affiliations. Of the nation’s …
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Urgent Message: Fast trackmodels aim to improve patient throughput metrics for low-acuity patients. In this quality improvement project, a process for fast track in the pediatric urgent care significantly improved patient flow. Hayley L. Ross, MD; Sandra P. Spencer, MD; Traci Ertle, MSN, RN, CPEN; Anthony Watkins, MSN, RN, NE-BC; Mark Feldman, MD; Derrek Massanari, MD, MPH; Bernadette Johnson, MD; Alexandria J. Wiersma, MD Citation: Ross HL, Spencer SP, Ertle T, Watkins A, Feldman M, …
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Urgent Message: The azygos lobe may be apparent on a chest x-ray and is a relatively uncommon, yet benign finding, that is important to distinguish from other etiologies. The azygos lobe is an embryological remnant and is usually incidental in nature. Citation: Richmond C, Mancuso A. Atypical Chest X-ray Appearance in a Patient with Cough: A Case Report. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(10):23-25 Keywords: azygos lobe, normal variant, chest x-ray Abstract Introduction: Recognition of …
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Batsheva R. Sholomson, DO; Danielle Langan, DO; Abbas Husain, MD; Shorok Hassan, DO Urgent Message: With the incidence of babesiosis rising, clinicians are encouraged to consider the totality of presentation including risk factors based on endemic region, recent travel or tick bite, and clinical signs and symptoms. Citation: Sholomson BR, Langan D, Husain A, Hassan S. Fever of Unknown Origin: A Case Report of Babesiosis Infection. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(10):17-21 Key Words: Babesiosis, …
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Naushair Hussain, DO; Shahmeer Hussain, DO; Clinton A. Hartz, MD Urgent Message: Scaphoid fractures most frequently occur at the mid aspect, or “waist,” of the scaphoid, and require about 10 weeks of prolonged immobilization before slow return to normal function. Such fractures have high risk of complications and subsequent chronic pain and/or disability if not appropriately immobilized. Citation: Hussain N, Hussain S, Hartz C. Urgent Care Management of Scaphoid Fracture. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; …
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Amazon. Dollar General. Berkshire Hathaway. JPMorgan Chase. Walgreens. Walmart (insert echo here). It’s been an interesting few years watching these giants try to do what you do. The biggest tragedy of all of this is the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been spent by these folks that could have been saved if someone on their end had simply picked up the phone and talked to one of us. No one called the Urgent …
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“Do as little as necessary, not as much as possible.” This is the mantra I recite throughout every urgent care shift without fail—that’s how mantras work after all. Hearing the word “mantra” might conjure images of a placid-faced yogi seated in the lotus position for some, but a mantra needn’t serve only spiritual practice. A well-conceived mantra can also prove useful when deployed in any context where we might benefit from being reminded frequently to …
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At least two human cases of “dual mutant” strains of H1N1 influenza have been detected in Connecticut and Michigan, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Genetic changes are concerning because they could reduce the effectiveness of current antiviral treatments. Mutations of H1N1 appear to have 13-fold greater resistance to the flu treatment oseltamivir—the most commonly prescribed treatment for flu. An analysis of the new H1N1 flu viruses with …
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Many Americans lack information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Public Policy Center survey shows. Just over half of survey respondents (54%) know that syphilis can be cured, however, 84% incorrectly believe that a vaccine is available. As many as 30% don’t know the signs and symptoms of syphilis, including sores, swollen lymph nodes, fever, etc., but 77% know that using a condom could protect them. The incorrect responses are …
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