Expert Perspectives on Grassroots Marketing in Urgent Care
Urgent message: Grassroots marketing tactics can be effective in engaging a center’s providers and staff with the communities they serve while also educating prospective patients about the availability of urgent care. Introduction This roundtable focuses on grassroots marketing for urgent care centers, which differs from traditional advertising in that it involves more interaction with prospective patients and requires a hands-on approach to building relationships and spurring word-of-mouth in the community. The panel of experts we’ve …
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Assessment and Management of Asthma Exacerbation in Urgent Care: Part 1
Urgent message: Asthma is increasing in prevalence and so, too, presentations of asthma in ambulatory settings. Urgent care providers have an important role to play in identifying and treating acute asthma exacerbations, including providing a written asthma action plan at discharge to improve long-term outcome. BRADLEY M. TURNER MD, MPH, MHA, FCAP, FASCP and JANET M. WILLIAMS, MD, FACEP Patients often seek assistance in urgent care centers for acute presentations of asthma. This provides unique …
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21-year-old man with a blow to his right shoulder
This x-ray was taken on a 21-year-old man with a blow to his right shoulder. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.
Read More59-year-old diabetic with pain and swelling in foot
The patient, a 59-year-old man with diabetes, presented with pain and swelling over his lateral right foot. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.
Read MoreClinical Challenge 2: January, 2014
THE CASE This x-ray was taken on a 29-year-old man with a blow to his left elbow. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.
Read MoreDeveloping Data: February, 2014
These data from the 2012 Urgent Care Industry Benchmarking Study are based on a sample of 1,732 urgent care centers; 95.2% of the respondents were UCA members. Among other criteria, the study was limited to centers that have a licensed provider onsite at all times; have two or more exam rooms; typically are open 7 days/week, 4 hours/day, at least 3,000 hours/year; and treat patients of all ages (unless specifically a pediatric urgent care).
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care: February, 2014
Pyuria Poor Predictor of UTI in Nephrolithiasis Key point: Classic symptoms and urine culture are the best indicators of infection in patients with acute nephrolithiasis. Pyuria proved a poor predictor. Citation: Abrahamian FM, Krishnadasan A, Mower WR, Moran GJ, Talan DA. Association of pyuria and clinical characteristics with the presence of urinary tract infection among patients with acute nephrolithiasis. Ann Emerg Med 2013;62(5):526-533. Infection can complicate the diagnosis of acute nephrolithiasis. Patients with both a …
Read MoreClinical Challenge: February, 2014
THE CASE The patient, a 47-year-old woman, twisted her left ankle while playing badminton 24 hours ago and was unable to bear weight on the left foot since then. Examination revealed moderate swelling of the lateral malleolus, no bruise, marked tenderness, slight ankle supination, inversion and adduction. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.
Read MorePulse Oximetry, Oral Medication
Q. I am reviewing documentation for a freestanding urgent care center that performs pulse oximetry on every patient they see, regardless of the reason. Is this typical? In some cases, they are billing the case rate code, S9083. Please let me know if this is standard operating procedure. A.Medicare will allow payment for pulse oximetry under two conditions: 1) when it is linked to an appropriate diagnosis code; and 2) if it considered as being …
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