Urgent message: Fractures of the distal radius are a common presentation in the urgent care setting. Nonetheless, a high index of suspicion is required for the diagnosis of a Galeazzi fracture–dislocation.By Heather L Hinshelwood, MD and David Caro, MD IntroductionThe anatomic structure of the forearm typically maintains the integrity of the distal radioulnar joint when the radius is fractured. However, in certain situations this joint may be compromised with certain rotational forces. CaseA 14-year-old African-American male …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care: July/August, 2009
Early Estimate of Pandemic Potential of Influenza A H1N1 “Swine Flu” Key point: The current virus is transmitted efficiently but probably is less lethal than past pandemic viruses. Citation: Fraser C, Donnelly CA, Cauchemez S, et al. Pandemic potential of a strain of influenza A (H1N1): Early findings. Science. 2009 May 14; e-pub ahead of print. A team of epidemiologists has analyzed the influenza A (H1N1) epidemic in Mexico. Data related to the outbreak were …
Read More25 Sales and Marketing Pearls
This month’s column provides some easy-to-execute sales and marketing tips that we have found helpful in moving a clinic’s occupational health initiative forward: Sales Skills and Techniques Use euphemisms to convert negative phrases into positives. “You have a problem” should be “You have an opportunity.” “You have a high injury rate” becomes “if we can help lower your injury rate, it would result in lower workers’ comp costs.” Orchestrate clinic visits to make …
Read MoreEntrepreneurism—Or, How Not to Turn a Lot of Money into a Little
Throughout history, entrepreneurs have faced harsh critics. From Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice through Oliver Stone’s movie Wall Street (“greed is good, greed works.” etc.) entrepreneurial efforts are cast in a dim light. To paraphrase Lifebook founder Job Butcher, though, “no other social system can compete with the free market, entrepreneurial system in terms of productivity, raising living standards, and creating prosperity … Yet, despite its overwhelming contributions, some elements of society still associate profit-making …
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Creating a Web Presence to Raise Awareness of Urgent Care
Urgent message: A robust – and effective – advertising campaign needs to take full advantage of all available media, with special consideration of online opportunities. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc In the past, advertising was a simple proposition; nearly everyone attached the same network television, read the same city newspapers, and searched for businesses in the Yellow Pages. But in recent years, such “mass marketing” has yielded to new marketing channels targeting the lifestyles and …
Read MoreManaging Summer Lacerations in Children
Common Lacerations of the Head
Urgent message: Effective management of head lacerations starts with hemorrhage control but also requires an understanding of appropriate use of anesthesia, the possibility of closed head or nerve injury, and vigilance for non-accidental trauma. Clayton Josephy, MD, Samuel M. Keim, MD, MS, and Paper Rosen, MD Introduction Laceration repair is a common and important responsibility of physicians in the emergency and urgent care settings. A recent review of national trends in ED visits revealed that …
Read More‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’: The Birth of a Public Health Plan
With healthcare reform imminent, the question on everyone’s mind is: “How will this impact me?” While there is almost universal support for reform – what you might call the why of a healthcare fix – there is considerable disagreement about the how, when, who, and where. While the details of reform may change a bit over the next several months, there are a few things we should consider invariable: The Democrats’ solid control of the …
Read MoreJuly/August 2009
Proper Use of 99051, and the Status of S9088
Q. Can I bill the CPT code 99051 (Services(s) provided in office during regularly scheduled, weekend, or holiday office hours, in addition to basic service) for the purpose of getting a denial? Can I bill a Medicare patient for the 99051 code if I have an advanced beneficiary notice (ABN) completed? Anonymous, Texas A. This is a very interesting question, and I am sure it will generate significant controversy. In regard to your question about …
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