UCAOA’S Survey Committee drew two important conclusions from its first industry-wide survey: urgent care is a growing industry nationwide, and those within the industry are hungry for benchmarking data. In each issue of JUCM, Developing Data will seek to fulfill that need. In this issue: Answers to the question, “So how long have you been in business?” As a distinct practice environment, “urgent care” is relatively young and just now becoming a part of the …
Read MoreClinical Challenge: April, 2007
The patient is a 3-year-old female who presented after a fall while running and complaining of pain over the foot. There was minimal local tenderness over the foot and minimal limp, but no other remarkable findings. View the x-ray taken (Figure 1) and consider what your next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.
Read MoreLessons Born of Missteps
Lee A. Resnick, MD, FAAFP This month’s issue of JUCM heralds an important addition to the journal. “Bouncebacks” will be a new regularly occurring contribution from Dr. Michael Weinstock and Dr. Ryan Longstreth. This department will take a unique approach that combines the formats of a morbidity & mortality conference, risk management lecture, and clinical review article. The result is a one-of-a-kind look at relevant clinical cases seen in the urgent care or emergency department …
Read MoreClinical Challenge 2: March, 2007
The patient is a healthy 37-year-old who reports falling on his hand, with his thumb outstretched. Upon examination, you find local mild swelling and tenderness and decreased range of motion of the thumb. There is no snuffbox tenderness, however. View the x-rays taken (Figure 1) and consider what your next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.
Read MoreMaking Employer Advisory Councils Work for You
Whether you are just now incorporating occupational health into your service mix or have a burgeoning occupational health component, an Employer Advisory Council is an excellent idea. In general, a council should include at least 12 members (providing a cushion against no-shows) and consist of a mix of owners, company CEOs, and HR personnel that reflect your service area. Be certain to include both high-profile candidates and worker bees from both client and non-client companies. …
Read MoreHow to Prepare for and Give a Deposition
JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP You are sitting at a long mahogany table in an unfamiliar, yetvery well-appointed, office wearing the same dark suit that you last wore at your cousin’s funeral. A pale, gaunt man with what looks like a small typewriter scrambles furiously to keep up with your rapid-pressured response to the question, “Doctor, for the record, please state your name and current address.” Is this a bad dream? Only if you …
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Medical Professional Liability Insurance: Limiting Cost While Maximizing Value
Urgent message: Liability insurance premiums continue to rise across the spectrum of medical practice environments. Urgent care practitioners can maximize the value of every premium dollar spent by understanding whom and what the policy actually covers. Terrence P. Coughlin, CPCU, ARM, AIC One of the more important andcostly aspects of running an urgent care center is the insurance coverage needed to protect the center and the medical staff working there. In recent years, all medical …
Read MoreAbstracts in Urgent Care: March, 2007
Acute Pain Management in Urgent Care Medicine
Urgent message: Urgent care practitioners are called upon daily to alleviate pain. A thorough understanding of the various pain syndromes and the pharmacology and analgesic potencies of various medications will aid in their safe and appropriate use. Marc R. Salzberg, MD, FACEP and Paolo T. Coppola, MD, FACEP Pain, either chronic or acute, is the main reason patients seek medical care. In this article, we will discuss acute pain management in an urgent care setting, …
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