Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Berger’s Disease in Urgent Care: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Although urgent care providers would not be equipped to make an initial diagnosis of Berger’s disease, it’s important to recognize the signs that may suggest this condition and refer patients for follow-up. Emily Pierson PA-C, Christina Gardner DHSc, MBA, PA-C Key words: Berger’s disease, hematuria, IgA Nephropathy, nephrology, urgent care, case report Abstract Introduction IgA Nephropathy (IgAN)—sometimes known as Berger’s disease—is the most common primary glomerular disease in the world. It often has …

No Butts About it: Approaching Anorectal Abscesses in the Urgent Care Center

Urgent message: Given the high rate of systemic involvement in patients with anorectal abscess, it is essential for urgent care providers to identify patients with risk factors and, when indicated, ensure those patients receive incision and drainage and appropriate follow-up care. Cameron W. Galbreath, MSN, FNP-C and Christina Gardner, DHSc, MBA, PA-C Citation: Galbreath C, Gardner C. No butts about it: approaching anorectal abscesses in the urgent care center. J Urgent Care Med. 2023;17(8):19-23. Key …

A Consolidation of Signs of Symptoms of Pediatric Pneumonia

Urgent message: While pneumonia in general continues to be a common diagnosis in children in the United States, relatively few studies have sought to determine the signs and symptoms that help to predict occult bacterial pneumonia. Awareness of associated signs and symptoms may assist the urgent care provider in proceeding more quickly to a correct diagnosis. Alyssa Whited, PA-C and Christina Gardner, PA-C CASE PRESENTATION A 5-year-old male with no significant past medical history presented …

A ‘Red Herring’ Chief Complaint

Urgent message: Chief complaints may lead the provider “off the trail” of a more urgent diagnosis. Anchoring bias occurs when relying too heavily on this first piece of information. Providers must remain vigilant for the subtle and nonspecific warning signs of pulmonary embolism. Ryan Hagan, PA-C and Christina Gardner, DHSc, MBA, PA-C INTRODUCTION Chief complaints are used to guide decision-making and may suggest an organ system, but a life-threatening condition may be found in a …

Building the Body Up Just to Break the Body Down: A Look Into Black Market Substance Use Among Young Athletes and Bodybuilders

Urgent message: Many performance-enhancing medications not currently approved by the FDA remain undetectable in basic urine specimens collected in the urgent care setting. If there is suspicion of any form of illicit substance use, the inquiry of specific supplements/agents is key, as side effect profiles are often vast and wide. Rachael M. Poff, PA-C and Christina E. Gardner, DHSc, MBA, PA-C INTRODUCTION Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) constitute a class of medication that has become …

A Diagnosis Suspected by Mechanism of Injury: Soft tissue Infection Due to Aeromonas hydrophila and Enterobacter asburiae Following Human Wastewater Exposure

Urgent message: Knowing the mechanism of injury and presence of wound contamination is important in hand lacerations in order to avoid and anticipate skin and soft tissue infections and tissue necrosis, particularly in the setting of contaminated water sources. Cayla Baker, PA-C and Christina Gardner, DHSc, MBA, PA-C Introduction In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 77,340 work-related accidents resulting in lacerations, with 51,130 of those being to the hand.1 It is important …

Urgent Identification and Management of Postsplenectomy Sepsis

Urgent message: Asplenic individuals have a rate of severe infections 2-3 times higher than the general population. Postsplenectomy sepsis should be considered in patients with impaired splenic function who present with a fever. Megan L. Lawson, PA-C and Christina Gardner, DHSc, MBA, PA-C CASE PRESENTATION A 45-year-old male presented to the urgent care with 18 days of sinus pain and congestion unresponsive to two courses of antibiotics, cefdinir and levofloxacin. Past surgical history revealed a …

The Case for an Interprofessional, Postgraduate NP/PA Fellowship in Urgent Care

Christina Gardner, DHSc, MBA, PA-C; Alexandra Nassif, PA-C; Connie Brooks, MSN-FNP; and Kim Roe, MBA, RRT Urgent message: Postgraduate fellowship programs are essential to the development of highly trained providers who can support the ongoing growth of the urgent care marketplace in the midst of a national physician shortage. However, historically there have been view available to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Introduction A 2017 report of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), predicted …