Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Urgent Care Management of Lacerations in the Elderly Patient

Urgent message: Fragile skin lacerations in geriatric patients require a different repair strategy from those in younger patients. Despite the increased complexity of their wounds, most elderly patients with lacerations can be appropriately managed in the urgent care center. Oscar D. Almeida, Jr., MD, FACOG, FACS and Amy Hunter, DNP, FNP-BC, MSN-RN INTRODUCTION Skin tears form a subcategory of traumatic lacerations frequently affecting older adults. A study that searched Medline and Cochrane Reviews found that …

Repair of Split Earlobe Lacerations in the Urgent Care

Urgent message: Patients presenting to the urgent care center with split earlobe injuries can have their defect repaired with good cosmetic results. This minor office-based procedure can be easily performed in this venue by the urgent care provider. Oscar D. Almeida, Jr., MD, FACOG, FACS Dating back to the 2nd Century in the Roman Empire, earrings have remained a staple of human fashion. Today, the popular use of earrings has become gender neutral. The expanded …

Employing the Parental Papoose Technique in Treating Young Children

Urgent message: Children presenting to the urgent care center are often in a state of distress and agitation—to the extent that they may be difficult to treat when it comes to certain procedures. The parental papoose technique may help soothe the patient—and the parent—making effective treatment more accessible. Oscar D. Almeida, Jr., MD, FACOG, FACS It is common for a young child to enter our urgent care center calmly—while being held by a parent, only …