Clinical Feature Articles

Urgent message: Urgent care is often the first stop for patients experiencing acute eye complaints, including conjunctivitis. The capability to accurately distinguish between infectious conjunctivitis of a viral nature vs that of a bacterial nature is essential to administering appropriate treatment and avoiding inappropriate use of antibiotics.Isabelle Dortonne, MD, Patrizia Colmenares, OD, Trevor Lyford, BA, OSC, and John Sheppard, MD, MMScINTRODUCTIONThe vast majority of acute conjunctivitis is viral in nature, with 65% to 90% due to adenoviruses.1 Despite this, a study by University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center found that …
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Urgent message: Toddler’s fractures are a common cause of limp and failure to bear weight in children under 4 years of age. Recent research shows wide variation in management of these stable fractures, favoring a less conservative approach. Amy E. Pattishall, MD The case: A 14-month-old male is brought to your urgent care by his parents immediately after an injury to his right leg at the park. The boy was riding down the slide on his father’s lap, when his foot got caught, twisting his right lower leg. He cried …
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Urgent message: Musculoskeletal disorders result in costly, disabling outcomes for Americans—causing significant economic impact (work-related injuries, early retirement, days away from work) and representing a leading cause of chronic diseases nationwide. Frequently, the initial treating facility, which determines if the injured/ill patient is capable of returning to work or needs time away from work or modified duty, is an urgent care center. Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C INTRODUCTION An estimated one in two adults older than 18 years of age, or 126.6 million Americans, are affected by musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs),1 exceeding the percentage …
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Urgent message: “Wilderness” medicine is less exotic than one would think. Patients with complaints that began during or after an outdoor outing in any season are likely to present to urgent care, making wilderness medical knowledge of paramount importance. Stewart Harsant, MMS, PA-C Introduction Every season holds its own unique appeal to those who love the great outdoors. Similarly, every season has its own distinct set of risks, ranging from gastrointestinal symptoms, dermatological conditions, and infection from insect bites to external and internal damage from exposure to frigid temperatures. Here, …
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Urgent message: Nontraumatic heel pain is a common presenting complaint in urgent care. Knowing how to accurately diagnose and develop a treatment plan is important, as the course is typically prolonged. Katty Grand-Pierre, MD, CMSS, Frank Ida, BS, EMT-B, and Vincent D’Amore, MD, FACEP INTRODUCTION The heel can absorb 110% of body weight while a person is walking and 200% of body weight during running.1 While the most common cause is plantar fasciitis (PF), accounting for approximately 2 million office-based visits a year,2 the causes and treatments are often confusing …
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