Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Wrist Pain Related To Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Study

Urgent Message: Wrist pain and swelling are common presentations in urgent care. Several factors can help clinicians identify cases of rheumatoid arthritis in order to promptly refer patients to rheumatology. Christina Williams, BS; Veronica Heitsch, MD Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis; wrist pain; inflammatory arthritis; metacarpophalangeal joint; rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis; disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs Questions for the Clinician at the Bedside Editor’s Note: While the images presented here are authentic, the patient case scenario is hypothetical. Abstract Rheumatoid …

Celebrating 20 Years of JUCM

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This quote by French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr in 1849 is what rings true for me as I reflect on the 20-year anniversary of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine (JUCM). Over the last 2 decades, the landscape of urgent care has changed drastically. Some highlights of those changes include significant growth in the number of urgent care centers and the number of urgent care …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – April 2026

Chest X-rays for Abdominal Pain: Physicians’ Perspectives Take Home Point: In this study, emergency medicine physicians expressed favorable attitudes toward evidence-based medicine (EBM), although their clinical practices did not always fully align with the available evidence. Citation: Evans B, Giannotti N, Ekpo E. Examining emergency doctors’ perspectives and attitudes regarding evidence-based medicine and chest radiograph request for abdominal pain. Emerg Med Australas. 2025;37(6):e70178. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.70178 Relevance: Prior literature shows that chest radiographs (CXRs) contribute little to …

Pediatric Plantar Puncture Wound Through Rubber-Soled Footwear: A Case Report Highlighting Antibiotic Stewardship in Urgent Care

Urgent Message: Low-risk plantar puncture wounds in healthy children can be safely managed without antibiotics. Parents should receive instructions for return precautions. Adam Brandon Bondoc, MD Keywords: plantar puncture wound; pediatric puncture wound; rubber-soled footwear; pseudomonas aeruginosa; antibiotic stewardship; foreign body risk Abstract Introduction: Puncture wounds that occur through rubber-soled footwear increase the risk of infection from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Prophylactic oral fluoroquinolones are frequently provided to adults for high-risk injuries. However, pediatric care is complicated …

38-Year-Old Male With Knee Pain After a Fall

A 38-year-old otherwise healthy male presents to urgent care with acute right knee pain following a 6-foot fall from a ladder, landing directly on his right lower extremity 2 hours prior to arrival. He reports severe pain and the inability to bear weight since the injury. Physical examination reveals that he is afebrile with normal vital signs. Musculoskeletal exam is notable for moderate knee effusion with surrounding early ecchymosis, and medial joint line tenderness. There …

53-Year-Old Butcher With Red Rash Following a Cut to the Hand

A 53-year-old male butcher visits urgent care for a painful red rash that developed on his hand 3 days prior. There is no history of recent travel, but he accidentally cut himself when processing meat 1 week ago. Exam reveals that the patient is febrile at 100.2° F. Otherwise, his vital signs are within normal limits, and he is well appearing. On dermatologic examination, erythematous vesiculated papules, plaques, and associated edema are visible on the …

55-Year-Old With Frequent Falls

A 55-year-old male with past medical history of alcohol use disorder presents to urgent care with frequent falls. He denies chest pain or shortness of breath. An ECG is obtained. View the ECG and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

An Evaluation of Unnecessary Prophylactic Antibiotics For Clean Lacerations

Urgent Message: Prophylactic antibiotic prescribing for patients with clean lacerations is a common but unnecessary practice. Rates of prescribing did not differ based on type of provider or physician specialty in this study of 20 urgent care centers. Michael Smart, PhD; Jennifer Bush, MSN, APRN, FNP-C/ENP-C Keywords: antimicrobial stewardship; prophylactic antibiotics; laceration repair; urgent care Abstract Background: Oral prophylactic antibiotics for clean lacerations that require suture repair are commonly prescribed when they are unneeded. We …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – March 2026

Review of Evidence for Links of Autism with Maternal Acetaminophen Use Take Home Point: Existing evidence does not clearly link maternal acetaminophen (paracetamol) use during pregnancy with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Citation: Sheikh J, Allotey J, Sobhy S, et al. Maternal paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: umbrella review of systematic reviews. BMJ. 2025;391:e088141. doi:10.1136/bmj-2025-088141 Relevance: Recent public discussion …

Increased Incidence of Pneumonia in Pediatric Urgent Care

Urgent Message: Pediatric after‑hours care clinics experienced a significant rise in radiographically confirmed pneumonia over a 2‑year period, paralleling national increases in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Morgan McBee, MD; Leslie Spence, MD; Jeanne Hill, MD; Leah S. McBee, MD Keywords: pediatrics; community-acquired pneumonia; mycoplasma pneumonia; after-hours care; radiography, thoracic Abstract Introduction: Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia typically occurs at a rate of approximately 20 visits per 1,000 children in the population. Multiple reports and data from the Centers …

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