Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Abstracts in Urgent Care – December 2025

Causes, Management, and Outcomes of Diplopia in the ED Take Home Point: For diplopia, binocular diplopia was the most common presentation to the emergency department (ED), with microangiopathies and strokes being the most common etiology. Citation: Occelli C, Coffin V, Raynaud O, et. al. Presentation, management and outcomes of patients with diplopia in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2025;96:170-175. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.06.024. Relevance: Patients with diplopia occasionally present to ED and urgent care (UC) …

52-Year-Old With Calf Pain After Travel

A 52-year-old man presents to urgent care with a 2-day history of left calf pain, described as dull, non-radiating, and worsened by walking. He recently flew from Los Angeles to New York. His history includes hypertension managed with lisinopril. He denies fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, recent surgery, or prior clots. He appears well and is hemodynamically stable. Exam reveals mild swelling and tenderness in the left calf and popliteal region without erythema or …

45-Year-Old Male With Arm Lesion, Headache, and Malaise

A 45‑year‑old male presents to urgent care with headache, malaise, and an arm lesion that appeared three days ago. He reports no recent travel but notes several mice in his New York City apartment. On examination he is febrile (39.4 °C / 101 °F) and dermatologic exam reveals an eschar lesion with surrounding erythema and adjacent erythematous papules on the arm. Numerous scattered papulovesicles are also present on the trunk and forearms. Laboratory studies show mild leukopenia …

55-Year-Old With Lower Extremity Edema

A 55-year-old male presents to urgent care with progressive dyspnea for 2 weeks associated with lower extremity edema. The patient is afebrile, slightly tachypneic, with bilateral lower extremity edema on exam. An ECG is ordered. View the ECG and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

Shortness of Breath in Pregnancy: Differentiating Physiology from Pathology in Urgent Care

Urgent Message: As shortness of breath and edema are common in pregnancy, urgent care clinicians must distinguish patients with normal physiologic changes from those with emergent conditions like venous thromboembolism, hypertension, eclampsia, and cardiomyopathy. John Ramos, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM Key Words: Ambulatory Care; Differential Diagnosis; Dyspnea; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular Abstract Background: Physiologic changes in pregnancy contribute to shortness of breath and edema. However, these symptoms can also be caused by serious etiologies including …

A Rare Cardiopulmonary Debut of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Pediatric Case Report

Urgent Message: In adolescents presenting with persistent chest pain and systemic symptoms, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for autoimmune etiologies such as systemic lupus erythematosus causing pericardial and pleural effusions. Asra Usmani, MBBS, MD; Ali Baidoun, MD; Aaron Mahoney, DO; Megan Sikkema, DO Key Words: Pericardial Effusion, Pleural Effusion, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Chest Pain, Adolescent Abstract Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune condition that can affect multiple organ systems. …

21-Year-Old Male With Cough and Night Sweats

A 21-year-old male with no significant past medical history presents to urgent care with a 3-week history of progressive cough, night sweats, dyspnea, and chest discomfort. He denies sore throat, rhinorrhea, sinus congestion, hemoptysis, weight loss, wheezing, tobacco use, or illicit drug use. On examination, vital signs are within normal limits. The patient appears well and not in acute distress. Lung auscultation was clear bilaterally, and the remainder of the initial physical exam is unremarkable. …

United States Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Comprehensive Overview and Relevance To Urgent Care Centers

Urgent Message: Patients frequently utilize urgent care centers for testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. All clinicians can be a first line defense to control the spread and combat the current epidemic. Alexandra Faraj, PA-S; Nadesha Muniz, MS Ed, PA-C Key Words: Sexually Transmitted Infections; Chlamydia; Gonorrhea; Syphilis; Expedited Partner Therapy; Urgent Care Abstract The rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States is a major public health concern. Patients frequently utilize …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – November 2025

Validation of Clinical Predictive Rules in Pediatric Testicular Torsion Take Home Point: In this study, the Testicular Emergency Score for Torsion (TEST) identifies a larger group of patients at low risk for testicular torsion suitable for safe management without Doppler ultrasound compared to the other clinical validation scores. Citation: Valdivieso-Castro M, Vázquez-Gómez L, Olabarri M, et. al. Clinical Prediction Rules for Identifying Children With Testicular Torsion: A Multicenter Prospective Study. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2025 Aug …

60-Year-Old With Palpitations

A 60-year-old female presents to urgent care with palpitations that started abruptly 1 hour prior to arrival. She denies recent illness or cardiac history. An ECG is ordered. View the ECG and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

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