Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Vaccine Education Efforts Are Failing; Will an Increase in Preventable Deaths Follow?

A new Gallup poll reveals that fewer Americans are convinced parents should get their children vaccinated as time goes on, and it appears that lack of education could be a key factor. According to the new study, 84% of 1,025 randomly sampled adults believe it is “extremely or very important” for parents to ensure their children receive recommended vaccinations. In 2001, the last time such data were collected, 94% thought so. One clue as why …

Healthy ED–Urgent Care Referral Relationships Can Save Lives

The story of a young woman who died after leaving the emergency room to get faster care at an urgent care center in Wisconsin recently continues to make headlines. The 25-year-old reported to the ED with chest pains and shortness of breath. She was actually seen in fairly short order; x-rays showed an enlarged heart and she was sent back to the waiting room—where she waited for more than 2 hours. Fed up and nervous …

EDs Are Doling Out Fewer Pain Meds. What Will That Mean for Urgent Care Operators?

The good news is that prescribers in emergency rooms seem to be getting the message that opioid medications have been overprescribed for too long, contributing to widespread addiction and increasing deaths by overdose and suicide. According to data just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid prescriptions originating in the ED dropped by nearly one third between 2006–2007 and 2016–2017—reversing a 5-year upward trend. Decreases were highest among visits by younger adults …

UCA Webinar: What Do You Have to Offer—and Is It Enough?

Hiring the best providers is only half the battle when it comes to putting together a clinically excellent team that will appeal to prospective patients in your area. This is especially true if you’re the new kid on the block and don’t have years of experience to tell you what those people need. The type of area you occupy—rural vs urban, seasonal ebbs and flows, a high concentration of elderly residents—determines a lot, as well. …

A Wetter Winter Could Mean a Jump in Seasonal Injuries. Are You Ready?

As far back as October, the National Weather Service was predicting a wetter-than-usual winter this year. With Winter Storm Dean bearing down on the Midwest and a snowy mess expected to hit the East Coast, it looks like they might be right. Some regions have already seen a jump in snow- and ice-related injuries. Genesis Health System in the Quad Cities region of Iowa reported seeing 35 patients across four locations in a single day …

AHA Says Outpatient Visits Are Down—and Urgent Care Is One of the Reasons

For the first time in 35 years, outpatient visits to U.S. hospitals are down—and urgent care is at least partially responsible, according to a new report from the American Hospital Association. The AHA 2020 Hospital Statistics Report, reflecting data from 6,000 hospitals, notes a 1% drop in 2018 compared with 2017, led by reduction in emergency room visits. AHA attributes the historic reduction to patients choosing more convenient and less expensive options, including urgent care …

Radiology Is Becoming a Bigger Draw for Urgent Care Patients

Widespread ability of imaging services was a big step forward for the urgent care industry. Patients appreciate it, too—so much so that quicker access to x-rays and the like has become not just an expectation but an attraction for patients weighing their options for immediate care, according to Urgent Care Quarterly, a new industry resource produced by Experity. In An Analysis of the Impact of Radiology in the Urgent Care Industry, UCQ notes that 10.7% …

Consumerism: It’s Not Just for Urgent Care Anymore

Traditional primary care practices may soon start to operate more like urgent care centers. Some won’t, of course, and may face economic consequences if an article recently published in The American Journal of Managed Care is any indication. Specifically, the authors suggest, a consumer-friendly approach more closely associated with retail businesses will be necessary in order to appeal to younger patient groups. The piece cautions senior management against making too many changes too quickly, however, …

New Guidance on mTBI Suggests Quicker Return to Low-Risk Activities, More Caution for Others

Many patients diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury would benefit from getting back to their normal activities sooner than has been advised previously, according to a new review article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Introducing noncontact, aerobic exercise can even help improve symptoms and shorten time to recovery. However, other patients—those whose “normal activities” could put them at risk for repeat mTBI or who have persistent symptoms—should slow down even further …

Partnerships Between Pediatric Urgent Care Operators and Children’s Hospitals Could Be a Game-Changer

There are 220 children’s hospitals in the United States; many have their own pediatric urgent care facilities. At the same time, as we’ve reported, non hospital-affiliated urgent care operators are popping up everywhere. There’s been little or no overlap, outside of referrals as needed—until PM Pediatrics struck a partnership with WakeMed Children’s to provide urgent care services to younger patients in the Raleigh, NC area. It’s an interesting blend of cultures. Children’s hospital-affiliated urgent care …

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