Competitive Edge

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on volunteer organizations just as it has businesses, school systems, and healthcare organizations. Not only have usually committed volunteers been forced to stay home instead of donating their time and efforts for the good of others, but in the economic downturn fundraising has been at its lowest point in years, across the board. So, now that we’re in the early stages of a comeback, it’s heartening to see …

California and Virginia are among the states to reveal recently how they plan to address large-scale testing for COVID-19. While their approaches are distinct, each might offer clues as to how your urgent care operation could support area school systems while possibly introducing new patients to all the services you’re capable of providing. California, after an 11-district pilot program, announced that it is expanding coverage for rapid diagnostic testing of students and staff throughout the …

While the idea of governmental vaccine “passports” (documentation showing that an individual has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19) is unlikely to catch on at a national level, schools already require students who have been exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19 to show a negative test before returning to class. Some fitness centers are offering classes with relaxed mask requirements exclusively for members who can prove they’re fully vaccinated. And the Miami Heat basketball team has …

JUCM News has reported on niche urgent care practices that focus on pediatrics, women’s health, and even mental health in the past. As the industry continues to prove there are no limits to its adaptability, other specialized practices continue to emerge. One, in Reno, NV addresses the needs of pain patients who may find their options for care dwindling as pain clinics suffer the same downturn as many other settings in the midst of the …

It looks like it will be summer before the majority of Americans will have had a chance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. By then, we’ll be nearing the end of celebration season, when families gather en masse to celebrate weddings, graduations, and other milestones. Last year’s galas were hampered by watered-down guest lists as responsible party planners sought to reduce the risk of hosting a super spreader event. Some urgent care centers see this challenge …

With the news dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic since last spring, it’s easy for the public to forget that “everyday” problems like food insecurity persist (and, in fact, could be worse at this time due to the downturn in the economy). IMA Urgent Care Centers and Primary Care Offices in New Jersey hasn’t forgotten, though, and are working with a local nonprofit organization to host a Thanksgiving food drive, just as they’ve done in years …

PowerPoint Presentation As the incidence of COVID-19 continues to creep up around the country, it wouldn’t be surprising if we see fear of visiting healthcare facilities return among the public. Given that testing for the virus is essential to minimizing its spread, that could spell trouble on the same level as we experienced last spring. Some urgent care centers have taken to establishing temporary testing sites in retail parking lots. Some, like American Family Care …

The headlines, as well as the public’s and healthcare professionals’ attention, have been fixated on the COVID-19 pandemic for more than 6 months now. As urgent care provides know, however, that doesn’t stop people from needing care for “typical” complaints. It also doesn’t keep people from the dangers of medications in the home, whether that manifests as temptation to misuse opioids or taking outdated drugs that could either harm them or just not do what …

In spite of many inconsistencies on how COVID-19 is spread, who’s most at risk, and when a vaccine will be (and should be) available, there has been nearly universal agreement among public health experts that wearing a face covering helps reduce risk of contracting the virus. While the issue is much more heatedly debated among the public, the plain fact is that there are many businesses you simply can’t enter unless you’re wearing a mask. …

Too many urgent care centers have suffered financial and personnel losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. From being overlooked as viable participants in widespread testing efforts to patients who were too afraid to leave their homes even for medical care, the industry has taken a major hit. Some businesses may even go under. Others, however, are finding a way to adapt by offering telemedicine services or channeling patients to different locations for different needs. Merion Health …