Industry

A recent post to the American Medical Association’s website acknowledges that the looming physician shortage could be very problematic for patients who already have a hard time managing diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic health concerns with the help of their primary care team. The solution, the piece suggests, is greater use of “team-based care” that would include PCPs, specialists, and nonphysician clinicians (eg, nurses and pharmacists), as well as nonclinicians. The choice of settings in …

The axiom physician heal thyself might be better applied to the state of primary care medicine, if the results of a survey conducted by the Primary Care Collaborative and the Larry A. Green Center are any indication. Based on responses from 847 physicians in 49 states, it’s not a pretty picture for providers or patients. Asked to assess the state of primary care in general, 46% chose the word “crumbling” while approximately 40% said they …

Around 60 million Americans live in areas defined as “rural,” with local hospitals being the most viable option for care—assuming they can find one. That’s getting increasingly difficult, however, as illustrated in an article just published by Becker’s Hospital Review. Since 2011, 76 rural hospitals have shut down across the country, leaving too many patients in a precarious position when it comes to their healthcare. Texas leads the way with 15 closures, but 21 other …

Anyone who attended the Urgent Care Association’s recent convention in Las Vegas will tell you that the pandemic has done nothing to diminish the unified spirit among competitors in the urgent care marketplace. One of the reasons for this sense of community is the fact that the industry has had to fight for its place at the proverbial table. This does not mean the fight is over by any means. New challenges arise constantly, while …

As JUCM News readers know, the Urgent Care Association’s triumphant 2022 Annual Convention in Las Vegas was followed quickly by tragedy, as news spread of the sudden death of UCA President Dr. Armando Samaniego on May 21. The Association had to scramble in order to ensure proper continuity among its elected leadership. Max Lebow, MD ascended from president-elect to president, while Payman Arabzadeh, MD became the new president-elect and Gerry Cvitanovich, MD replaced Dr. Arabzadeh …

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, WA has been so inundated with patients lately that its administrators have taken to local media to urge patients to carefully assess their complaints and consider whether they really need to visit the emergency room—with a recommendation that if the answer is No, they instead head for the most convenient urgent care center or a primary care practice. A PeaceHealth emergency physician suggested that his facility and other EDs …

Many, if not most, healthcare operations have suffered along with other types of business since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the general public might assume hospitals are an exception, it’s becoming increasingly clear that healthcare systems in general are struggling as much as (if not more than) others. And even though we all know how hard urgent care has been hit over the past few years, a new report published by Healthcare Finance …

The Urgent Care Association sent word to its membership that Armando Samaniego, MD, MBA, current UCA president, died suddenly on Saturday, May 21. Noting his commitment to establishing UCA’s Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as well as his service as a member, board member, and leader, the Association called Dr. Samaniego “selfless, generous, extremely caring, and a true advocate for the urgent care community.” Dr. Samaniego earned his MD from Harvard Medical School and …

Increases in the price of homes, gasoline, and consumer goods are bound to have a disproportionate effect on the unemployed, underemployed, and elderly Americans living on a fixed income. At the same time, food pantries and other community resources are already crying out for help due to decreased levels of support from usually reliable donors. In short, some of the most vulnerable among us are getting squeezed from both sides, without the resources to do …

If survey results just published by Patient Care are any indication, these are unprecedented days for primary care medicine—and not in a good way. Staff shortages are colliding with a deluge of new patient requests, resulting not only in high levels of burnout but also an alarmingly high percentage of providers questioning their own futures in the field. Much of the sudden downturn is being attributed to the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a …