Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Cyberattacks Hit Healthcare The Worst

The federal government is getting more involved in healthcare cybersecurity, and its efforts can’t come soon enough. Last year alone, cyberattacks increased 86%, amounting to an average of 1,410 attacks per organization per week, according to the Journal of AHIMA. A new federal project is designed to discover best-performing technologies used for national security and apply them to healthcare. Six projects led by universities and tech research companies were awarded $50 million by the Department …

Hospitals With Highest ED Volume

While every clinician working in an emergency department (ED) probably feels like their facility is the busiest around, Becker’s Hospital Review recently compiled self-reported data to create a list of hospitals with the highest volume of ED visits in the nation. The Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas took the top spot with 226,178 emergency department visits in 2022, followed by Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Florida at 199,927 visits and Multicare Good Samaritan …

What Amazon is Saying About Urgent Care

In a recent press release announcing its capabilities for treating cold and flu symptoms, Amazon Clinic—the telehealth channel of the Amazon enterprise—took a dig at urgent care. Its chief medical officer said in the release, “When many people feel sick, they end up at urgent care without knowing what they’ll be charged.” The retailer provides upfront pricing on its telehealth services and considers it an advantage for consumers. Those with high deductibles are especially sensitive …

GNC Throws Its Hat Into the Urgent Care Business

Nutritional supplement retailer GNC is yet another consumer-facing outfit expanding its reach into healthcare provider services. Three new GNC membership plans will offer virtual visits for urgent care and primary care, according to a press release. The tiered membership plans start at $34.99 for a full year with no added cost for visits or medication fills from a list of more than 100 prescriptions. The next highest tier costs $9.99 per month and includes more …

Blues Plan Acquires 50 FastMed UCs

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has agreed to acquire more than 50 North Carolina-based locations of FastMed. The pending acquisition is set to close in early 2024, and once the deal is finalized, FastMed would operate independently from the not-for-profit Blue Cross NC. The Blues plan has been a non-controlling minority investor in FastMed since 2012, and it will acquire only FastMed’s North Carolina locations. FastMed also provides telehealth, …

American Family Care Launches Weight Management

American Family Care recently started offering semaglutide injections for weight management at its two suburban facilities located in Willowbrook and Naperville, Illinois, near Chicago. Available since May 2023, the service has enrolled approximately 50 patients who receive weekly injections, according to a Chicago NBC affiliate. American Family Care clinicians screen patients prior to treatment to ensure they meet criteria. Specifically, candidates must exhibit a body mass index (BMI) of 30—which is indicative of obesity—or a …

How Serious is the Nursing Shortage?

In 2022, the American Hospital Association reported a projected shortage of 1.1 million nurses, meanwhile, National Nurses United said that there’s no nursing shortage but rather a lack of nurses willing to work under the current conditions. Experts suggest that both sides have valid points, according to a deep dive by STAT News. Most nurses are emphasizing the need for more staff to provide proper patient care. Yet organizations face rising labor costs as they …

CA $25 Minimum Wage Has Ripple Effect on Access

As previously reported in JUCM News, California is set to raise minimum wages for healthcare workers to $25—and that specifically includes urgent care employees. The new minimum wage law was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, and it allows pay hikes to phase in over time, beginning in June 2024 at $21 per hour, then rising to $22 per hour starting in June 2026, finally reaching $25 per hour in June 2027. Some organizations …

How Proposed Michigan Rule Reduces the Pool of X-ray Techs

The Administrative Rules Division of Michigan is recommending the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration adopt American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) standards for staff members who take x-ray images. Currently, Michigan does not require specific training for non-exempted x-ray techs—being one of approximately 10 states that allows urgent care (UC) employers to provide their own on-the-job training. However, if the ARRT proposal is adopted, x-ray techs would need an associate’s degree from an approved …

Dollar General Tests Mobile Healthcare

Dollar General, with more than 19,000 retail stores, has entered into a strategic partnership with mobile medical services company DocGo. The plan is to deploy mobile clinics to rural areas where Dollar General has a foothold. Approximately 80% of Dollar General’s stores are located in towns with populations of fewer than 20,000 residents, which are typically areas short on clinicians as well. DocGo’s self-pay rates start at $69. On the ground, a pilot program in …

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