Practice Management
Since the announcement in early 2024 anticipating the retirement of CEO Lou Ellen Horwitz, the Urgent Care Association (UCA) and its board of directors have engaged in a national candidate search and succession planning to lead the association going forward. This week, UCA named Steve Sellars as its new CEO. Well known by industry stakeholders, Sellars brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in urgent care to the table. He previously served as CEO …
Read More
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new polypill that combines telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide for the treatment of hypertension in adults, including use as an initial therapy. This is the first FDA-approved triple-combination medication indicated for initial use in patients who are likely to require multiple drugs to reach their blood pressure goals, according to a press release from manufacturer George Medicines. Most patients with hypertension ultimately need 2 or more medications …
Read More
In the next 5 years, there’s an 80% chance the summer heat will break global annual temperature records once again. A new forecast from the World Meteorological Organization and the U.K. Meteorological Office warns of rising temperatures as well as extreme weather incidents such as wildfires, strong hurricanes and heavy rains. They also predict that the annually averaged global mean near-surface temperature for each year between 2025 and 2029 will be between 1.2°C (2.2°F) and …
Read More
Among the 1,197 confirmed measles cases in the United States so far this year, about 3% have occurred in people who received 2 doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 2% in those who received 1 dose, according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now showing up in 35 states, measles cases have been confirmed in 347 people under the age of 5 years, 446 cases in …
Read More
Women are having babies later in life, according to a new National Vital Statistics Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mean age for giving birth rose from 28.7 years old in 2016 to 29.6 years old in 2023, following a steady upward trendline. With the exception of the year 2006, the age of mothers at birth has either increased or remained stable every year since 1970. For first-time mothers, the age …
Read More
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine manufactured by Moderna, Inc. received approval last week by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in individuals 18-59 years of age who are at increased risk for disease. The vaccine was previously approved in May 2024 for adults aged 60 years and older, according to a press release, and this new approval expands the age range for use to a younger …
Read More
The North East Regional Urgent Care Association (NERUCA) is building an emergency communications network for urgent care centers across the Northeastern United States, according to a recent NERUCA newsletter. The goal is to improve real-time coordination and information sharing during public health events and emergencies. It’s asking members to provide their mobile phone numbers and emails for emergency alerts. NERUCA will stage a pilot emergency notification test later this summer. Members in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, …
Read More
As more rural hospitals strategize to stretch their budgets, a group of 19 critical-access hospitals across Nebraska is launching the Nebraska High Value Network (NHVN). By combining efforts, the network members—which serve about 300,000 patients collectively—will collaborate on clinical and business efforts to gain economies of scale. The network is in discussions with other rural hospitals in Nebraska and expects to expand its reach, according to a press release. While the hospital entities will remain …
Read More
In Louisiana, North Oaks Health System has acquired 2 new urgent care rooftops. By adding the former Lake After Hours Urgent Care centers to its network, North Oaks now has a total of 4 urgent cares, according to its website. The centers are open every day from 7AM to 8PM and accept most major insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay. System stats: With more than 3,000 employees, North Oaks is one of the area’s largest …
Read More
JUCM is now under the leadership of Lindsey E. Fish, MD, who serves as Editor in Chief and will guide and expand JUCM’s clinical content to advance the practice and professionalism of urgent care medicine worldwide. Fish is the Medical Director of Denver Health’s Peña Urgent Care Clinic in Denver, Colorado, a Federally Qualified Health Center urgent care clinic that delivers more than 27,000 visits per year. In her Medical Director role, she is responsible …
Read More