Use of a Quality Improvement Tool for the Evaluation of Healthcare Disparities in Urgent Care: A Case Example for Bacterial Pneumonia

Use of a Quality Improvement Tool for the Evaluation of Healthcare Disparities in Urgent Care: A Case Example for Bacterial Pneumonia

Urgent message: While healthcare disparities have been studied in several healthcare settings, it is unclear whether they persist in urgent care. This study may serve as a quality improvement tool to assess whether these disparities persist in an urgent care clinic. Derrick Murcia and Lindsey Fish, MD Citation: Murcia D, Fish L. Evaluation of healthcare disparities in urgent care: a case example for bacterial pneumonia. J Urgent Care Med. 2022;16(4):23-27. Epub ahead of print September …

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COVID-19 Testing Pattern in a Suburban Pediatric Urgent Care Center

COVID-19 Testing Pattern in a Suburban Pediatric Urgent Care Center

Urgent message: Though not considered as at “at risk” for severe disease with COVID-19, children have suffered significant disruptions to educational and personal activities throughout the pandemic. Recognizing urgent care’s role in testing for the virus could show benefit for families and urgent care centers alike. Rita P. Nunag, MD; Francesca M. Darquea, MD; Claire Loiselle; and Magdy W. Attia, MD Citation: Nunag RP, Darquea FM, Loiselle C, Attia MW. COVID-19 testing pattern in a …

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Investigation and Assessment of Urine Culture Importance in the Evaluation of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in an Urgent Care Setting

Investigation and Assessment of Urine Culture Importance in the Evaluation of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in an Urgent Care Setting

Dianne Treacy Lore DNP, FNP-BC, CPNP-PC and Marlena Seibert Primeau DNP, FNP-BC, NHDP-BC, BSHEC Citation: Lore DT, Primeau MS. Investigation and assessment of urine culture importance in the evaluation of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in an urgent care setting. J Urgent Care Med. 2021;16(2):37-41. ABSTRACT Purpose Urinary tract infections negatively affect over 150 million individuals globally each year. Traditional management encompasses evaluating a urine culture and sensitivity (C&S). Although the guidelines set forth by the …

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Assessing the Rate at which Pacemaker and Defibrillator Patients Present to the Emergency Room with their Manufacturer ID Card: A Cross Sectional Study

Assessing the Rate at which Pacemaker and Defibrillator Patients Present to the Emergency Room with their Manufacturer ID Card: A Cross Sectional Study

Urgent message: Care can be delayed if an urgent care or emergency clinician attempts to interrogate the CIED of a patient who does not know their device manufacturer and does not carry their ID card. This scenario illustrates the importance of patient education in care centers, such as the emergency department and urgent care. Tinh M. Le; James F. Neuenschwander, MD, FACEP; Mary Jones, DNP; Ankur Parekh; Hana Le; Kaitlyn Cedoz; and Clark Daugherty ABSTRACT …

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Discrepancy Rates in Radiograph Interpretations between Pediatric Urgent Care Providers and Radiologists

Discrepancy Rates in Radiograph Interpretations between Pediatric Urgent Care Providers and Radiologists

Urgent message: Many pediatric urgent care centers lack 24/7 pediatric radiologist coverage and rely on the urgent care provider for initial interpretation and subsequent clinical management. If misdiagnosed, this could represent a potential patient safety concern. Allison Wood, DO; Anne McEvoy, MD; Paul Mullan, MD, MPH; Lauren Paluch, MPA, PA-C; Brynn Sheehan, PhD; Jiangtao Luo, PhD; Turaj Vazifedan, DHSc; Theresa Guins, MD; Jeffrey Bobrowitz, MD; and Joel Clingenpeel, MD Citation: Wood A, McEvoy A, Mullan …

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Using Simulations and Skills Stations to Enhance Emergency Preparedness in Pediatric Urgent Care

Using Simulations and Skills Stations to Enhance Emergency Preparedness in Pediatric Urgent Care

Urgent message: Realistic—and recurring—simulation of emergency scenarios is essential to helping urgent care providers and support staff function as a team when real-life pediatric emergencies take place in the urgent care center. Ilanalee Cabrera, MSN, RN, CPNP, Wilma Santiago, BSN, RN, CPN, Tiffany Christensen, Rachel Lucas, DO Citation: Cabrera I, Santiago W, Christensen T, Lucas R. Using simulations and skills stations to enhance emergency preparedness in pediatric urgent care. J Urgent Care Med. 2021;15(10):31-33. Introduction …

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Active COVID-19 Infection Is Indicated by WBC ≤7.0 and PLT ≤200 at Presentation

Active COVID-19 Infection Is Indicated by WBC ≤7.0 and PLT ≤200 at Presentation

Yijung Russell, MD; Casey Collier, MD; Steve Christos, DO; and Shu B. Chan MD, MS Citation: Russell Y, Collier C, Christos S, Chan SB. Active COVID-19 infection is indicated by WBC 7.0 and PLT 200 at presentation. J Urgent Care Med. 2021;15(10):35-38. Introduction The impact coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has had on individuals, businesses, and governments is unprecedented in many ways. Though widespread and frequent screening is recommended for better containment,1 limited availability of …

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More Timely Care: Effect of Online Queuing vs Change in Hours of Operation on Hourly Arrival Volumes. A Practice Management Reflection

More Timely Care: Effect of Online Queuing vs Change in Hours of Operation on Hourly Arrival Volumes. A Practice Management Reflection

Urgent message: Hours of operation changes may have more effect on leveling patient arrival volumes in a pediatric urgent care compared with an online queueing system alone. Aimy Patel, MD; Jennifer Johnson, MD; Brian R. Lee, PhD, MPH; Amanda Montalbano, MD, MPH Citation: Patel A, Johnson J, Lee BR, Montalbano A. More timely care: effect of online queuing vs change in hours of operation on hourly arrival volumes. a practice management reflection. J Urgent Care …

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Do Respiratory Outpatient Clinics Decrease Bronchiolitis Reevaluation Rates? Observational Data from a Quality Improvement Project

Do Respiratory Outpatient Clinics Decrease Bronchiolitis Reevaluation Rates? Observational Data from a Quality Improvement Project

Urgent message: Establishing respiratory outpatient clinics has been shown to decrease reevaluation rates for patients with bronchiolitis, especially in children aged <12 months and/or those who receive suctioning during their initial urgent care encounter. Prema D. Souza, MD; Aimy Patel, MD; Brian Lee, PhD; and Amanda Nedved, MD Citation: Souza PD, Patel A, Lee B, Nedved A. Do Respiratory Outpatient Clinics Decrease Bronchiolitis Reevaluation Rates? Observational Data for a Quality Improvement Project. J Urgent Care …

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Implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines in Adults with Hypertension: An Effective Practice Change in Urgent Care

Implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines in Adults with Hypertension: An Effective Practice Change in Urgent Care

Urgent message: Too often, patients first learn that they have hypertension secondary to an unrelated presenting complaint—often, in the urgent care setting. Improving adherence to treatment guidelines may improve management and, ultimately, outcomes. Jennifer Iacovo, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Bonni Cohen, PhDc, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, FNP-C, CHFN, CNE, FAANP; and Judith Butler, DNP, CNM, WHNP, CNE Abstract Background: There are approximately 100 million adults in the U. S. with hypertension (HTN); almost half go undiagnosed. The …

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