Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Consider What Else Might Be Going on with Sunburn Patients

Patients who seek care for sunburn in emergency rooms and urgent care centers often have complicating concerns—some of which have little directly to do with the sunburn, according to a new report published in JAMA Dermatology. Psychiatric illness (9.3% of cases), alcohol use (6.4%), and homelessness (6.4%) were among the more common, according to researchers from Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and associated urgent care clinics. More closely linked with sunburn were blistering …

Hep A Breakout Grows—and Kills Eight—in San Diego

Eight people have died from hepatitis A as the number of confirmed cases continues to climb in San Diego County, CA. So far, the virus has infected 275 people; 194 of them have been hospitalized. Public health officials have responded with vaccination clinics, by distributing sanitation supplies, and by stepping up awareness and education (eg, explaining that hep A is spread by sharing food or drugs, through unprotected sex, and by failing to practice good …

Opioid Prescriptions Are Down—But Still Too High, According to NIDA

Though the rate of prescriptions for opioids has fallen over the past 7 years, more than one third of all adults in the U.S. were prescribed a narcotic pain medication in 2015. Worse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 5% of the population is misusing opioids—eg, by not following directions or taking them without a prescription at all (having received them from family or friends in 41% of those cases). Around …

Confusion and Delay Over Healthcare Bill Present an Opportunity for Telemedicine

Rancor over how—or even whether—to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or “Obamacare”) doesn’t stop everyday people from needing good, immediate care they can afford. Urgent care often fits the bill, but even that may not be convenient enough for some patients; a new study from the Health Resources and Services Association (HRSA) shows that 20% of Americans live in rural areas—where only 11% of physicians practice. In such situations, telemedicine could be the best …

Start Beating the Back-to-School Vaccination Drum Now

Lots of families are just heading out for summer vacation these days, which means they probably haven’t even considered whether children have all the vaccinations they need before going back to school. That gives you the perfect opportunity to remind them. The next time a child comes in for care, make sure you know their vaccine status—and what’s required based on their age, guidelines, and state law. Helping patients understand your role as a public …

Most Kids in Anaphylaxis Have No Treatment Before Presenting to Urgent Care or ED

Barely more than a third of children brought to an urgent care center or emergency room with anaphylaxis have received epinephrine before arriving, according to a new study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. According to the report, which reflects the cases of 408 children with an average age of 7.25 years, just 36% of the patients had received epinephrine before reporting to an urgent care center or ED. The odds were …

Surprise Bills Continue to Anger Patients—and One Company’s Name Keeps Turning Up

It isn’t news that patients sometimes receive bills that seem out of proportion to the care they received in an emergency setting (especially a freestanding emergency rooms)—and that the media and state legislatures have taken notice. A new statewide survey in New Mexico reveals that nearly a third of patients say they received large “surprise bills” after seeing clinicians outside their insurer’s network. In addition, data from the Consumer Federation of America and the North …

More Data Show Healthcare Isn’t Prepared for Cyberattacks

Yet another new study indicates healthcare professionals don’t think their organization’s information technology infrastructure is save from cyberattacks. Data from the Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA) most recent Stat poll show more than half—55%—say their IT system would be safe from such intrusions. The poll, reflecting the views of 1,236 healthcare professionals, also reveals that 30% of participants said their organization has already been the target of a cyberattack. How would you answer those questions if they …

Company Has to Pay $1.8 Million After Firing a Worker for Taking Prescribed Meds

These are complicated times for urgent care operators who offer occupational medicine services like employee drug screens. The opioid crisis across the country muddies the waters even more, as state laws and medical practice guidelines seek to inhibit the use of opioid pain medications in order to stem increases in addiction and related deaths. Many employers are following suit, but be mindful that even well-intentioned drug testing programs can have severe consequences—for the company. Most …

Cigna Moves to Keep Members Away from Urgent Care

Cigna is collaborating with CVS Health to push members into retail clinics instead of visiting urgent care centers when they have immediate, nonemergent medical needs. The company claims that around 45% of urgent care visits could be handled in drugstore clinics—at a savings of 81% per visit for Cigna. The problem? Cigna’s data highlight the minority of patients seeking care. The majority (55%) could not be treated sufficiently in the retail setting, meaning they’d end …

Login to JUCM