Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Not so Confident When It Comes to Derm Presentations? You May Be More Capable Than You Think

Dermatology is referred to as a “specialty” for a reason; like cardiologists, ophthalmologists, and the rest, providers receive specialized training that gives them a wealth of knowledge particular to one field of medicine or another. As such, it’s a rare urgent care provider who could appropriately identify themselves as a dermatologist. That doesn’t mean they’re incapable of treating patients who present with many dermatologic concerns, of course—though whether they feel confident enough to do so …

FDA Rescinds Authorization for One COVID Vaccine While Broadening Access for Others

Individuals 65 years of age and older or who are immunocompromised are now eligible to receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after their previous shot, according to a new authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. At the same time, the FDA rescinded authorization for the monovalent vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer because most people who are not already vaccinated are able to receive a single dose of the …

An Online Trend Is Killing Children. What Telltale Signs Should You Be Vigilant for?

A 13-year-old boy is the latest American child to lose his life after attempting a social media challenge. Per a report from WSYX in Columbus, OH, friends looked on and at least one recorded video as the boy set out to take upwards of a dozen diphenhydramine pills in the belief that he would start hallucinating—a trend known on Tik Tok as the “Benadryl challenge.” Instead, he experienced seizures and wound up in the hospital …

Urgent Care Is Finally Getting Noticed for More Than Excellent Care These Days

It took much longer than it should have, but after decades of proving its case urgent care is widely accepted as not only an efficient setting, but also a destination of choice for anyone looking for excellent care. Likewise, the business community is finally picking up on the fact that urgent care companies are substantial players in the healthcare marketplace and as employers. Most recently, as reported by Becker’ Hospital Review, LinkedIn’s Top Companies 2023: …

Mental Health UCCs Were Supposed to Ease the Burden on Emergency Rooms. Do They?

With a shortage of mental health professionals leaving too many patients without resources when they desperately need them, emergency rooms have been seeing far more patients presenting in emotional distress than ever. As JUCM News readers may recall, a smattering of urgent care centers and mental health providers have sought to help ease that burden by establishing UCCs dedicated to patients’ behavioral health. According to an article published by Cambridge Day in Massachusetts, though, Community …

CDC Sounds the Alarm on a New Wave of Resistant Fungal Infections

Incidence of Candida auris fungal infections nearly tripled between 2019 and 2021, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Infection. Even more concerning, as reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the fact that C auris infections resistant to the echinocandins that constitute first-line therapy are increasing, as well, albeit at a slower rate than overall infection. The JAMA analysis raises the possibility that institutional burden on …

Gain Support from Your Community by Offering Support for Your Community

With spring in full bloom and many communities still fighting to reinstate activities that were scaled down during the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the perfect time to reassert your urgent care operation as not just a dependable healthcare facility, but also a business entity eager to support local traditions. It might be Little League, the local garden club, or annual craft fairs, but surely there is something going on that you could lend support—and your …

We Know Urgent Care Is a Magnet for Venture Capital. Understanding Why Is Another (and Important) Matter

Urgent care has been riding high as the darling of venture capitalists for a few years now. To you, the reasons seem obvious: patients appreciate excellent care they can access more easily than in their primary care provider’s office at a fraction of the cost insurers would have to pay if their members went to the emergency room, for starters, and investors must see the value in that. That’s the insider’s view, but it could …

Patients or Consumers? In the Evolving Healthcare Marketplace, Can You Afford to Draw a Distinction?

While some purists may bristle at the notion, it’s a fact that an abundance of virtual and in-person options has allowed individuals the freedom to do more comparison-shopping for healthcare providers than ever before. As an article just published by the Harvard Business Review notes succinctly, when it comes to their medical care “patients in the United States aren’t loyal customers.” In fact, it goes on to reveal, they’re likely to access care from between …

‘Incidental’ Findings Still Require Action in the Urgent Care Center

One subject that tends to get overlooked in the ongoing fight against acuity degradation in the urgent care setting is incidental findings that require further investigation, treatment, or counseling. Whether a patient presents with lower back pain but is then found to have elevated blood pressure, or bloodwork run for a company physical reveals high cholesterol, they need help sooner rather than later. For all they know, they could have been living with (and incurring …

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