Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Cleveland Clinic Adjusts Its Prepayment Policy

In response to some public criticism, the Cleveland Clinic last week re-engineered a controversial policy that would have required patients to pay insurance co-pays upfront or risk having their appointments canceled on the spot. Initially set to begin June 1, the policy faced backlash from patient advocates and city officials, who warned the pay-first requirement could limit access to care for low-income families. The original pay-first policy excluded Medicaid and traditional Medicare enrollees as well …

Patients Wait Average of 31 Days For Appointments in Metro Areas

A recent survey reveals that scheduling a physician appointment now takes an average of 31 days—a 19% increase from 2022 and a 48% rise since 2004. Conducted in early 2025 by AMN Healthcare, the survey included 1,391 physician offices across 15 major U.S. metropolitan cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, focusing on 6 medical specialties. The findings highlight community challenges for patients looking to access timely care. Wait times vary by specialty. For …

Door Handles Won’t Give You The Flu: Simulation Study

During flu season, many people go out of their way to wash down high-touch surfaces at home, at work, and in schools, hoping to avoid the spread of germs. An experimental laboratory study published in Microbiology and Immunology that evaluated the risk of influenza transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces, however, found the risk of picking up the flu from touching door handles and other objects is actually quite low. Researchers in Japan simulated “artificial …

OTC Allergy Drugs Can Cause Severe Pruritus With Sudden Discontinuation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now warning clinicians and healthcare consumers about a rare but severe side effect associated with stopping long-term use of oral allergy medicines cetirizine or levocetirizine. FDA reports that some patients ultimately develop severe pruritus that requires medical attention if they stop taking the medications, and the agency aims to update the prescribing information to raise awareness about the post-discontinuation risk. According to the FDA, pruritus symptoms resolved for …

Cases of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Cluster in a Few States

The deadly Candida auris fungus was first identified in the United States about 10 years ago and has proven to have strong drug-resistance, at times demonstrating resistance to all 3 main classes of antifungal medicines, including echinocandins. And cases appear to be on the rise. Of the 1,052 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through April 26, 2025, a disproportionate number are occurring in Texas (241), Michigan (185), and Ohio (125). …

Meningococcal Vaccine Leveraged To Prevent Gonorrhea in England and Wales

A vaccine to prevent gonorrhea will soon be introduced in England and Wales as part of a targeted public health initiative—the first of its kind globally, according to health officials. Described as a “landmark moment for sexual health,” the program aims to address the rising rates of gonorrhea with preventive measures. The vaccine, originally developed to protect against meningococcal B disease, will be offered starting in early August at sexual health clinics commissioned by local …

Lindsey E. Fish, MD, Joins JUCM as Editor in Chief

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 …

Debate Continues On Acuity and Coding Trends in Urgent Care

A new study suggests there has been a rise in higher acuity coding across certain outpatient services. Among urgent care centers, the proportion of visits coded at higher complexity levels (CPT 99204 and 99205) increased overall from 34.0% in 2018 to 40.6% in 2023, while visits coded at level 1 (CPT 99202) declined from 9.5% to 2.9% over the same period. The most significant increases in high-intensity coding were observed in cases involving “blood and …

Rural Communities May Soon Need More Urgent Care

A recent federal budget proposal that’s floating around Washington sketches out plans to eliminate parts of the Health Resources and Services Administration and its Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), according to a JAMA Network news article. A provisional budget outline specifically mentions eliminating 4 rural health programs meant to sustain critical access hospitals in distress with a 25% cut for FORHP’s budget in fiscal year 2026. The impact of the cuts could be …

Plenty of Clinicians Looking to Make Career Moves Within 2 Years

A recent analysis shows that job satisfaction no longer guarantees retention of clinical workers, and compensation is not the sole reason why clinicians might leave their jobs. Of the more than 730 physicians and advanced practice providers who answered a survey conducted in March 2025 by LocumTenens.com and Advisory Board, 41% say they are considering switching jobs within the next 2 years. About two-thirds say they’re satisfied with their current role, but 28% of the …

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