Management of the Patient Presenting with Epistaxis

Management of the Patient Presenting with Epistaxis

Urgent message: Though patients with posterior and bilateral epistaxis should be admitted to the hospital, the vast majority of epistaxis episodes can be treated safely and effectively in the urgent care setting. Nathaniel Arnone, MD, Samuel M. Keim, MD, MS, and Peter Rosen, MD Epistaxis is a common presenting complaint, with 15 per 10,000 people requiring medical attention each year.1 While the presence of blood in the pharynx can cause concern for both patients and …

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Pharyngitis: Diagnosis and Treatment in the Urgent Care Setting

Pharyngitis: Diagnosis and Treatment in the Urgent Care Setting

Urgent message: Sore throat is a complaint commonly encountered in urgent care. Proper evaluation and understanding and use of appropriate antibiotics will foster better patient care and understanding while limiting antibiotic resistance. William Gluckman, DO, MBA, FACEP and Jessica Kay, PharmD Pharyngitis refers to the inflammation or irritation of the pharynx, including the tonsils, and can have many etiologies, including a variety of infections, cancer, allergic reactions, gastroesophageal reflux, or toxic inhalations and ingestions. This …

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Acute Ankle Injuries in the Urgent Care Setting

Acute Ankle Injuries in the Urgent Care Setting

Urgent message: Working knowledge of anatomy and familiarity with radiograph reading, injury classification, treatment options, and criteria for referral support positive long-term outcomes in patients with acute ankle injuries. Janet D. Little, MD and William E. Saar, DO Acute ankle injury is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the athlete and sedentary person alike. The yearly incidence of ankle injuries varies between resources, but ranges from 1 million to 5 million per year …

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Diabetic Emergencies in the Urgent Care Setting

Diabetic Emergencies in the Urgent Care Setting

Urgent message: Patients with glucose levels either too high or too low often require immediate, potentially life-saving interventions in the urgent care setting. These patients are often found to be diabetic. Allan F. Moore, MD, Nicolas Abourizk, MD, Jeffrey Collins, MD, MA Diabetes is a common chronic disease affecting approximately 7% of the United States population. Of these individuals, 17.5 million carry a diagnosis of diabetes and over 6 million are undiagnosed. An estimated 54 …

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Prescription Drug Abuse and the Drug-Seeking Patient

Prescription Drug Abuse and the Drug-Seeking Patient

Urgent message: The urgent care clinic is a prime target for prescription drug abusers seeking possibly inappropriate prescriptions. Clinicians must be vigilant to screen, intervene, and refer such patients. Marcelina Behnam, MD and Mark Rogers, MD Over the past several years, prescription drug abuse has become a problem of epidemic proportions for urgent care centers and emergency departments around the country. There has been an increase both in visits related to the acquisition of these …

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