Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

A Comparison of Chief Complaints, Specific Diagnoses, and Demographics of Pediatric Urgent Care Visits Before and During the COVID- 19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Zaharoula A. Viennas, MD; Julie Martin, MAEd, MMS, PA-C; Benjamin Klick, MD; Tammy Speerhas, DNP, FNP-C, RN, CEN, CME; Turaj Vazifedan, DHSc; Danielle Millspaugh, DNP, FNP-C; Jennifer Ferris, MD; Margret Bedle, MD; Lauren Paluch, DMSc, PA-C; and Theresa Guins, MD Urgent message: Research has shown distinct differences in patterns of children presenting to emergency rooms during COVID-related lockdowns. However, data specific to urgent care have been lacking previously. Citation: Viennas ZA, Martin J, Klick B, …

COVID-19 Has Had a Strong Impact on Pediatric Presentations—Well Beyond the Virus Itself

The effects of SARS-CoV-2 itself on various populations in the United States and internationally have been well-documented. Likewise, an ever-growing number of studies have measured the effects of the pandemic on healthcare, the workforce, children’s education…and on and on. One fact that has been largely overlooked: While social distancing and mask mandates helped reduce spread of COVID-19, with the unintended benefit of reducing the number of cases of other infectious diseases, they did nothing …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – December 2022

Ivan Koay MBChB, MRCS, FRNZCUC, MD Applying the Ottawa Ankle Rule to Pediatric Patients Take-home point: Application of the Ottawa Ankle Rule (OAR) limits unnecessary imaging in children without missing clinically relevant fractures. Citation: de Almeida S, Rios J, Lima S, et al. Applying the Ottawa Ankle Rule in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022;38(3):e1123-e1126. Relevance: Ankles fractures in children are common.Use of the OAR, a simple clinical decision rule, by UC providers …

Abstracts in Urgent Care November 2022

Fever: To Treat or Not to Treat? Distinguishing Viral from Bacterial Conjunctivitis Scapular Fractures and Blunt Chest Trauma in Children Sterile vs Nonsterile Gloves for Laceration Repair Bronchiolitis Care: An Update Antibiotic Stewardship and Children Post Paxlovid Rebound Ivan Koay MBChB, FRNZCUC, MD What Are the Consequences of Treating Adult Fever? Take-home point: Fever therapy in adults does not seem to affect the risk of death and serious adverse events. Citation: Holgersson J, Ceric A, …

Bullous Pemphigoid Reaction After Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Urgent message: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, unvaccinated people have shown higher rates of morbidity and mortality in comparison with those who are fully immunized. While most vaccination adverse reactions are mild and self-resolving, it is important to consider the timeline of vaccinations to correlate possible adverse reactions. Amanda dos Santos, MD and Michael Pallaci, DO, FACEP, FACOEP INTRODUCTION The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic continues to affect all aspects of our society and …

A Tale of Two Viruses: Rapid Flu and COVID-19 Tests in the Urgent Care Setting

JUCM has been fortunate to be on the forefront of research on SARS-CoV-2, from a headline-making article entitled Chest X-Ray Findings in 636 Ambulatory Patients with COVID-19 Presenting to an Urgent Care Center: A Normal Chest X-Ray Is No Guarantee way back in May 2020 right through this issue. The latest COVID research article we’re pleased to present focuses on infection rates of influenza type A/B and COVID in a federal qualified healthcare center in …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – September 2022

Vapocoolant and Digital Nerve Blocks Dosing Dexamethasone in Pediatric Asthma Infant Clean-Catch Urine Contamination Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Children Treating Acute Diverticulitis Torus Wrist Fractures in Children Efficacy of Antiviral Treatment in COVID-19 Vapocoolant for Pain Reduction in Digital Nerve Blocks Take-home point: Application of vapocoolant prior to digital nerve blocking can reduce pain associated with skin puncture and local anesthetic infiltration. Citation: Selvi F, Bedel C, Akçimen M. Evaluation of vapocoolant spray effect on pain …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – June 2022

Maximizing the Value of Urine Dipstick Testing Screening for Intimate Partner Violence Antibiotics for Children with RTI Azithromycin in Pediatric Viral Infection Self-Monitoring BP with Unvalidated Devices Modified Valsalva Maneuver in SVT To Mix or Not to Mix COVID-19 Vaccines? Ivan Koay, MBChB, FRNZCUC, MD Nitrofurantoin Resistance Take-home point: Proteeae group bacteria, which are often resistant to nitrofurantoin, normally result in alkaline (ie, high pH) urine on dipstick testing. Citation: Sheele J, Libertin C, Fink …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – May 2022

Immobilizing Ankle Fractures Treating Septic Olecranon Bursitis EKG Interpretation: Human vs Machine preHEART Score and Prehospital Care Rethinking Otitis Media Management Boosters Limit Risk for COVID—but by How Much? Ivan Koay MBChB, FRNZCUC, MD Casting vs Bracing for Ankle Fractures Take-home point: Plaster casting was not superior to functional ankle bracing for certain ankle fractures. Citation: Kearney R, McKeown R, Parsons H, et al. Use of cast immobilisation versus removable brace in adults with an …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – March 2022

When Handlebar Meets Abdomen Corticosteroids and Asthma Antibiotics in Pediatric PAC Surfactant Use in AOM COVID Pneumonia and Disease Progression Neutralizing Antibodies in COVID Pediatric Abdominal Injuries from Handlebars Take-home point: Handlebar impact is a high-risk mechanism for serious intraabdominal injury in children and necessity of operative intervention is common. Citation: Vanderwalle R, Barker S, Raymond J, et. al. Pediatric handlebar injuries: more than meets the abdomen. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2021;37(9):e517-e523. Relevance: It is important …