Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Fasting Before Lab Testing Should Be More Nuanced: Study

Fasting longer than 12 hours before a lab test generally does not provide an advantage over fasting for 8–12 hours, according to new research. A large study of routine outpatient laboratory testing suggests that most tests are minimally affected by the length of time that the patient spends fasting beforehand, potentially changing perspectives on uniform fasting requirements. As published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed 9.8 million test results from 101,148 adults using laboratory data …

Why IFU Limitations Matter in Urgent Care Lab Testing

Urgent Message: Urgent care teams can take practical steps to safeguard quality for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived testing by following detailed Instructions for Use information. Key Words: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments; CLIA-Waived Testing; Certificate of Waiver Cathy Bohrer, MT(ASCP) Laboratory tests commonly used in urgent care are only reliable when their Instructions for Use (IFU)—including any limitations—are followed. For urgent care leaders, this isn’t just about compliance with federal regulations. Patient outcomes, safety, and …

Diagnostic Lab Test Utilization in Urgent Care

Urgent care has long been defined for its model of “test and treat” for minor, non-chronic health conditions. Patients presenting with symptoms typically receive a rapid, on-site lab test, and based on the results, the provider makes a diagnosis and orders a prescription. It’s a given that lab testing is a defining service and core capability of urgent care centers. Based on 34 million patient charts in Experity EMR from January 1 through December 31, …

UCA Webinar: Setting Up Lab Services? Attend this Webinar

Offering lab testing on site in your urgent care location can be a great convenience for patients and a boon for business—as long as you know what you’re getting into. The Urgent Care Association will offer some insights in a webinar led by CLIA expert Milly Keeler, BSMT, CLC, CCCP on Thursday, April 5 at 1 pm, Central. She’ll share her vast knowledge of regulatory requirements concerning laboratory testing, as well as CLIA requirements for …

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