Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Prescription Home Delivery Amps Up Among Major Retailers

In the midst of ongoing retail pharmacy store closures, Amazon is pushing ahead on same-day home delivery of prescription medications, aiming to have delivery within reach of about half the U.S. market by the end of the year, according to MedPage Today. The offering seems like a natural complement to Amazon’s growing list of partners delivering telehealth visits and subscription-based digital health services. Walmart launched same-day deliveries less than a year ago and now reaches …

Mississippi’s Expanded Scope of Practice Bill Will Not Move Forward

In Mississippi, the House of Representatives passed a bill in February that would have allowed advanced practice nurses (APRNs) to treat patients without a collaboration agreement with a physician after accruing 8,000 hours of experience. However, the bill and another similar bill ultimately didn’t reach a vote before the legislative session ended earlier this month. The American Medical Association and the Mississippi State Medical Association lobbied against this expansion in scope of practice for APRNs …

Antibiotics In Early Childhood Linked To Chronic Conditions

When kids are exposed to antibiotics before age 2, they may be at greater risk for asthma (hazard ratio [HR] 1.24, 1.22-1.26), food allergy (HR 1.33, 1.26-1.40), and allergic rhinitis (HR 1.06, 1.03-1.10), according to a retrospective analysis published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. While the study doesn’t prove that early antibiotic exposure caused the conditions, the authors note that antibiotics do play a critical role in combatting bacterial infections. Researchers studied antibiotic exposure …

Midafternoon May Be the Optimal Time For Asthma Inhaler Use

For adults with mild to moderate asthma, a dose of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) taken in the afternoon suppressed the worsening of nighttime lung function better than other dosing regimens, a small crossover trial published in Thorax showed. A single 400 µg dose between 3PM and 4PM improved nighttime forced expiratory volume compared to baseline in a 28-day study of 25 participants, which included a washout period. However, when the same dose was given between 8AM …

KidMed Receives Autism Credential

KidMed Pediatric Urgent Care in Gulfport, Mississippi, was awarded the Certified Autism Center credential from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards this month. To earn the designation, KidMed participated in onsite reviews, and staff completed training on practices, skills, and resources to best care for sensory-sensitive children and those on the autism spectrum, according to a press release. Enhancements include dimmable lighting, noise reduction, visual aid cards, and sensory-friendly spaces. KidMed is …

CDC Reminds Providers Of Measles Protocol

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week sent an alert to providers concerning the ongoing measles outbreak. While the risk to the general population currently remains low, the agency reminded stakeholders that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way for patients to protect themselves against the disease. At least 3 unvaccinated people have died from measles, and cases have grown to more than 600 as of April 4. …

Heightened Flu Activity Continues as the Season Wanes

The particularly harsh 2024-2025 flu season is now in its seventh week of declining cases, according to fresh Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates. Even so, activity has remained high for 18 weeks and counting, and the season is expected to linger on for several more weeks, says CDC. Pediatric deaths now number 168 for the season. The percentage of outpatient visits has been highest among those aged 0 to 4 years, followed …

ACA Marketplace Enrollment Will Dwindle Without Subsidy Extension

ACA Marketplace health plan enrollment hit a record for the fourth year in a row, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. This year, more than 24 million Americans signed up for plans in the marketplace—more than doubling the enrollment figure from just 5 years ago and triple that of the inaugural marketplace enrollment numbers in 2014. Regionally, enrollment has more than tripled since 2020 in Texas (growing 255%), Mississippi (242%), West Virginia …

Emergency Departments Struggle With Sustainability: RAND

Emergency departments (EDs) will face increased sustainability risks in the near- and long-term future, according to a new report from nonprofit research firm RAND. As EDs struggle with financial prospects and meeting community demand, nearby urgent care operators might see increased volumes of higher-acuity patient visits. Among the leading issues are the fact that some of the necessary services provided in hospital EDs are not directly reimbursed by public or private payers, while at the …

New Outlook Considers 3 Total MMR Vaccines, Starting at 6 Months

Pediatric infectious disease experts are considering revising recommendations to encourage an early, additional dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for 6- to 11-month-old infants in high-risk areas, according to MedPage Today. The shift would change the 2-dose regimen per lifetime to 3 doses, while also getting an earlier start. Public health leaders recently discussed in a JAMA perspective the possibility of expanding vaccine recommendations for infants who live in regions with known …

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