Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Baby Sleep Monitors Have Little Evidence of Effectiveness

In the past few years, parents have been attracted to at-home devices to monitor their infant’s vital signs during sleep, which are meant to offer reassurance by providing parents with continuous real-time data. Infant devices might measure, for example, respiratory rate, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, and sleep quality. Beyond just crib cameras, some options include wearable socks, belts, and swaddles. There is virtually no guidance for providers on advising families about the devices or …

Some Links Found Between NSAIDs and Dementia Risk

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with a 12% lower risk of dementia, although cumulative dose did not affect this risk, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Short-term NSAID use (less than 24 months) was linked to a slightly increased dementia risk. These findings suggest that prolonged exposure to anti-inflammatory medication—rather than high doses—may help reduce dementia risk. Researchers propose that inflammation plays a role …

Knee Osteoarthritis Especially Burdensome as Prevalence Increases

A global study published in BMJ Global analyzed the burden of osteoarthritis (OA) among postmenopausal women from 1990 to 2021 and found a significant increase in OA incidence (133.1%), prevalence (139.8%), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (141.9%) over the study period. Knee OA was identified as the most burdensome type of OA, while hip OA had the least impact. The results showed that OA disproportionately affects high socio-demographic regions. In the data, high body mass …

Walgreens Set To Sell Off CityMD Urgent Care

After nearly 100 years as a publicly traded company, Walgreens is going private as part and parcel of a $10 billion buyout deal with private-equity firm Sycamore Partners. The company is on-task to sell Village Medical, Summit Health and CityMD clinic brands, all of which are operated under the VillageMD line of business. Many saw this massive leveraged buyout coming, although the on-again, off-again speculation hinted at prolonged negotiations. For the moment, there is no …

Ohio Law Calls For New Healthcare Workplace Violence Protection Plans

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed a new bill into law, requiring hospitals to enhance protections against workplace violence. The law mandates hospitals to create comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, including staff training, reporting systems for workplace incidents, and policies prohibiting retaliation against staff who report violent incidents. Plans must be developed with input from clinical staff. The law further provides civil immunity for healthcare workers who act in self-defense or defense of others during …

Moms and Dads Rethink MMR Vaccine in Texas Measles Outbreak

The measles outbreak in Texas is spreading, just as many public health officials had anticipated, and now many parents—who had previously opted out—are making appointments for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines for their children, according to local health officials speaking to NBC. A mobile unit stationed outside of emergency departments in the affected areas is currently offering measles testing and vaccines. Kids who were previously unvaccinated accounted for about half of the MMR shots provided at the …

Semaglutide Compounding Must End, Market Forces Set to Shift

Compounding pharmacies and telehealth companies will ultimately need to stop producing their versions of semaglutide following the resolution of the short-term shortage of the manufacturer’s original brand drug product. Compounding pharmacies were previously allowed to create generic versions of the diabetes and weight loss drug due to supply issues, but with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now declaring the shortage over, production and sales must cease by April 22 for pharmacies and May 22 …

AFC Acquires 5 Physician One Urgent Care Centers

American Family Care announced its acquisition of 5 Physician One Urgent Care locations in the Boston area this week. The deal brings AFC’s total rooftops to 35 operating in Massachusetts and more than 400 across the United States. Meanwhile, the company has also added recent de novo sites with more in the pipeline. AFC has been backed by Lorient Capital since March 2024, and its clinical teams treat 4 million patients each year. Earlier this …

Patients Can Miss Critical Glucose Monitor Alerts, FDA Warns

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted an alert this month warning that patients who use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, automated insulin dosing systems, and other diabetes devices are at risk of not receiving or not hearing audible alerts from their smartphones regarding their devices. A missed alert could possibly lead to severe hypoglycemia, severe hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and death, the agency says. Because apps for diabetes CGMs and other devices allow users …

Americans Don’t Trust Health Systems to Use AI Responsibly

An observational analysis published in JAMA Network Open examined the level of trust Americans have when it comes to health systems’ use of artificial intelligence (AI). Researchers conducted a national survey of 2,039 adults, analyzing factors that could influence their trust, including AI knowledge, health literacy, and experiences of discrimination in healthcare, using a 4-point Likert scale. The results indicate that most respondents have low trust in health systems to use AI responsibly (65.8%) or …

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