Practice Management
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 …
Read More
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 …
Read More
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. …
Read More
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 …
Read More
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 …
Read More
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 …
Read More
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 …
Read More
While many urgent care patients present in the early days of spring with the common symptoms of stuffy nose and sneezing, an allergic rhinitis diagnosis can be somewhat nuanced, according to a review in JAMA Network. Allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, and non-allergic rhinitis each have different typical symptoms, and therefore, there can be differences in treatment, according to the authors. In a follow-up, MedPage Today reports the majority of allergic rhinitis …
Read More
A new oral antibiotic, gepotidacin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). According to the manufacturer, GSK plc, gepotidacin is a first-in-class antibiotic with a novel mechanism that inhibits bacterial DNA replication to treat female adults and pediatric patients (≥12 years, ≥40 kg) with uncomplicated UTIs. It’s designed to target several of the most common UTI-causing bacteria such as E. coli and …
Read More
The surging measles outbreak—now spanning 18 states as of March 20—may continue for about a year, according to health experts in a CNN report. Weekly totals reached 378 confirmed cases nationwide. By comparison, the 2024 total case count for the entire year was 285. Although 95% of the current cases are in patients who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, a few were reported in people who say they had at least 1 dose …
Read More