Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Addressing Congenital Syphilis With Point-of-Care Testing in Urgent Care

Urgent Message: Urgent care centers can help prevent congenital syphilis by screening pregnant patients lacking prenatal records, confirming reactive point-of-care results, and administering penicillin when follow-up is uncertain. Amir Reza Tehrani, BS; Glenn E. Harnett, MD; Jeffrey D. Klausner, MD, MPH Keywords: syphilis screening; congenital syphilis; point-of-care testing; sexually transmitted infections; pregnant patients; urgent care; rapid diagnostics Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this review is to use clinical, operational, and economic evidence to support integrating …

POC Test Helps Identify What’s Causing That Sore Throat

Sore throat is among the top complaints presenting to urgent care, and determining the best options for treatment is essential to avoid unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, according to a study recently published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. In a small sample of 200 urgent care patients with acute pharyngitis or fever—including pediatric and higher-risk adult populations—researchers evaluated a rapid multiplex nucleic acid amplification test that detects 14 bacterial and viral pathogens. At least 1 pathogen was …

Device Aims to Improve Dermatology Referrals

The Food And Drug Administration recently approved a device that provides non-invasive skin cancer screening at the point of care, according to Reuters. DermaSensor, a privately held company, says its spectroscopy technology can use light and artificial intelligence to evaluate cellular and subcellular characteristics to assist clinicians in identifying the presence of skin cancer in suspicious moles or lesions. A study by the Mayo Clinic of more than 1,000 patients showed that the device had …

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