Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Rapid Molecular Diagnostics for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Urgent Care: Filling a Selective Gap

Barbara D. Alexander, MD, MHS; Kimberly E. Hanson, MD, MHS; Adriana E. Rosato, PhD; David B. Nash, MD; Maren S. Fragala, PhD; Steven E. Goldberg, MD, MBA Diagnostic uncertainty and error contribute to inappropriate treatments, which, in turn, can increase morbidity and the costs associated with care.1,2,3,4 Diagnostic errors can also contribute to unnecessary antibiotic prescribing, contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).1,5 Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are among the most common urgent care (UC) and …

55-Year-Old With Hand Rash

A 55-year-old woman presents to urgent care with complaints of arthralgia and a pustular rash on her hands. She has a past medical history of Crohn disease and has taken infliximab as treatment for the past year. The patient has no recent history of travel or infections and no history of any skin conditions. On dermatological examination, multiple pustules, some becoming confluent to form “lakes of pus,” were seen on the palms and fingers. Bacterial …

Effective Strategies Minimize Claim Denials in Urgent Care

Urgent care centers serve a crucial function in providing prompt and accessible healthcare, but they encounter unique challenges in managing their revenue cycle, particularly in reducing claim denials. Unlike primary care or specialized medical practices, urgent care clinics often treat patients on a one-time basis, making both patient intake and billing more complex. Additionally, frequent turnover among front desk staff contributes to recurring errors in patient registration, insurance verification, and claims processing, all of which …

Two AI Trends That Will Change Urgent Care

Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Urgent Message: While there are seemingly countless applications for artificial intelligence in healthcare, ambient scribes and front desk automation are key solutions that are readily available for adoption by urgent care providers. Citation: Ayers AA. Two AI Trends That Will Change Urgent Care. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(8):xx-xx Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, and urgent care operators have increasing opportunities to leverage AI in a way that …

Postpartum Presentations: When Risk Arises After Delivery – Vaginal Bleeding and Discharge

Urgent Message: Postpartum vaginal bleeding and discharge have a broad range of etiologies ranging from benign and self-limited to life-threatening. As postpartum patients may present to urgent care centers with concerns for bleeding or discharge, it is important for clinicians to have an understanding of the unique differential diagnosis for causes of hemorrhage in this population. Alexa Bailey, BS; Lauren Kostandaras, BS; Hannah Poorman, BS; Michael Weinstock, MD; Catherine Neal, DO. Citation: Bailey A, Kostandaras …

Abstracts in Urgent Care – May 2025

Which Topical Agent is the Best Choice for Epistaxis? Take Home Point: This study found that oxymetazoline was most effective in achieving hemostasis in cases of epistaxis when compared to tranexamic acid (TXA) and an epinephrine-lidocaine combination (ELC) solution. Citation: Celik T, Altun M, Kudu E, et. al. Comparison of the efficacy of oxymetazoline, tranexamic acid, and epinephrine-lidocaine combination in the treatment of epistaxis. Am J Emerg Med. 2025 Feb 23:91:104-109. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.02.036 Relevance: Controlling …

When Urgent Care Is Available, Emergency Departments Are Less Congested

It’s evident through everyday experience that access to urgent care (UC) can reduce emergency department (ED) congestion and drive better healthcare resource utilization in a community. A literature review published in Cureus recently quantified this same conclusion by analyzing 10 studies conducted between 2015 and 2024, primarily in the United States, which found that the availability of standalone UC centers reduced ED visits by 8% to 17%. One cited study found UC led to a …

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 …

Recurrent Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in a Patient With Repeated Exposure to Metronidazole: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Metronidazole, even during short courses of therapy, can result in disabling neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is important for clinicians to be knowledgeable about these relatively uncommon but serious adverse medication reactions. Faren Clum, MD; Joshua Russell, MD, MSc, ELS, FCUCM, FACEP Citation: Clum F, Russell J. Recurrent Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in a Patient With Repeated Exposure to Metronidazole: A Case Report. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(7):37-41 Abstract Introduction: Metronidazole is a commonly prescribed antibiotic. …

Urgent Care Evaluation and Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Urgent Message: Spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX) occurs unpredictably. Many patients with spontaneous pneumothorax may initially present to urgent care, so it is important for clinicians to include it in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with acute chest pain and/or dyspnea. Rarely, a spontaneous pneumothorax can progress to a tension pneumothorax if the diagnosis is delayed. Vrunda Patel, BS; Kevin Radecki, MD Citation: Patel V, Radecki, K. Urgent Care Evaluation and Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax. J …

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