Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

In Maryland, Supervised Staff Can Now Capture X-Rays

Maryland has finalized licensure-exception legislation to create a limited-scope x-ray technologist role that urgent care centers can now leverage to help extend the services their staff can provide. No license is required, but there are some criteria techs must meet, such as clinical experience, hours of training, and supervision by a licensed physician or radiologic technologist. The good news is that the staff who qualify can capture x-rays for almost any common concern, including spine, …

Ascension Wrestling With Cyberattack

Ascension Healthcare, with 140 hospitals and more than 50 urgent cares in 19 states, was impacted by a cyberattack earlier this month, forcing ambulances to divert and pharmacies to shut down. The system disconnected from its Epic EHR, which caused long emergency department wait times and care delays. Ascension has not given a timeline for when its systems will be fully restored, according to Healthcare Dive on its cyberattack state-by-state tracker. How much: When Change …

UCs in NY Can No Longer Require Credit Cards Kept on File

The North East Regional Urgent Care Association (NERUCA) Governmental Affairs Committee recently notified members via email about a freshly minted New York budget rule that includes provisions that effectively prohibit urgent care (UC) operators from requiring patients to leave credit card information on file for payment. Most UCs require a card on file so they can collect the appropriate out-of-pocket responsibility after claims adjudication. However, the new law, General Business Law 519-a, essentially eliminates any …

Non-Antibiotic Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis Could Be a First-Line Choice

A randomized controlled trial conducted in Europe found that dequalinium chloride has good efficacy for treating bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women without the use of antibiotics. When compared with the antibiotic metronidazole, dequalinium chloride was not only noninferior, it also had better tolerability and fewer adverse events, as published in JAMA Network Open. Study authors believe dequalinium chloride could help reduce antibiotic consumption and could be considered as first-line treatment for bacterial vaginosis with less …

Joint Commission Offers Telehealth Accreditation for UC

The Joint Commission recently announced a new telehealth accreditation program (TEL) applicable to eligible hospitals and ambulatory care providers, including urgent cares. The TEL program requirements will be released this month with formal applications opening on July 1, 2024. New telehealth-specific requirements include: streamlined emergency management to address remote care rather than in a physical building; new standards for telehealth provider and patient education about the use of telehealth platforms and devices; and new standards …

Promote Urgent Care Awareness Month With UCA Toolkit

The Urgent Care Association (UCA) is promoting Urgent Care Awareness Month to call attention to the important role urgent care has as a valuable segment in the healthcare ecosystem. Legislators, community leaders, and consumers need to know everything UC contributes, especially the widespread access issues that UC can help resolve. UCA has a collection of Awareness Month resources that any UC organization can use. What’s in the bag? Download a sample news release, 3 choices …

Med Spa Services Require Protocols to Prevent Blood-Borne Pathogen Exposure

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the first time documents incidents of HIV transmission through cosmetic injection services known as “vampire facials,” which are treatments that inject a person’s own blood into their face for cosmetic purposes, such as skin rejuvenation. The services are usually delivered in spa-type environments and involve drawing a client’s blood, separating the plasma and cells, and using disposable or multi use sterile equipment …

Walmart Gives Up on Health Clinics and Virtual Care

In a somewhat surprising move, Walmart announced this week that it will close all 51 of its health centers as well as its telehealth business after a 5 year go at the market. The Walmart Health arm of the retail giant’s strategy was on track to expand beyond its initial 5 states (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas) but has abandoned the model because of a “challenging reimbursement environment,” the company said in a press …

Influence of Clinical Setting on Antibiotic Prescribing Practices for Acute Otitis Media in Children at an Urban Academic Medical Center

Urgent Message: This retrospective chart review study found that the odds of children receiving an antibiotic prescription for acute otitis media in urgent care and the emergency department were significantly higher compared to a primary care setting. Further research is needed to better understand factors contributing to higher antibiotic prescribing rates in acute care settings. Angelica M. Mangahas, BS; Heather M. Weinreich, MD, MPH; Johanna Wickemeyer, MD; Margaret Schmit MD; Rakhi Thambi, MD, MBA Citation: …

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