Practice Management
As we begin a new year, I’m struck by both the resilience of the Urgent Care community and the urgency of the moment we’re in. Over the past several months, through conversations with operators, clinicians, vendors, and other partners, one message has been unmistakably clear: Urgent Care is ready to move forward together with renewed purpose, a stronger voice, and a sharper vision for the future. 2026 will be a pivotal year. The pressures facing …
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According to a survey of 1,015 adults released by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), fewer adults are receiving vaccines for respiratory viruses this year. The study was conducted in November 2025 to evaluate adults’ attitudes and behaviors regarding vaccination for influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pneumococcal disease in the United States. NFID found that 45% of respondents said they have received at least 1 respiratory vaccine since September 2025, with influenza …
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Recently, Abbott Diabetes Care posted an alert for a subset of its FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensors. Internal testing revealed that some sensors manufactured on a single production line may provide inaccurate, low glucose readings—potentially leading patients to delay or skip necessary insulin doses. The alert affects approximately 3 million sensors in the United States; about half are estimated to have expired or already been used. Globally, Abbott …
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Pertussis Deaths Rise, New PCR Test Receives Approval Three infants in Kentucky have died of pertussis this year, including 1 death last week, according to public health officials. None of the infants or their mothers had been vaccinated. As of November 19, 2025, there have been 566 cases of pertussis in the state with additional cases anticipated by the end of the year. Texas has reported the most activity this year with at least 3,500 …
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Not surprisingly, seasonal influenza activity is increasing nationwide, primarily among children and young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent FluView dashboard reports a 5% rate of positivity for the week ending November 22, 2025, up from 2.9% the week before. Overall, activity is low, however, of the influenza A cases subtyped, H3N2 accounted for 82.3% of them. There is some concern over a variant of H3N2 called subclade K, which is …
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Urgent Message: Pediatric patients frequently present to urgent care with musculoskeletal complaints, but clinicians must remain aware of the less common surgical and medical emergencies that can present with these symptoms. Key Words: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis; Pediatric Limp; Antalgic Gait; Obesity; Urgent Care Diagnosis Abstract Clinical Presentation: A 13-year-old male presented to a pediatric urgent care with the chief complaint of left calf pain for a month that had acutely worsened over the past …
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Urgent Message: Reproducible chest wall pain is often considered a symptom that indicates a musculoskeletal diagnosis. However, it should not be used as the sole criterion for ruling out acute coronary syndrome, especially in high-risk populations. Key Words: STEMI; Reproducible Chest Pain; Atypical ACS; Urgent Care Evaluation Abstract Introduction: Chest pain remains a leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits, and its differential encompasses both life-threatening and benign conditions. In the United States, the lifetime …
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Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC, is Revenue Integrity Manager at Experity. The financial and reputational health of an urgent care practice depends on one simple principle: Bill accurately and compliantly. Yet as reimbursement rules evolve and staffing models shift toward greater reliance on non-physician practitioners (NPPs), many centers find themselves at risk for costly missteps. From billing under the wrong provider to out-of-network (OON) complications and False Claims Act (FCA) violations, administrators are …
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About three-quarters of urgent care centers test for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae (CT/NG) infections either in-house or by sending out, but utilization lags. Here’s why it matters. An Urgent Care Consultants analysis of 90,856,421 visits charted in the Experity EMR (January 1, 2022–September 13, 2025) shows adoption has broadened since the previous analysis.1 Across visits in all clinics, only about 1% included a CT/NG test, while the top-decile clinics test in roughly 4–5% of …
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A 52-year-old man presents to urgent care with a 2-day history of left calf pain, described as dull, non-radiating, and worsened by walking. He recently flew from Los Angeles to New York. His history includes hypertension managed with lisinopril. He denies fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, recent surgery, or prior clots. He appears well and is hemodynamically stable. Exam reveals mild swelling and tenderness in the left calf and popliteal region without erythema or …
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