By Julie Wright, MBA, CMPE Introduction The steady growth of new urgent care centers (UCC) has garnered publicity and caught the eyes of entrepreneurial thinkers across the country. As medical groups have become more responsive to patient needs, and as patients have become independent, urgent care centers have found their niche in the market. UCCs are an important addition to our healthcare system and have been growing in popularity for both patient and practitioner for …
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Treatment of Pediatric Community-acquired Pneumonia in an Urgent Care Center
Urgent message: Although diagnosis of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia is not always straightforward, most cases can be diagnosed adequately by non-pediatricians and treated in the urgent care center, thereby reducing hospitalization for this condition. By Deena R. Zimmerman, MD, MPH, IBCLC, Scott Fields, MD, Nahum Kovalski, BSc, MDCM Introduction Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common illness. Estimates are that the annual incidence of pneumonia per 1,000 children in North America ranges from 30 to 45 cases …
Read MoreValuation of an Urgent Care Clinic
Urgent message: Despite the fact that underlying principles are the same as for other settings, it behooves the urgent care operator to consider factors unique to the urgent care arena when determining the value of the practice. By Keith Borglum, CHBC How much is your practice worth? This is a simple question with a complex answer. There are many books on the topic—and a fair amount of debate—and the answer differs depending on the particular situation …
Read MoreManaging Employee Performance: A Path to Clinical and Business Excellence
By Marty Martin, PsyD, MPH, MA Imagine a patient who walks into an urgent-care center feeling as many patients do – sick, tired, and irritable. But as soon as the patient arrives, the receptionist greets him warmly and with respect. As the patient sits down in the waiting room, the receptionist lets him know how long the wait might be. When the receptionist invites the man back to the treatment area, he is greeted warmly …
Read MoreGaleazzi Fracture–Dislocation of the Wrist or Isolated Distal Radius Fracture?
Urgent message: Fractures of the distal radius are a common presentation in the urgent care setting. Nonetheless, a high index of suspicion is required for the diagnosis of a Galeazzi fracture–dislocation.By Heather L Hinshelwood, MD and David Caro, MD IntroductionThe anatomic structure of the forearm typically maintains the integrity of the distal radioulnar joint when the radius is fractured. However, in certain situations this joint may be compromised with certain rotational forces. CaseA 14-year-old African-American male …
Read MoreOutpatient Management of Opioid Dependence in Urgent Care
Urgent message:Â Urgent care physicians may be well positioned to play a role in stemming the national epidemic of opioid dependence, providing much needed care for patients and adding a new facet to their own clinical practice. By Paolo T. Coppola, MD, FACEP and Matthew I. Salzberg Introduction The DSM-IV-TR defines dependence as “a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiologic symptoms that indicate a person has impaired control of psychoactive substance use and continues use of …
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Diabetic Emergencies in the Urgent Care Setting
Urgent message: Patients with glucose levels either too high or too low often require immediate, potentially life-saving interventions in the urgent care setting. These patients are often found to be diabetic. Allan F. Moore, MD, Nicolas Abourizk, MD, Jeffrey Collins, MD, MA Diabetes is a common chronic disease affecting approximately 7% of the United States population. Of these individuals, 17.5 million carry a diagnosis of diabetes and over 6 million are undiagnosed. An estimated 54 …
Read MoreClinical Challenge: April, 2008
The patient is an 82-year-old man who presented after having fallen backwards and landing on his back. He did not lose consciousness; nor did he vomit. The patient entered the clinic using a walk- er, which he reported using on a regular basis. Examination revealed an abrasion over his forehead and over the anterior right tibia. The neurological exam showed no acute changes. The patient was specifically tender over the shoulder, but there was no …
Read MoreThe International Face of Urgent Care
You thought you were alone on an island trying to navigate through the trials of urgent care. You thought you were the only one faced with the clinical and financial challenges. Hopefully, you have discovered the Urgent Care Association (UCA), attended one of the conferences, and shared in the delight of collaborating with colleagues who share your questions, your challenges, and your desire to make a difference one patient at a time. Hopefully, you recognize …
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Management of Distal Radial Fractures in Young Patients by Non-Orthopedists in an Urgent Care Center
Wrist fracture is a common injury in children. 1 Many of these fractures are buckle or torus fractures. Traditionally, treatment for buckle fractures has been short-arm casting for two to four weeks.2 However, questions have been raised as to the need for such treatment. A number of recent studies have indicated that many such fractures may be managed without casting by the use of either elastic bandaging alone3 or splints.4-6 Plaster splints can easily be …
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