Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Benefits of Utilizing Limited-Scope X-Ray Techs in the Urgent Care Setting

Urgent message: X-ray is an essential component of urgent care operations. Amid rising costs and staffing shortages, limited-scope x-ray techs may be a viable alternative to licensed radiology techs to perform imaging in the clinic. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc One of the unexpected changes we’ve seen come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is the difficulty urgent care centers face in hiring licensed radiologic technologists (RTs). Even hospitals struggle to hire, offering sign-on bonuses of …

Clavicular Pain in a 23-Year-Old

Case A 23-year-old man presents to an urgent care with pain at the distal end of his left clavicle that began the previous day after he fell onto his left shoulder while mountain biking. His pain is constant and sharp and worse when moving his left arm and shoulder. He does not have fever, vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, or abdominal pain, and he has no head injury, no head or neck pain, and …

Shoulder Pain in a 62-Year-Old After a Fall

A 62-year-old man presents with right shoulder pain that began the previous evening after he fell in his garage. The pain is worse with movement through the range of motion. He has no pain in the elbow and says that he has no head pain or head injury. His social history reveals that he is a smoker and drinks alcohol. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.

Clinical Challenge 2: June, 2015

The CaseA child presents after a fall on an outstretched arm from monkey bars. Pain and voluntary guarding of the elbow are noted. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.

Clinical Challenge: April, 2015

The Case The patient presented with wrist pain after a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH). View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.

Clinical Challenge 2: March, 2015

The Case The patient presented with fever and difficulty swallowing. He was visibly anxious, leaning forward on the examination table and spitting into a cup. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.

Clinical Challenge – April 2014

THE CASE This patient presented with a painless mass in the leg. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be.

Clinical Challenge: April, 2012

In each issue, JUCM will challenge your diagnostic acumen with a glimpse of x-rays, electrocardiograms, and photographs of determining conditions that real urgent care patients have presented with. If you would like to submit a case for consideration, please email the relevant materials and presenting information to [email protected]. The patient, a 45-year-old man, presented with vomiting and chest pain. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be. Resolution of the …

Clinical Challenge 2: March, 2012

The patient, a 21-year-old female, presented with trauma to her right wrist. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

Clinical Challenge 2: September, 2011

The patient, an otherwise healthy 10-year-old, fell and suffered a blow to the shoulder. The patient presented with a decreased range of motion. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.