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In a new statement, the Urgent Care College of Physicians (UCCOP) and the College of Urgent Care Medicine (CUCM) make a strong stand against the development, distribution and promotion of what are being marketed online as “urgent care kits.” The kits typically include antibiotics, steroids, or other prescription medications packaged for unsupervised use by consumers at home. They are often advertised as a way for families to be prepared for “life’s unexpected moments,” which suggests consumers will likely use the urgent care kits as a convenient way to treat themselves and skip the medical appointment. UCCOP and CUCM state that they oppose any model of care that circumvents clinician assessment or promotes the routine availability of prescription medications outside an individualized, patient‑specific encounter that includes evidence-based care. The organizations also state the kits undermine the core tenets of antibiotic and steroid stewardship by encouraging treatment without appropriate clinical guidance or evaluation.
Tempting for some: Online sellers list the kits with 8 medications for about $300 each. Some of the medications packed into the kits include, for example: azithromycin; amoxicillin-clavulanate; fluconazole; ivermectin; and ondansetron. Because dispensed prescription medications carry expiration dates, consumers might not realize that the kits have limited shelf life. Urgent care leaders can amplify the message from UCCOP and CUCM by sharing the link: Statement From UCCOP and CUCM on “Urgent Care Kits”