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Original authors: Margot P. Shuman and Toni Clare Hogencamp Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. This edition updates diagnosis, treatment, infection control, and transfer decisions while retaining the chapter's pattern-recognition and clinical-pearls approach. Recommendations for specialty or inpatient therapy are provided to explain referral rather than to suggest that urgent care centers can deliver those treatments. INTRODUCTION A majority of disorders present with some type of cutaneous physical findings; an …

Original author: Thomas J. Sunshine Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. Introduction Patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are frequently seen by the urgent care physician. Urgent care providers should have an understanding of symptoms, testing processes, risk factors, treatments, and counseling. The immediate tasks are to recognize emergencies, obtain appropriate tests from exposed anatomic sites, provide effective treatment when indicated, and arrange partner services and reliable follow-up. Presentation A …

Original author: Thomas J. Sunshine Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION The evaluation of the patient with vaginal bleeding can vary significantly among age groups and by clinical presentation. Understanding whether the patient is premenarchal, menstrual, or postmenopausal will help guide decision making. The full evaluation of obstetric bleeding is not extensively reviewed in this chapter. Although many etiologies are ultimately treated with interventions beyond the urgent care setting, …

Original author: Scott T. Burger Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION Back pain is a very common complaint in the urgent care setting. Most causes of back pain are benign and mechanical, but a small number of cases are caused by serious conditions. Obtaining a detailed medical history and performing a careful physical examination will help the practitioner differentiate the benign from serious conditions leading to back pain. The …

Original author: John Shufeldt Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION Bites and stings account for a significant number of visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers. Although the scope of this chapter does not lend itself to addressing all forms of bites, the most common bites that present to urgent care centers are discussed. The urgency of treatment depends on the risk of infection, tissue or neurovascular injury, …

Original authors: Kent Erickson and John Shufeldt Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION Professionals performing direct patient care in a clinical setting may experience needlestick accidents, which are also common in many other occupations: Prehospital personnel and first responders Housekeeping personnel Veterinarians Dental professionals Needlestick and other sharps injuries also occur among laboratory staff, students, environmental services staff, and personnel handling medical waste. The urgency of care depends on …

Original author: Jasmeet Singh Bhogal Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION Lacerations and bite wounds, punctures, skin tears, and skin abrasions are among the most common problems seen at urgent care centers and range from clean cuts to heavily contaminated wounds. The goal of wound care in an urgent care center should be to assist the body with the natural healing process while providing adequate hemostasis, pain control, wound …

Chapter 36 | Original author: Sean M. McNeeley Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. Introduction Although facial injuries can span the spectrum of minor abrasions to severe maxillary fractures and respiratory compromise, most can be handled in an urgent care setting. Understanding the warning signs of more serious injuries described in this chapter is important to the decision to treat or transfer. The initial evaluation must first identify threats to …

Sean M. McNeeley Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION Trauma to the chest wall and remainder of the thorax is a common presentation in the acute care setting. Many injuries are minor and easily managed. Life-threatening injuries do, however, sometimes present at urgent care centers. Because of their infrequent nature, serious injuries can be easily missed if not considered in every patient. The urgent care clinician must quickly distinguish …

Original authors: Ashley Simela and Scott M. Zimmer Originally published in 2014. Substantially updated and clinically reviewed in 2026. INTRODUCTION Hand and wrist injuries are extremely common presentations in the urgent care setting. Unfortunately, they are also notoriously mishandled. Patients and clinicians alike underestimate the significance of hand injuries in particular, and the potential for lifelong complications is not to be underestimated. Having a clear understanding of the functional anatomy along with the motor and …