Orthopedic Case ReportLegal Considerations and Urgent Care Management of Acute Compartment Syndrome in the Upper Extremity
ClinicalHerpes Simplex Virus Infections: An Overview of Testing for the Urgent Care Clinician
Case ReportsDyspnea in an Asthmatic Patient Following an Influenza Infection: A Case Report
Original ResearchBrief Report: PrEPare for Action – A Quality Improvement Project for Expanding HIV Screening in the Urgent Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Practice Management2025 Urgent Care’s Top 100 – By Number of Locations
Orthopedic Case ReportLegal Considerations and Urgent Care Management of Acute Compartment Syndrome in the Upper Extremity
Legal Considerations and Urgent Care Management of Acute Compartment Syndrome in the Upper Extremity
By Ashley Blachford / May 29, 2025
Urgent Message: Compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening emergency that can present with variable clinical signs and symptoms. When the diagnosis…
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ClinicalHerpes Simplex Virus Infections: An Overview of Testing for the Urgent Care Clinician
Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: An Overview of Testing for the Urgent Care Clinician
By Ashley Blachford / June 1, 2025
Urgent Message: Polymerase chain reaction testing is recommended for patients with lesions that could represent herpes simplex virus infection. It…
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Case ReportsDyspnea in an Asthmatic Patient Following an Influenza Infection: A Case Report
Dyspnea in an Asthmatic Patient Following an Influenza Infection: A Case Report
By Ashley Blachford / June 1, 2025
Urgent Message: While patients with asthma will frequently experience exacerbations following viral respiratory infections, the urgent care clinician must be…
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Original ResearchBrief Report: PrEPare for Action – A Quality Improvement Project for Expanding HIV Screening in the Urgent Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Brief Report: PrEPare for Action – A Quality Improvement Project for Expanding HIV Screening in the Urgent Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Ashley Blachford / May 25, 2025
Citation: Hunt E, Greger M, Shipley N. Brief Report: PrEPare for Action – A Quality Improvement Project for Expanding HIV…
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Practice Management2025 Urgent Care’s Top 100 – By Number of Locations
2025 Urgent Care’s Top 100 – By Number of Locations
By Ashley Blachford / May 31, 2025
The following table summarizes the 100 largest urgent care operators by number of locations as of April 1, 2025, based…
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Urgent Care News
Door Handles Won’t Give You The Flu: Simulation Study
During flu season, many people go out of their way to wash down high-touch surfaces …
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OTC Allergy Drugs Can Cause Severe Pruritus With Sudden Discontinuation
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now warning clinicians and healthcare consumers about a …
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Cases of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Cluster in a Few States
The deadly Candida auris fungus was first identified in the United States about 10 years …
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Meningococcal Vaccine Leveraged To Prevent Gonorrhea in England and Wales
A vaccine to prevent gonorrhea will soon be introduced in England and Wales as part …
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Lindsey E. Fish, MD, Joins JUCM as Editor in Chief
JUCM is now under the leadership of Lindsey E. Fish, MD, who serves as Editor …
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Original Research Articles
Brief Report: PrEPare for Action – A Quality Improvement Project for Expanding HIV Screening in the Urgent Care Setting During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Citation: Hunt E, Greger M, Shipley N. Brief Report: PrEPare for Action – A Quality …
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Brief Report: A Pilot Quality and Feasibility Project Focusing on Clinician Use of an Order Set for Acute Asthma Care in Pediatric Urgent Care Centers
Urgent Message: There are limited data on implementation and use of clinical decision support tools …
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Comparing Outcomes for Outpatients Treated With Cephalexin for Uncomplicated Cystitis: Is QID Dosing Necessary?
Urgent Message: Patients commonly seek unscheduled care for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cephalexin is among …
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Systematic Rapid Review: Efficacy of Hematoma Blocks for Pediatric Forearm Fractures
Shomel Gauznabi, MBChB, FRNZCGP, FRACGP, FRNZCUC, MD; Ivan Koay, MBChB, MRCS, FRNZCUC, MD Urgent Message: …
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Development of a Positive Urinalysis Criteria Using a Machine Learning Approach
Urgent Message: There are no consensus definitions for what defines a “positive” urinalysis in the …
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Clinical Articles

Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: An Overview of Testing for the Urgent Care Clinician
Urgent Message: Polymerase chain reaction testing is recommended for patients with lesions that could represent herpes simplex virus infection. It …
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Postpartum Presentations: When Risk Arises After Delivery – Vaginal Bleeding and Discharge
Urgent Message: Postpartum vaginal bleeding and discharge have a broad range of etiologies ranging from benign and self-limited to life-threatening …
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Urgent Care Evaluation and Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Urgent Message: Spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX) occurs unpredictably. Many patients with spontaneous pneumothorax may initially present to urgent care, so it …
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Postpartum Presentations: When Risk Arises After Delivery – Headache
Urgent Message: Both common and serious postpartum conditions may present in urgent care. Headache presentations should prompt consideration for possible …
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Practice Management Articles

2025 Urgent Care’s Top 100 – By Number of Locations
The following table summarizes the 100 largest urgent care operators by number of locations as of April 1, 2025, based …
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Two AI Trends That Will Change Urgent Care
Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Urgent Message: While there are seemingly countless applications for artificial intelligence in healthcare, ambient scribes …
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State Legislation Could Impact Urgent Care Facilities
Alan Ayers, MBA, MAcc Urgent Message: Legislation for the licensure of urgent care centers has been enacted or proposed in …
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Shorter Visits Drive Greater Patient Satisfaction in Urgent Care
Urgent Message: Urgent care has long marketed itself as providing immediate care for acutely rising conditions, and true to this …
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CASE REPORTS
Dyspnea in an Asthmatic Patient Following an Influenza Infection: A Case Report
Urgent Message: While patients with asthma will frequently experience exacerbations following viral respiratory infections, the urgent …
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Insidious Unilateral Axillary Swelling in a Patient with Untreated HIV: A Case Report
Urgent Message: Lymphadenopathy in patients living with HIV is most commonly related to HIV infection, but …
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Recurrent Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in a Patient With Repeated Exposure to Metronidazole: A Case Report
Urgent Message: Metronidazole, even during short courses of therapy, can result in disabling neuropsychiatric symptoms. It …
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Hot Water Irrigation to Relieve Discomfort After Wasp and Bee Envenomation: A Case Series
Urgent Message: Hot water irrigation for 2 minutes provided immediate and sustained relief of pain and …
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Death After Delayed Diagnosis of Acute Epiglottitis in an Adult Patient Initially Seen in Urgent Care: A Case Report
Urgent Message: Epiglottitis is a potentially fatal condition that has undergone a changing etiology in the …
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HEALTH LAW
Changing an Employee from Full-Time to Part-Time Status
Urgent message: Whether due to reduced staffing needs or employee preference, some employees in urgent care …
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Are Urgent Care Providers Liable if They Don’t Test Patients for COVID?
Download the PDF: Are Urgent Care Providers Liable if They Don’t Test Patients for COVID? Urgent …
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Who Can Take X-Rays in an Urgent Care Center?
Urgent message: Given that x-ray is a differentiating feature of “urgent care” and the current challenges …
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What Qualifies Someone to Take X-Rays in the Urgent Care Center? It All Depends on Where You’re Located
X-rays are high on the list of services patients expect urgent care centers to provide when …
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Avoiding Defamation Lawsuits in Urgent Care
Urgent message: People are unlikely to trust their healthcare to a provider with a sullied reputation, …
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JUCM CAREER CENTER
- Urgent Care Physician – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) – Erie, PA January 11, 2020
- Physician to join an Accredited Urgent Care Center – Westmed Medical Group – NY January 9, 2020
- $15K Sign-On Bonus - Urgent Care Physician – Main Line HealthCare January 6, 2020
- URGENT CARE PHYSICIANS – HealthPartners - Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN December 20, 2019
- Urgent Care Opportunity w/ Signing bonus – Watson Clinic - Florida, United States December 20, 2019
Download Past Issues
June 2025: Acute Compartment Syndrome: A High-Stakes, Time-Sensitive Diagnosis
CLINICAL CHALLENGES
13-Year-Old With Inversion Injury
A 13-year-old boy presents to urgent care after “rolling” his left foot. He explains that he tripped on a cement …
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33-Year-Old With Pleuritic Chest Pain
A 33-year-old female presents to urgent care with pleuritic chest pain that is gradual in onset over the preceding several …
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63-Year-Old With Sudden Visual Disturbance
A 63-year-old man presents to urgent care with sudden-onset floaters and blurred vision in his right eye for one day …
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55-Year-Old With Diffusely Dry Skin
A 55-year-old woman presents to urgent care because of skin dryness and scaling on her legs that developed 2 weeks …
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51-Year-Old With Hemoptysis
A 51-year-old man presents to urgent care complaining of night sweats and a productive cough with visible blood for the …
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OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Does Concentra’s New Acquisition Foreshadow a New Era for UC and Occ Med?
On the surface, it seems like the kind of event that has become commonplace in urgent care: A large, national …
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Update: The COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Many Businesses Is Off—Again
Just when you thought you had clarity on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s mandate to vaccinate workers at businesses …
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That Vaccine Mandate for Private Businesses That Was Called Off? It’s on Again—and the Clock Is Ticking
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s plan to require employers with 100 or more workers to institute a COVID-19 vaccine …
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Your Occ Med Clients Need Your Support with the New COVID-19 ETS—Immediately
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration just issued an Emergency Temporary Standard intended to protect workers from getting infected with …
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More People Are Trudging Off to Work on Site. Do You Know Who’s at Greatest Risk for COVID-19?
While some employers are content to maintain remote or hybrid work situations for their workers, either because of strong stances …
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Revenue Cycle Management
Navigating Payer Reviews and Medical Decision-Making: A Critical Guide for Urgent Care
Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC Urgent care operators face increasing challenges from payer reviews—a situation exacerbated by ongoing …
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Effective Strategies Minimize Claim Denials in Urgent Care
Urgent care centers serve a crucial function in providing prompt and accessible healthcare, but they encounter unique challenges in managing …
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Refresher: Guidelines for E/M Coding
Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC Hard to believe that the new evaluation and management (E/M) guidelines have been …
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What’s New in Telemedicine for 2025?
Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC The American Medical Association (AMA) added a Telemedicine Services category to the Evaluation …
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How ‘Data Reviewed’ Works When Coding E/M
Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC Three elements determine the level for evaluation and management coding (E/M). “Amount and/or …
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DEVELOPING DATA
Patient Credit Card on File Increases Payments by 20%
Just as hotels require a credit card to cover any “incidentals,” urgent care is increasingly pre-authorizing patient credit cards at …
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Diagnostic Lab Test Utilization in Urgent Care
Urgent care has long been defined for its model of “test and treat” for minor, non-chronic health conditions. Patients presenting …
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Does Urgent Care Require 7-Day Operations?
While patients and payers may expect urgent care to be available 7-days a week, approximately 20% of urgent care centers …
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Retail Clinic Rooftops Retreat From 2023 Peak
Between May, 20231 and December, 2024, the number of retail-host clinics in the United States fell 21.7% from 1,750 to 1,370, …
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Provider Compensation Increasing Since 2022
By comparing 2022 and 2024 hourly compensation data from the Urgent Care Association (UCA) Clinician Compensation Benchmarking Report, data shows …
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Abstracts in Urgent Care
Abstracts in Urgent Care – June 2025
Can Doctors Predict Patient Outcome from a First Impression? Take Home Point: In this systematic review, the first impressions of …
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Abstracts in Urgent Care – May 2025
Which Topical Agent is the Best Choice for Epistaxis? Take Home Point: This study found that oxymetazoline was most effective …
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Abstracts in Urgent Care – April 2025
Evaluating Interventions for Improving Antibiotic Stewardship in Urgent Care Take Home Point: An antibiotic stewardship intervention was associated with reduced …
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Abstracts in Urgent Care – March 2025
Developing Procedural Mastery With Slit Lamp Use Take Home Point: Simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) intervention improved emergency physicians’ confidence in …
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Abstracts in Urgent Care – February 2025
Concussion Recovery in Young Children Take Home Point: This study suggests that children aged 5-12 years old with concussion …
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Quality of Urgent Care Depends on our Commitment to HOLA Expertise
At least once a month, a friend or family member will text me—often for the first time in years—to share …
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Managing Health Data Obsessive Disorder Presentation in Urgent Care
In a prior editorial, I described the case of Thomas, a young man among the “worried-well,” who presented to urgent …
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‘Health Data Obsessive Disorder’—A Modern Epidemic
“Low blood sugar” was his chief complaint, but Thomas was in my urgent care (UC) mostly because he was feeling …
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‘As Little as Necessary…’– A Mantra for Urgent Care
“Do as little as necessary, not as much as possible.” This is the mantra I recite throughout every urgent care …
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Our Success in Urgent Care is Defined by How We Play Our ‘Greatest Hits’
Recently one evening, I meandered into a bar on iconic 6th Street in Austin, Texas— America’s epicenter for live music …
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