AHRQ Says It Needs Your Help to Improve Antibiotic Use

By now most Americans have gotten the message that inappropriate use of antibiotics is dangerous. And yet, patients persist in begging for a prescription when a clinician tells them they have a viral infection for which an antibiotic isn’t indicated. No one is more of aware of this than the urgent care provider, who is likely to hear those pleas multiple times every day. So, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is inviting pediatric and ambulatory care providers to take part in a program that might produce better results. The 12-month initiative, which is offered at no charge, is scheduled to begin in December 2019. The idea is to help clinicians—including urgent care providers—meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, as well as Urgent Care Association antibiotic stewardship accreditation and ABS Commendation standards. Participants will also earn continuing education credits including Maintenance of Certification for ABIM, ABP, and ABFM (again, at no charge). More information will be revealed in an hourlong webinar in September; if you’re interested, you can choose to log in to one on September 4 at 1 pm Eastern, September 12 at noon Eastern, or September 24 at 4 pm Eastern. For an urgent care-specific perspective on how you can help curb inappropriate antibiotic use—and reduce the risk of life-threatening resistance—read Improving Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Common Clinical Conditions in Urgent Care in the JUCM archive. Our next contribution to this ongoing dialogue will be a live webinar, Antibiotic Stewardship in Urgent Care, scheduled for Tuesday, November 19 at 2 pm, Eastern. You can register here.