Practice Management
The patient is a 22-year-old woman who presents complaining of frequent nosebleeds. On exam, you note bright red macules and spider veins on her lips and tongue. They disappear briefly when you press on them. Review the image below and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.
Read MoreGeneral Statistics of COVID-19 Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Characteristics of Healthcare Workers Infected with COVID-19 A Simple Algorithm for Treatment of Nonpurulent Infections Topical Lidocaine for Oral Ulcers in Children Walking Boot vs Rigid Cast in Achilles Tendon Rupture General Statistics of COVID-19 Key Point: The majority of patients with COVID-19 have mild symptoms; however, those with critical disease have a mortality rate of 49%. Citation: Wu Z, McGoogan JM. Characteristics of and important lessons …
Read MoreUrgent message: In light of increasingly frequent reports of urgent care centers “firing” patients for various reasons, clarity is needed as to whether and when it may be legal and appropriate for urgent care to “ban” a patient. The customer is always right. We’ve all heard that saying and perhaps even invoked it in a contentious business situation. But exactly how does this apply to providers and staff in an urgent care? Background A patient …
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The patient is a 38-year-old man who presents with an exacerbation of chronic shoulder pain. He can’t recall when the pain initially started, but reports that it began to get worse after he played tennis for the first time this season, about a week ago. View the image taken and consider your next steps, along with possible diagnoses.
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Urgent message: A sense of “purpose” is the primary motivator for many employees—even beyond compensation and benefits. That’s why successful companies leverage powerful purpose statements towards clearly articulating their mission and values, and cultivating an engaged and inspired workforce. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Whether part of a larger cultural and societal shift, or due to the influence of a Millennial-dominated workforce, the importance of “purpose” at work has taken on a heightened significance in …
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The patient is a 55-year-old woman who presents with what she calls minor pain in her left hip. She denies any trauma, and insists the pain “isn’t that bad.” She’s only seeking care as a precautionary measure in advance of a family camping trip. View the image taken and consider what the diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.
Read MoreCOVID-19: The Long View Quarantine Duration in Suspected COVID-19 Bedside Ultrasound Use with COVID-19 Fluoroquinolones and Arrhythmia Isopropyl Alcohol and Nausea Relief Patient Preferences Re: the ED vs Urgent Care The Nuts and Bolts of COVID-19 Key Points: Most patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19 experience mild URI symptoms; however, the virus tends to cause disproportionately severe illness in older and chronically ill adults. Treatment is only …
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Urgent message: While skin-related complaints are not uncommon in the urgent care setting, with psoriasis being a relatively common source, evaluation and diagnosis of a rash can be challenging. This is especially true in the case of a rare variant like guttate psoriasis. Chasity L. Falls, MS, PA-C INTRODUCTION Psoriasis is a common condition. However, the guttate variant is rarer, commonly affecting children and young adults less than 40 years of age and accounting for …
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Urgent message: Efforts to have pain declared a “fifth vital” sign began nearly 25 years ago. Since then, several national accrediting and governmental agencies have taken up the cause of viewing pain as a distinct problem to be addressed as such. However, few data relevant to emergency and urgent care presentations exist. Mark Pruitt, DO, Ya Wen, DO, Michael Pallaci, DO, and Godwin Dogbey, PhD INTRODUCTION Traditionally, there have been four vital signs: temperature, …
Read MoreThe terms contracting and credentialing are often used interchangeably, but the processes involved in each, while interdependent, are very different and have different outcomes. Contracting, in brief, is the process of creating a formal legal agreement between the payer (insurance company) and the provider (facility, physician, and/or physician extender). The contract outlines expectations and requirements of all parties. The effective date of the agreement, the reimbursement/fee schedule, place of service, termination clauses, services allowed and …
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