Focusing on the Growth—and Healthcare Savings—of Urgent Care

We all know urgent care has been growing steadily, nearly since its inception. Hard data on the size of the marketplace can be hard to come by, though, as different sources apply varying definitions of what exactly constitutes an urgent care center. Similarly, we know proper utilization of urgent care services has tremendous potential to lower healthcare costs compared with visits to the emergency room. Again, though, the details can be hard to put a …

Read More
In the Midst of a Bad Season, CDC Reverses Course on Nasal Flu Vaccine—for Next Year

In the Midst of a Bad Season, CDC Reverses Course on Nasal Flu Vaccine—for Next Year

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended use of the FluMist Quadrivalent nasal spray influenza vaccine in the next influenza season. Starting 2 years ago, healthcare providers have been urged to not use that vaccine because the CDC said there was a lack of efficacy in preventing influenza. However, the new ACIP recommendation comes on the heals of a U.S. study in young children that found vaccines …

Read More
Healthcare Consumers Want More Connectivity, Convenience, and Time from You, Says Study

Healthcare Consumers Want More Connectivity, Convenience, and Time from You, Says Study

A new study by Solutionreach reveals that healthcare consumers find three things most important in improving the doctor-patient relationship—and in helping them choose who to visit when they need care. Perhaps as importantly, in terms of helping urgent care providers recognize differences in how patients of various ages view healthcare, the report breaks down responses into the categories of Millennials (ages 21–34 for purposes of this study), Generation Xers (35–51 years old), and Baby Boomers …

Read More
Urgent Care Advanced Practitioner Appointed to Multidiscipline Provider Board

Urgent Care Advanced Practitioner Appointed to Multidiscipline Provider Board

An urgent care nurse practitioner at NextCare in Albuquerque, NM has just been named to the Board of Nurses of the American Health Council. Gilberto Alvarado, MSN, CNP, FNP-BC, BSN, RN has been in healthcare for 45 years, starting as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy and advancing through a number of clinical positions—with the requisite additional training—culminating in his current position at NextCare. AHC describes its mission through the mnemonic ABCDE: advocacy, …

Read More