Is the Monkeypox Outbreak Over—or Just Taking a Breather?

Is the Monkeypox Outbreak Over—or Just Taking a Breather?

It’s only been a couple of months since some cities, such as New York, declared the monkeypox outbreak that started in 2022 “over,” but Chicago health officials have issued a warning that from April 17 to just this week seven new cases have been reported there. While they’ve classified the severity of the alert as “low,” they note that only one case had been reported from February 1 through April 16. So, in addition to …

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When the School Campus and Urgent Care Campus Are One and the Same

When the School Campus and Urgent Care Campus Are One and the Same

Members of the Liberty School District’s elementary school community don’t have to go far for care when illness or injury strikes in the middle of the school day; in fact, they don’t even have to leave the grounds. WFMJ in Youngstown, OH reports that as of a few weeks ago, the “Leopard MedClinic”—named for the school mascot but operated by QUICKmed Urgent care—is open and ready to see students with urgent care needs. The intent …

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New Data Reinforce the Case: Urgent Care Reduces Emergency Room Traffic

New Data Reinforce the Case: Urgent Care Reduces Emergency Room Traffic

It’s been the contention of the urgent care industry for a long time that patients who do not have truly emergent complaints should not be in the emergency room, where they’re likely to face long waits and incur greater costs than they need to. For those patients, urgent care centers are the more sensible option. Data showing a link between the available of urgent care and reduced ED traffic were slow in coming, but over …

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Picking Up the Pieces After Gunfire and Death Descend on an Urgent Care Center

Picking Up the Pieces After Gunfire and Death Descend on an Urgent Care Center

As you likely know, a gunman opened fire at Northside Family Medicine and Urgent Care in Atlanta this week. One person was killed and several others injured; reportedly, none were workers in the urgent care center. A suspect was arrested after an hours-long manhunt. Multiple media sources suggested that the accused was seeking care in the facility. The New York Timesquoted the alleged perpetrator’s sister as saying her brother is “not mentally stable,” while his …

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Evolving State Abortion Laws Could Have an Unforeseen Impact on Urgent Care

Evolving State Abortion Laws Could Have an Unforeseen Impact on Urgent Care

Regardless of one’s personal perspective on the move by some states to restrict access to abortions, there is a very real concern that such legislation could ultimately worsen provider shortages. As reported by MedPage Today, new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges show that already-declining numbers of medical-school graduates applying for positions are falling faster in states that have enacted legislation restricting abortions. The dip is especially precipitous in obstetrics and gynecology, as …

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A Few Key Steps Can Aid in Turning Provider Burnout Around

A Few Key Steps Can Aid in Turning Provider Burnout Around

Provider burnout is probably most associated with having too many clinical responsibilities competing for your attention, combined with the ever-present threat of oversights and errors that could harm a patient and ultimately decimate your practice. And while that’s all a significant part of the mix, the COVID-19 pandemic raised the specter that burnout can result from being underactive, as well, according to an article from the American Medical Association. That observation came from Shawn C. …

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Most Nurses Plan to Leave Their Hospital Jobs in the Next Year. Might Urgent Care Be Their Next Stop?

Most Nurses Plan to Leave Their Hospital Jobs in the Next Year. Might Urgent Care Be Their Next Stop?

If the results of a survey from AMN Healthcare are correct, most nurses currently employed in the hospital setting will be doing something else, or at least nursing somewhere else, within the next year. Of the 18,000 nurses who participated in the research, only 15% said they expect to “continue working as I am” in a year. Much of the blame is being placed on the COVID-19 pandemic; 18% of participants said they’re likely to …

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Are You Doing Enough to Prevent (and Prepare Your Team to Respond to) Fires on Site?

Are You Doing Enough to Prevent (and Prepare Your Team to Respond to) Fires on Site?

An after-hours fire that struck St. Peter’s Urgent Care – North in Helena, MT should serve as a wake-up call for any urgent care operators who are unsure whether they’ve taken adequate preventive steps and have a plan in place in case such a disaster does occur. As reported by the Independent Record, the source of the blaze was a lithium battery that caused a printer to overheat. It tripped the alarms and sprinkler system …

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Follow-Up: Omicron Variant XBB.1.16 Has a New Name—and a Newly Discovered Symptom

Follow-Up: Omicron Variant XBB.1.16 Has a New Name—and a Newly Discovered Symptom

Just a few weeks ago, we told you that the recently discovered COVID-19 variant XBB.1.16 has been reported and increasing in prevalence in at least 18 U.S. states and 22 countries. Now the variant has been dubbed Arcturus, and researchers at the Mayo Clinic report that it has a distinctive effect on individuals who are infected compared with other COVID variants: conjunctivitis. Further, according to the COVID Tracker maintained by the Centers for Disease Control …

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Can Predicting Which Kids Are Likely to ‘Bounce Back’ Help Reduce Return Visits?

Can Predicting Which Kids Are Likely to ‘Bounce Back’ Help Reduce Return Visits?

Every urgent care operator wants to see patients return again and again. It means they’re happy with the care they receive, and the economic benefits for the business are obvious. Seeing the same patients return a day or two after a visit with concerns related to their initial complaint is another matter. An article just published in Physicians Weekly reveals insights that could help you predict which kids are most likely to bounce back, however—and …

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