StuWilli, Author at Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Overview of Urgent Care Financing

JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP You’ve researched the industry, have a site picked out, and have a name reserved. Now comes the million dollar question. Wait, that is the question: Where do I get a million dollars to start an urgent care? Do you really need a million? My noncommittal “attorney answer” is: “possibly.” I have had friends lose a lot more than that before being forced to close the doors. That said, you …

Motivate Your Front-Line Staff With Enlightened Leadership

Urgent message: Registration specialists, medical assistants, and techs may be your lowest-paid employees, but the success of your urgent care is in their hands—and their success is in yours. ALAN A. AYERS, MBA, MAcc, Experity Urgent care is a service business whose long-term viability depends on patient loyalty and word of mouth. That’s why urgent care entrepreneurs spend tens of thousands of dollars in selecting the right locations, equipping them with the latest technology, and …

High-Risk Conditions Presenting as Back Pain

Urgent message: That back pain is common and typically without serious sequelae may result in misdiagnosis and mistreatment. ERICA MARSHBURN, BS, BA, AND JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP Many high-risk conditions can present as back pain, is a very frequent presenting complaint in urgent care medicine. Most back pain is muscular in origin and responds well to conservative intervention. However, because of the frequency of the complaint and infrequency of serious sequelae, providers may …

CLINICAL CHALLENGE: CASE 2

The patient, an otherwise healthy 64-year-old, fell, suffered a blow to the shoulder, and presents with clinical dislocation. View the image taken (Figure 1) and consider what your diagnosis would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

9-year-old patient trips and receives a blow to right knee

The patient, an otherwise healthy 9-year-old, tripped, suffered a blow to the right knee and presented with the knee cap in an abnormal position. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be

21-year-old presents with hemoptysis

The patient, an otherwise healthy 21-year-old, presented with hemoptysis. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be.

December 2011

Developing Data: December, 2011

These data from the 2010 Urgent Care Benchmarking Survey are based on responses of 1,691 US urgent care centers; 32% were UCA members. The survey was limited to “full-fledged urgent care centers” accepting walk-ins during all hours of operation; having a licensed provider and x-ray and lab equipment onsite; the ability to administer IV fluids and perform minor procedures; and having minimal business hours of seven days per week, four hours per day. In this …

Modifier for 69210, HCPCS for IM Zofran, S9088 vs 99051, and Billed Amount for 99051

Q.What modifier can I use for CPT Code 69210 (removal impacted cerumen, [separate procedure], one or both ears) for Medicare? I used left and right, but the claim was denied as an incorrect modifier. A.Because the definition of the code includes either or both ear(s), you should not attach a modifier to indicate the right (-R), left (-L), or bilateral (50) ear(s). Q.My physicians like to give Zofran injectable intramuscular; we generally don’t give it …

Clinical Challenge: December, 2011

In each issue, JUCM will challenge your diagnostic acumen with a glimpse of x-rays, electrocardiograms, and photographs of dermatologic conditions that real urgent care patients have presented with. If you would like to submit a case for consideration, please email the relevant materials and presenting information to [email protected]. The patient, an otherwise healthy 2-year-old, had a history of playing with button batteries and then started crying with discomfort on the left side of the nose. …