Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

AHRQ Looks to Formalize Primary Care Definition

Federal researchers from the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) posted a draft technical brief with the goal of establishing a standardized definition for primary care. AHRQ’s initiative aims to address the existing variability in definitions of what’s considered primary care to align research efforts that ultimately drive policy. AHRQ is looking at three factors: what type of provider is providing the care; where care is delivered; and types of services. A public comment …

STD Rates Increase 6% In 1 Year

In recent years, the United States has witnessed a surge in cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), notably chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, as per data sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and analyzed by US News & World Report. In 2021, gonorrhea cases showed a 28% increase, and syphilis cases showed a spike of 74%. The cumulative burden of STDs was pronounced with more than 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, …

MedWise Continues Growth in Oklahoma

MedWise cut the ribbon on its 13th clinic in Oklahoma this month. Spanning 3,057 square feet, the Tahlequah location includes x-ray facilities, diagnostic testing, seasonal vaccinations, and other traditional urgent care services. MedWise announced plans for expansion in the near future with three more clinics expected to open around the state in Bartlesville, Claremore, and Broken Arrow. New payer too: The organization recently added BlueCross BlueShield Native Blue to its list of payer partners, according …

Obesity Prevalence Still on the Rise

New population data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a concerning increase in adult obesity prevalence, with 22 states now reporting rates at or above 35%. By comparison, 19 states were in that position in 2021. The upward trend is concerning because just a decade ago, no state had obesity prevalence rates above 35%. In the data presentation, the District of Columbia was the only place in the nation with …

WHO Wants the World to Skip the Salt

The World Health Organization released a detailed report on high blood pressure, emphasizing the condition as a leading global risk factor for death and disability. Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide, often leading to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney damage. The report suggests that if all countries improve their hypertension treatment protocols to fall in line with high-performing nations, the efforts could prevent 76 million deaths, 120 million strokes, 79 million heart …

Some Patients Wait 5.5 Hours in the ED Before Giving Up

About 3% of patients leave emergency departments (EDs) without being seen, according to a federal data set that was summarized in Becker’s Hospital Review. State information analyzed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) demonstrates the variability in wait times in the ED before patients leave. Patients in North Dakota walk out after a median wait time of 108 minutes—the shortest time span. By comparison, patients in Washington, D.C., wait a median of …

College Event Encourages Use of UC

Level Up MD Urgent Care recently presented an educational event at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, New Jersey, designed to equip resident assistants with skills to address emergency health and safety concerns in student residence halls. Information focused on first-aid procedures as well as best practices to protect people from exposure to bodily fluids or bloodborne pathogens. There’s more: Discussions at the event included direct information about Level Up MD Urgent Care’s operational hours, location, and …

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 …

The CDC Says You Can Drop Masking Rules for Your Workers. The Question Is, Should You?

In a sign that President Biden’s offhand remark that “the pandemic is over” may be closer to the truth than first thought, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it’s dropping its universal masking guideline for healthcare workers. The move came after weeks of diminishing hospitalizations for COVID-19. The one caveat is that healthcare facilities should make their own determinations on masking based on conditions in their communities or proximity to immunocompromised patients. …

CDC: The Pandemic Isn’t Over, but It’s Time to Move On (Sort of). What Can We Expect Next?

While being very specific in stating that the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it has been reduced to a level that should allow most Americans to “move up to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.” The statement from Dr. Gretta Massetti, chief field epidemiologist for the CDC, combined with a relaxation of isolation guidance has been perceived in the mainstream media as indicating …