Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Drug Company Launches DTC Model for Weight Loss Prescriptions

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly just launched its own telehealth website where patients can access physician appointments and the prescription drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) for weight loss. The new LillyDirect platform also offers free home-delivery service, but it will not provide discounts on tirzepatide. As described in a news story in People, Mounjaro is approved to treat type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound is approved to treat obesity, each with a list price of more than $1,000 for a …

GoHealth Adds New Leaders, Announces Expansion Plans

GoHealth Urgent Care recently announced plans to craft new health system partnerships and to open its 300th center location by the end of the year, according to a company press release. GoHealth currently operates about 270 centers in several states. At the same time, the company also announced leadership expansions to complement its growth strategy. Todd Latz, GoHealth’s Chief Executive Officer, noted two newly created roles on the executive team: Tom Oram will become the Chief …

Studies Find No Increased Risk of Suicide With Semaglutide

The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) was found to demonstrate no increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes, according to retrospective analyses of electronic health records examining these patient populations, published in Nature Medicine. Researchers’ analysis of 240,618 patients who were overweight/obese showed that those taking semaglutide had a significantly lower risk (0.11%) of suicidal ideation compared with those using non-GLP-1 anti-obesity medications (0.43%). In …

Urgent Care Takes the Pressure Off Emergency Departments

The overarching surge in emergency department (ED) visits nationwide has created an access issue marked by prolonged patient wait times and healthcare provider burnout, according to an influencer article in Med City News by Benjamin Barlow, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Experity. Dr. Barlow notes patients often disregard urgent care (UC) as a viable alternative to the ED, which contributes to the strain on ED clinical teams. Too often, consumers seek non-emergent healthcare in EDs …

Eskenazi Health Combines Urgent Care With a Range of Services

To adapt to the increased demand for urgent care (UC), Eskenazi Health in Indiana has evolved its clinics into hybrid centers that offer urgent care, primary care, and specialty care, including behavioral health, according to the Indy Star. Providers who typically see patients with seasonal respiratory viruses and other UC-appropriate concerns have regularly addressed mental health crises and referred patients to specialist care. The news outlet reports that provider shortages are driving consumers to urgent …

No Matter What You Call Them, PAs Are Growing in Number

The term “physician associate” seems to have cyclical comebacks, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. The American Academy of Physician Assistants changed its name in 2021 to the American Academy of Physician Associates and today simultaneously uses the acronym “PA” with both physician associate and physician assistant titles. However, the academy has changed its name before, reflecting membership and industry roles. The majority of urgent care visits—some 85%, according to Experity data—are delivered by either PAs …

Telemedicine Leads to Referrals

A recent JAMA Network Open Viewpoint article explored the frustrations resulting from the expiration of temporary regulatory changes that were implemented by almost all states to allow physicians to provide telehealth across state lines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the end of the public health emergency, many licensing waivers ended as well. Some argue that licensure should remain under control of the state while others advocate for a single federal license or full …

No Deal For WellNow and Excellus

WellNow urgent care and health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield were not able to reach an agreement on network status prior to the ultimate expiration of the 2023 contract year, according to a news report on Syracuse.com. Both companies say they’ve engaged in good-faith discussions in an attempt to continue the contract for 2024, and Excellus reportedly offered an increase in reimbursement during negotiations. WellNow is the sole storefront provider of urgent care in central New …

FDA-Approved Genetic Test May Predict Risk of Opioid Addiction

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first clinical test that uses DNA to assess potential risk of opioid use disorder in certain patients, according to an FDA announcement. The new AvertD test is intended as a screening tool clinicians can use before prescribing oral opioid drugs in adult patients who are being considered for short-term treatment of acute pain and who have not previously used oral opioid pain medications. To administer at …

Respiratory Illnesses Surge Across Most of the US

It’s no surprise that the prevalence of respiratory illnesses continued its upward slant in the waning days of 2023. Respiratory illness indicators surged across two-thirds of the nation, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), particularly impacting the Midwest and Northeast, where COVID cases were prevalent. COVID hospitalizations rose by 16.7%, causing 29,000 admissions, contributing to a 10% increase in deaths. The Midwest and Northeast reported moderate to …