Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

CDC Releases Guide For Reducing Burnout

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a guide meant to assist hospitals and provider organizations in reducing healthcare worker burnout. It offers step-by-step organizational-level actions that take into account the time, cost, and staff requirements necessary to implement new programs. CDC/NIOSH is hosting a webinar series next month to offer more insight on the application of the guide’s suggestions. The pilot-tested actions …

Rare MIS-C Cases Increased During COVID-19 Surges

As the prevalence of COVID-19 cases increased in the fall of 2023, so too did the cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that MIS-C incidence—while still quite rare—was highest in late 2020 through early 2021. However, cases rose alongside COVID-19 activity in the general population late last year. Among the 117 MIS-C patients with illness onset in 2023, 68 (58%) had no underlying medical …

Semaglutide Approved For Cardiovascular Indications

The FDA approved semaglutide to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, according to an agency announcement about the new indication. A phase III study of patients with overweight and obesity showed that semaglutide significantly reduced the composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke by 20%. In the 3-year study, these major adverse cardiac events occurred in 6.5% of patients on semaglutide …

UCA Begins Search For Next CEO

With thew news of the expected retirement of Chief Executive Officer Lou Ellen Horwitz, the Urgent Care Association (UCA) has announced the search for its next executive leader. In 2020, Horwitz transitioned away from the UCA board of directors and out of semi-retirement to return to the UCA’s top leadership role. She previously served as the association’s executive director from 2006 to 2012. Throw your hat in the ring: No doubt the succession plans will …

Rapid Viral Tests Best When They Inform Treatment Decisions

A recent review suggests that the routine application of rapid respiratory viral tests in emergency departments (EDs) offers limited benefits for antimicrobial stewardship. Presented in JAMA Internal Medicine, the review examined 11 randomized clinical trials involving patients with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) seeking care in EDs. It revealed that while rapid viral testing led to increased usage of influenza antivirals among positive cases (absolute risk difference 1%), it did not significantly impact overall antibiotic use, …

Couple Locked in Urgent Care Center in Texas

A couple in Texas spent more than an hour locked in an urgent care center after the staff left for the day. According to local news reports, Austin Jennings and his partner, Christina Tirado, went to the Mont Belvieu Urgent Care for treatment for Jennings’ flu symptoms. They arrived for a 6PM appointment and were directed to an exam room at 6:30PM where Jennings started a breathing treatment. When he opened the exam room door 20 minutes later, a …

Free COVID-19 Antiviral No Longer Free

In December 2023, drug manufacturer Pfizer changed its strategic sales approach for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) by shifting to commercial sales in lieu of providing the COVID-19 antiviral drug at no-cost to patients exclusively through the federal government, according to Kaiser Health News. Some patients, such as those who are uninsured or enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, may qualify for free prescription fills, but they need to work through an application process. What’s concerning is that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir has …

Patients, Clinicians Have Similar Accuracy With Interpreting At-Home COVID Tests

When patients use at-home tests to check for COVID-19, their results are similar to results from clinicians using the same tests, according to a study in Microbiology Spectrum. Researchers compared the sensitivity and specificity of Abbott’s BinaxNOW patient-administered rapid antigen test (RAT) against RATs administered by a healthcare provider and against reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of the 953 patients, 34.1% had at least 1 COVID-19 symptom. Hospital staff administered a RAT and an RT-PCR …

Could the US Lose Its Measles Elimination Status?

Rising measles outbreaks in the United States have raised concerns about whether the country is losing its status of having “eliminated” the disease, according to the Hill. As of March 7, 2024, 45 measles cases were reported across 17 states. Florida has reported 10 cases in 2 counties, prompting the Florida Surgeon General to recommend unvaccinated children should stay home for 3 weeks, aligning with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but it …

Smartwatches Show Promise in Detecting Arrhythmia in Kids

According to a retrospective study, smartwatches can detect arrhythmia events in children, including events that are not generally captured with ambulatory monitors. The study presented in Communications Medicine examined medical records for 145 patients under 18 years old and documented potential arrhythmias that were identified by an Apple Watch. Recordings were captured when the patients believed that their heart rhythm was abnormal. Scott Ceresnak, MD, director, of the Pediatric Electrophysiology Program, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, …