Practice Management
Marijuana is now legal in 28 states in one form or another, but that doesn’t mean employers are obliged to soften their stance on employees’ use. How this could affect urgent care centers that offer drug screenings as part of their occupational medicine services is unclear—as is the ability of employers to bar employees from partaking. Some legal experts have asserted that companies could put themselves at risk if they fire employees for a positive …
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Just days after the World Health Organization declared Zika virus is no longer a “global emergency,” a new case that appears to have been transmitted locally was reported in Texas—marking the first time such a domestic case has occurred outside of Florida. More than 250 people in Texas have been infected previously, but all those cases could be traced back to travel in a region where the virus is prevalent, or having sexual relations with …
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Patients being treated for cancer have medical needs that extend far beyond their most critical diagnosis—more than a few of which are a result of their treatment. Johns Hopkins Hospital is offering them a place to go besides the emergency room when they’re suffering with pain, fever, nausea, or anything else for which they need immediate care, by creating an urgent care center specifically for them. Besides the long waits and generalized care they can …
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A new U.S. Department of Labor rule that would have led to an enormous leap in the number of workers eligible for overtime pay in the United States has been stopped—at least for the time being—by an injunction issued in federal court. Currently, employees who make less than $23,660 annually get time-and-a-half pay if they work more than 40 hours in a week; the new standard would more than double the threshold, to $47,476. That …
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to stress that immunization—plus everyday hygiene—is the best way to avoid potentially deadly flu. Urgent care providers are in an especially good position to try to influence patients, as anyone feeling bad enough to seek immediate care may be susceptible to suggestions on how to avoid feeling even worse down the road. The CDC recommends six steps providers can take to encourage even reluctant patients to …
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Uber drivers and their families in the Portland, OR area stand to benefit from a new partnership among the on-demand car service company, Legacy Health, and GoHealth Urgent Care. Their arrangement marks a step forward in the way “gig economy” companies can arrange access to care for on-demand workforces. Services available to drivers and their families include $0 out-of-pocket flu shots, sports physicals, and free wellness classes. The program also offers diabetes and heart health …
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The University of Missouri is just one location seeing a dramatic increase in cases of mumps, currently; 31 cases have been confirmed there, with test results still to come on 27 more people. Harvard University and the State University of New York have also reported outbreaks, and a scattering of towns in Arkansas have reported over 400 cases since this summer. With mumps being a self-limiting viral infection, the best urgent care clinicians can do …
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Urgent care operators are watching with interest as Anthem and Cigna Corp. prepare to fight for their proposed $53 billion merger. The U.S. Justice Department has already expressed concerns about the deal moving forward, claiming that federal and state regulators complain consummation would reduce competition, leading to higher prices and lower levels of service. For their part, Anthem insists the proposed massive new company would be in a better bargaining position to negotiate deals with …
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Many urgent care centers have seen great success promoting their capabilities to care for young athletes, whether by offering sports physicals or letting it be known they’re able to evaluate and treat orthopedic injuries and concussions. While data on how many urgent care centers can perform electrocardiograms are scarce, offering heart tests for teenagers could be the next logical step forward, both in terms of establishing your business but also in uncovering potential life-threatening problems …
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Though much maligned in the press and the subject of legislation in a number of states, “surprise” bills are still an issue for patients after a trip to their local emergency room. In fact, a new study by Yale researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that nearly a quarter of in-network ED visits can be followed by a bill from an out-of-network doctor. The authors considered claims for more than 2 …
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