Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Ruling: Whistleblowers Cannot File False Claims Lawsuits

In Florida, a US District Court recently ruled that whistleblowers cannot file False Claims Act lawsuits on behalf of the federal government—known as qui tam provisions—because it’s unconstitutional. Current or former employees often file False Claims Act suits when they suspect their employer is committing fraud or filing inaccurate Medicare and Medicaid claims. In 2023, the courts assessed in more than $2.3 billion in lawsuits from private whistleblowers in all industries, according to Reuters. The …

Urgent Care Centers Could Become Safe Haven For Surrendered Newborns in PA

In Pennsylvania, the state senate approved legislation to expand its safe haven laws, allowing urgent care (UC) clinics to serve as locations where parents can surrender unharmed newborns. Many states have safe haven laws that include drop off points at hospitals and healthcare facilities, but Pennsylvania would be only the second to name UC clinics specifically. Minnesota is the only other state that specifies “urgent care” rather than just “health facility.” However, in Minnesota, the …

UNC Opens Separate Campus Clinic For Test-and-Treat

On the campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, a walk-in health clinic operated by Campus Health opened just in time for a new school year. Open 9AM to 4:30PM Monday through Friday, students can access care at the “mini” clinic for mild illness, injury or infection for $30 per visit. Another separate clinic on the campus offers same-day care for more acute concerns, primary care, gynecology, and sports medicine with points of access to …

Legacy Medical Equipment Presents Security Liability

Even though Congress passed cybersecurity requirements for medical device manufacturers in 2023, some devices that are beyond their lifespan in terms of updates and support are likely vulnerable to attacks, according to MedTech Dive. Experts believe hospital systems still have plenty of unsupported legacy equipment in use, which may be overlooked because it’s still working well enough in everyday practice. It’s the lack of updates for the devices’ bespoke software that is most concerning because …

Walmart Launches Pharmacy Home Delivery With Scale

Walmart has made the leap to launch a prescription home delivery service after collecting feedback from customers who say they want the service, according to a press release. The company already offers home delivery of its store products and groceries, so prescription drugs are its next logical offering. The service is now live in Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. In January 2025, Walmart expects to have the drug delivery service available …

Vibrio Infections Rise Along With Florida Floodwaters

In recent weeks, Florida has experienced a spike in Vibrio vulnificus bacterial infection cases since the widespread flooding and heavy rains in the aftermath of 2 major hurricanes, as reported by the state’s health department. This year, there have already been 74 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections, similar to the number cases reported in 2022, when Hurricane Ian and other major storms hit the state. The latest data also shows 13 deaths attributed to Vibrio …

One Medical Partners With Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic has created a partnership with Amazon’s One Medical to bring new primary care clinics to northeast Ohio. The first clinic will open in 2025 with plans for future expansion, according to a press release. One Medical has membership-based services with a targeted focus on employer groups, now covering employee populations for about 10,000 employers. It provides same-day appointments and virtual care to members with a $199 annual fee (or $99 for Amazon Prime …

FDA Allows IV Fluid Imports to Quell Supply Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized temporary importation of 23 different IV and peritoneal dialysis fluids from 5 Baxter production facilities around the world to address the shortage of these products in the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which severely damaged a key Baxter plant in North Carolina 3 weeks ago. The company says the plant will restart production within weeks, and the projected 18,000 tons of imported product deliveries should …

ED Boarding Costs Hospitals Twice as Much as Inpatient Care

Emergency department (ED) boarding has negative financial implications, according to a study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Researchers considered observational data for acute stroke patients admitted between January and February 2022 and found that the daily cost of ED boarding was nearly twice that of daily inpatient costs, even before considering the opportunity cost of keeping an ED bed occupied. For example, the total daily cost per patient with acute stroke who experienced ED …

Retail Health Clinics Aren’t Dead Yet

As more retailers lose their enthusiasm for primary care and urgent care services, traditional provider organizations still are in no position to ignore the market share that retailers may potentially gain. Kaufman Hall’s recent newsletter notes: “If these retailers want to find success in primary care, partnering with traditional providers could be a beneficial opportunity for all parties.” With retail clinics as a convenient front door, health systems and payers with provider assets could leverage …