Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Why Patients Self-Medicate With Leftover Antibiotics

Researchers surveyed adult patients in the waiting rooms of 6 public, safety-net primary care clinics and 2 private emergency departments in Texas and found that more than half of the respondents said they would use leftover antibiotics if they were feeling sick. Among the 546 volunteering patients surveyed, the most common situations that would inspire patients to use non-prescription antibiotics were having access to leftover antibiotics (50.4%), experiencing symptom improvement with prior use of antibiotics …

Liraglutide May Help Kids Under 12 Lose Weight

Liraglutide, the long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug, was approved for weight loss in among pediatric patients aged 12 and older who are obese. Recently, manufacturer Novo Nordisk found in a sponsored study that children between the ages of 6 and 12—a younger population—were able to reduce their body mass index by 7.4% in a 56-week trial using daily liraglutide injections, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial of 92 children met …

Northwell Health-GoHealth Earns Autism Friendly Designation

For patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a trip to a healthcare provider can cause distress. Many with ASD are particularly sensitive to light, sound, textures, and touches. Some have advocates, loved ones, or parents who assist with communication. Yet, few urgent care providers have the insight or the resources to improve the experience of clinic visits for those with ASD. Three Northwell Health-GoHealth pediatric centers in New York recently partnered with the national organization …

New Cannabis Institute Aims to Study Pros and Cons of Marijuana Use

The Cannabis Research Institute recently set up a research lab at the Illinois Medical Center in Chicago to evaluate the potential harms and benefits of marijuana. Researchers will study recreational and medical uses as well as plant cultivation. Efforts are supported by a 3-year, $7 million grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services with anticipation of applying for additional research grants from other governmental and nonprofit organizations. Even so, it can take years to …

ED and UC Main Source of Care For Many Americans

The Aflac Wellness Matters Survey generally reports on routine medical check-ups and cancer screenings, barriers for patients in obtaining screenings, and influences that prompt patients to seek out check-ups and screenings. The recent 2024 report also provides a small snapshot of the urgent care patient population. As cited in the survey with just over 700 employed adults ages 18-65 responding, the emergency department and urgent care centers are the main source of healthcare for many …

Simple Saline Drops Might Help Kids’ Colds

New research suggests that saline nasal drops can reduce the length of the common cold in children by 2 days, according to a press release from the European Respiratory Society. The trial included 407 children up to 6 years old who were either given hypertonic saline nasal drops or usual care when they developed a cold. Parents were instructed to apply 3 saline drops per nostril, a minimum of 4 times per day, until the …

Compact Closer to Launching License Portability for Physician Assistants

Ohio became the latest state to embrace the PA Licensure Compact, a multistate portability agreement that allows physician assistants (PAs) to practice in any of the participating states without the need for an additional license. The compact now includes 13 states, which means an activation threshold has now been reached, according to the compact commission’s website. The entity can begin work to operationalize the compact with data systems and onboarding, which could take another year …

RSV Vaccine Proves Its Worth Against Hospitalization Risk

Older adults who receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine are 75% less likely to be hospitalized from RSV compared to those who are not vaccinated, according to a research letter in JAMA. By analyzing electronic medical record data from October 2023 to March 2024 for adults aged 60 years and older who were hospitalized with an acute respiratory illness, researchers selected a control group of 2,611 patients—who tested negative for RSV, COVID-19, and influenza—and …

AAPA Wants a Word With AMA To Clear The Air On Workforce Shortages

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) in July sent a letter to the American Medical Association (AMA) requesting a meeting between the 2 organizations to talk through what AAPA believes is AMA’s “disparaging rhetoric” about the physician associate (PA) profession. The meeting never happened, and according to a follow-up letter, AAPA says, “the continued silence from the AMA raises concerns about your commitment to collaboration and finding solutions to strengthen America’s health care workforce …

Forecasts Predict Which States Will Need More Doctors and NPs

By 2028, a nationwide shortage of 100,000 healthcare workers is expected, with certain states facing severe deficits, according to Mercer. The healthcare workforce is projected to grow to 18.6 million by 2028, a 1.5 million increase from 2023. Despite this growth, the anticipated shortfall of over 100,000 workers will further strain a healthcare system already struggling with access to care issues. Texas, California, and New York are expected to experience significant shortages of both physicians …