Practice Management
Michael Weinstock, MD; Gabby Gostigian, MD; and Matthew Delaney, MD Urgent message: Failure to consider subtleties and the context in which a patient presents can lead to insufficient differential diagnoses and missed diagnoses that leave the patient at risk for poor outcomes and the provider at risk for litigation. INTRODUCTION Cellulitis from a wound infection in the urgent care is common, and so is our management: wound care and antibiotics. But consider a scenario in …
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Urgent message: Neck and back pain are common issues preceding surgical intervention. Given differences in care plans, outcomes, cost, and length of stay associated with spinal surgeries, the option of referring urgent care patients to either neurosurgeons or orthopedic spine surgeons requires careful consideration. Rami Musleh, PA-C; Angela Blagojevski, MPAS, PA-C; Randy Brush, MS, PA-C; and Jessica Bruskoski, MS, PA-C INTRODUCTION Neck and back pain are two of the most common reasons for people to …
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Urgent message: Use of a finger tourniquet can ensure a bloodless field when performing laceration repair to fingers and toes, thereby reducing risk for damage to underlying vital structures and increasing the prospects for positive outcomes. Patrick O’Malley, MD After repairing scores of finger lacerations over the years, I have learned there are a few essential supplies required for these cases; the most critical among them, however, is the finger tourniquet. This simple device makes …
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Urgent message: Immobilization following acute knee injury occurs more commonly than the evidence might dictate in urgent care and other acute care settings. Evaluation of data in existing literature suggest that this common practice carries risk for adverse effects when not warranted. Matthew Bruce Baird, MD, CAQ-SM; Mallory Shasteen, MD, CAQ-SM; and Vicki Nelson, MD, CAQ-SM. Citation: Baird MB, Shasteen M, Nelson V. Knee immobilization for acute knee injuries: a review. J Urgent Care Med. …
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Urgent message: Typical drooling is no cause for alarm in infants and toddlers. However, excessive drooling accompanied by fever or other various red flags could be signs of more serious concerns such as retropharyngeal abscess, Ludwig angina, or upper airway obstruction. Recognition should trigger a thorough evaluation by the urgent care provider. Katherine P. Dureau, MD CASE A 24-month-old previously full-term and vaccinated male presents to an urgent care center with 24 hours of fever …
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