Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Urgent Care Recognition and Management of Proximal Humerus Fractures

Urgent Message: Proximal humerus fractures most commonly occur in older patients after a fall and can be sentinel events that offer an opportunity to identify undiagnosed medical conditions or unsafe home environments. Lauren Schuermann, MS4; Shivani Kothari, MS4; W. Bradley Strauch, MD Citation: Schuermann L, Kothari S, Strauch B. Urgent Care Recognition and Management of Proximal Humerus Fractures. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 19(2): 13-19 Questions for the Clinician at the Bedside Clinical Scenario A …

Recognition and Management of Achenbach Syndrome (Paroxysmal Finger Hematoma)

Urgent Message: By understanding the symptoms of paroxysmal finger hematoma, clinicians can reduce patient anxiety and decrease unnecessary testing, as the condition is generally mild and has a favorable prognosis. Citation: Sanz Martinez E, Kranichfeld WH, Ceballos Y. Achenbach Syndrome: Diagnosis of Paroxysmal Finger Hematoma. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 19(1): 25-29 Introduction Paroxysmal finger hematoma (PFH), also known as Achenbach syndrome, is a vascular disorder of unknown etiology characterized by subcutaneous bleeding in the …

Urgent Care Evaluation and Management Of Proximal 5th Metatarsal Fractures

Urgent Message: It’s important to recognize the difference between a proximal 5th metatarsal fracture of the tuberosity alone and a proximal metaphyseal fracture, commonly referred to as a “Jones fracture.” A Jones fracture requires full immobilization with urgent surgical referral. Michael B. Weinstock, MD; Kelly Moore, BS Citation: Weinstock M, Moore K. Urgent Care Evaluation and Management Of Proximal 5th Metatarsal Fractures. J Urgent Care Med. 2024 18(7):25-28 Editors’ Note: While the images presented here …

Isolated Sternal Fractures After Trampoline Falls in Children: A Case Series

Urgent Message: Isolated sternal fractures in children can occur from relatively minor trauma, such as a trampoline fall, and patients can often be managed conservatively. NaShayla Davis, MD; Olabisi Pearse, MD; Swati Mahajan, MD; Marie-Helene Gagnon, MD; Rebecca Burger, MD Citation: Davis N, Pearse O, Mahajan S, Gagnon MH, Burger R. Isolated Sternal Fractures After Trampoline Falls in Children: A Case Series. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(6): 13-16 Key Words: Trampoline, Fall, Fracture, Injury, …

An Atypical Cause of Fever and Confusion: A Case Report of Delayed Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis

Francesca Cocchiarale, DO; Alexa Bailey, MS-3; Michael Weinstock, MD Urgent Message: Pulmonary embolism can be frequently missed as a diagnosis because it can present with a variety of signs and symptoms. Understanding clinical decision rules and myriad presentations can help urgent care providers determine when patients benefit from immediate referral to an emergency department. Citation: Cocchiarale F, Bailey A, Weinstock M. An Atypical Cause of Fever and Confusion: A Case Report of Delayed Pulmonary Embolism …

Charting with Purpose: Precision Strategies for Accurate Coding and Malpractice Defense

Jeff Willis, MD Urgent Message: A well-told story explaining your thought process during a patient encounter will contain all the elements required for accurate coding. Attorneys are less likely to question care when a logical and complete story is clearly documented. Citation: Willis J. Charting with Purpose: Precision Strategies for Accurate Coding and Malpractice Defense. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(4) 13-16. As a medical legal consultant, I have learned medical malpractice claims are an …

Back Pain, an Urgent Care Visit—and a Devastating Outcome

Click Here to download the PDF Urgent message: By the time an adverse outcome occurs in the urgent care center, it’s too late to go back and ensure the documentation reflects the care the patient received. Lyndsie Pfeifer, DO; Marta Fratczak, Kinkela Harkins, and Michael Weinstock, MD Citation: Pfeifer L, Fratczak M, Harkins K, Weinstock M. Back pain, an urgent care visit—and a devastating outcome. J Urgent Care Med. 2023;17(8):13-17. Key words: back pain, documentation …

An Unusual Case of Third and Fourth Metacarpophalangeal Joint Dislocations Following a Fall

Urgent message: Metacarpophalangeal dislocations involving digits other than the thumb or index finger may be somewhat atypical, but are known to occur as a result of a fall on an outstretched hand—a common precedent to an urgent care visit. Familiarity with management of such injuries precludes the need to refer the patient. Leonard A. Powell, DO, MS, FACOFP, CMD and Chad E. Richmond, DO ABSTRACT Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint dislocations typically occur in a dorsal fashion …

What Does a Hybrid Workforce Look Like for Urgent Care?

Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Practice Management Editor of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine and is President of Experity Networks. Urgent message: As COVID-19 has enabled many non-patient-facing employees to work from home, now urgent care operators must grapple with returning some of those employees to the office or otherwise managing a “hybrid” workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed every facet of daily life. Although its impact on the world of medicine is …