Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

New 5-in-1 Meningococcal Vaccine Adds to Provider Options

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a meningococcal ABCWY vaccine for use in individuals aged 10 to 25 years, according to a press release from manufacturer GSK. The vaccine targets 5 groups of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (A,B,C,W, and Y), which represent the most invasive meningococcal disease cases globally. The vaccine combines antigenic components of the meningococcal group B vaccine and meningococcal groups A, C, Y, and W-135 oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM197 conjugate vaccine. Trial …

Urgent Care Rises to Improve Rural Access to Care

Longstanding financial and logistical challenges seem to be intensifying for rural-area providers, as evidenced by new data from consulting firm Chartis, which highlights that 46% of rural hospitals currently have negative operating margins and many of those are in danger of closing. In the past year, 18 rural hospitals closed or transitioned to provide only outpatient care. Of the 48 states that are home to rural hospitals, 38 have at least one hospital that is …

Clinical Review of Current Best Practices for Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment in the Urgent Care Setting

Urgent Message: Patients may present with needs surrounding tuberculosis (TB) screening, testing, and treatment to urgent care centers. There is considerable nuance in the approach to these scenarios with consequences for both patient and public health. Urgent care centers should develop clear guidelines for ensuring clinicians select the appropriate TB test for each patient and interpret the results accurately. Erin Loo, PA-C; Lindsey E. Fish, MD Citation: Loo E, Fish LE. Clinical Review of Current …

Looking Beyond the Mouth–A Rare Case of Acute Glaucoma Presenting with Dental Pain: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Acute angle closure glaucoma can present with a variety of types of head and facial pain. Rapid identification of concern for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) or confirmation of elevated IOP by tonometry is critical for preserving vision. Mackenzie Brown, MD; Joshua W. Russell, MD, MSc, ELS, FCUCM, FACEP; Alexander Branson, MD Citation: Brown M, Russell JW, Branson A. Looking Beyond the Mouth–A Rare Case of Acute Glaucoma Presenting with Dental Pain: A Case …

16-Year-Old With Hip Pain

A 16-year-old female presents to urgent care with her mother after soccer practice at school. She says she felt a “pop” in her left hip, immediately followed by posterior hip pain. Walking makes it worse, but resting makes the pain better. An x-ray is ordered. Review the image and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the following page.

74-Year-Old With Lightheadedness

A 74-year-old woman presents to urgent care with epistaxis, controlled on arrival. She is also complaining of lightheadedness and fatigue that’s been going on for the past 2 weeks. View the ECG captured above and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

Urgent Care Assessment and Management of Shoulder Dislocations

Urgent Message: The vast majority of shoulder dislocations are anterior, occurring when stress is applied to an externally rotated and abducted shoulder. In most cases, immediate reduction is indicated, and urgent care clinicians should be familiar with situations that call for emergency department referral. Jennifer Hicks, DO; Matthew B. Baird, MD Citation: Hicks J, Baird MB. Urgent Care Assessment and Management of Shoulder Dislocations. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(5):9-15 Questions for the Clinician at …

The Legality of Docking the Pay of Urgent Care Employees

Urgent Message: While legal under circumstances outlined by federal and state law, docking employee pay for violating an employer’s policies may be viewed as demoralizing and unethical versus punitive actions like warnings or suspension. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Citation: Ayers AA. The Legality of Docking the Pay of Urgent Care Employees. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(5):41-43 Workers frequently make mistakes on the job. Some are mere oversights that are quickly corrected, while others …

Starting an Urgent Care in a New Era

Urgent Message: Today, there are very few market opportunities for urgent care that present no competition, so operators must assess not just the existence of local competition but also the nuanced qualities of each competitor. Heather Real Citation: Real H. Starting an Urgent Care in a New Era. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(5)37-39 The urgent care industry has come a long way over the last several decades. With 2024 being the first year where …

Advocate Pulls Urgent Care Centers Out of Walgreens Stores

Advocate Health Care will close all 47 of its Illinois urgent care centers that operate inside Walgreens retail pharmacy stores as well as several in Wisconsin, according to a statement from Advocate Health Care as reported by NBC. Company leaders made the decision to instead focus on virtual care and urgent care in other community locations. The clinics will close next week. Advocate—the largest health system in Illinois and the 3rd largest nonprofit system in …

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