Practice Management
Effective January 1, 2026, the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services mandated a critical coding change for urgent care: Visually read COVID-19/flu combination tests must now be billed under the single code CPT 87812. This replaces the previous standard of unbundling the tests into 2 separate codes (CPT 87811 and CPT 87804) and was intended to be revenue-neutral. However, a national analysis of January 2026 data by Urgent Care Consultants exclusively for JUCM reveals a …
Read More
New analysis from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) found that urgent care utilization is increasing, reducing demand that might otherwise fall to emergency departments (EDs). From 2018 to 2022, urgent care utilization among people with employer-sponsored insurance increased 34.5% over the 5-year period from 90 visits per 1,000 people in 2018 to 156 visits per 1,000 in 2022. At the same time, ED visit rates declined by 2.5% from 176 visits per 1,000 people …
Read More
While a study in JAMA Network Open last week found urgent care visits among traditional Medicare patients doubled between 2012 and 2019, at the same time, researchers also found the percentage of Medicare patients managed by advanced practice providers (APPs) increased from 21.0% in 2012 to 50.8% in 2019. According to the authors, visits seen by APPs showed a 497% relative increase in the study period, from 9.5 visits per 1,000 (95% confidence interval [CI], …
Read More
A 64-year-old female presents to urgent care complaining of right thumb pain. The patient states she removed a wooden splinter from her thumb herself about 2 weeks prior, she denies any other trauma or systemic symptoms. The patient has a history of Type II diabetes and her last A1C 2 months prior was 9.3. Physical examination reveals the patient is afebrile with normal vital signs. There is a small, scabbed wound on the palmar surface …
Read More
Urgent Message: While Bell palsy is the most common diagnosis for patients with unilateral facial weakness/paralysis, it is important for urgent care clinicians to be able to quickly differentiate it from other more serious diagnoses. Keywords: facial palsy; stroke mimic; Bell palsy; central facial weakness; peripheral facial palsy; urgent care evaluation Luke Wisniewski, OMS3; Finley Kocher, OMS3; Muhammad Akhtar, MD Abstract Introduction: Bell palsy is the most common diagnosis for patients with unilateral facial weakness/paralysis …
Read More
Urgent Message: While most pediatric musculoskeletal complaints are usually benign and self-limited, the urgent care clinician must consider more serious underlying causes of pain in the differential diagnosis. Keywords: pediatric osteomyelitis; atraumatic ankle pain; limping child; bone infection; ESR; CRP; MRI diagnosis Erin Loo, PA-C, MHA, FCUCM Abstract Introduction: Pediatric patients commonly present to urgent care (UC) with musculoskeletal complaints. However, a wide differential should be considered, including musculoskeletal injury, synovitis, autoimmune conditions, cellulitis, avascular …
Read More
Urgent Message: Pediatric urgent care providers commonly experience pressure to satisfy parental expectations, which may alter clinical decision making, increase stress levels, and/or impart barriers to administering quality care. Keywords: parental pressure; antibiotic prescribing; shared decision-making; pediatric urgent care; patient satisfaction; clinical decision-making Daniel Moscato, MS, PA-C; Sara Winter, MS, PA-C Abstract Background: Patient-centered care focuses on strengthening patient participation in their own healthcare. Although advantages to such care exist, intended shared decision making between …
Read More
Urgent Message: The prediction model developed for this study suggests that point-of-care ultrasound implementation could have both clinical utility and fiscal viability in an average urgent care center. Future work should validate the prediction model in a real-world urgent care setting. Key Words: point-of-care ultrasound; POCUS utilization; urgent care ultrasound; return on investment; financial modeling; implementation planning John Weissert; Joshua Russell, MD, MSc, ELS, FCUCM, FACEP; Tatiana Havryliuk, MD Abstract Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use …
Read More
Urgent Message: Invest in artificial intelligence upskilling across your organization by dedicating resource time and funding for educational activities. It’s a critical strategy for urgent care operators to improve staff retention and operational readiness. Keywords: clinician upskilling; AI literacy; workflow adoption; clinical documentation; decision support; change management Burnout remains a serious consideration across healthcare, and urgent care is no exception. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we deliver and manage care. …
Read More
Urgent Message: The ultimate goal of ambient AI is to reclaim time for patient care by offloading burdensome administrative processes. Building trust is the first of several success factors in this revolution. Keywords: ambient AI; medical scribe; clinical documentation; EHR workflow; implementation barriers; change management Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Urgent care providers face immense demands: high patient volumes, tight schedules, and the ongoing expectation to deliver exceptional care. Yet amid these pressures, documentation continues …
Read More