Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

No Matter What You Call Them, PAs Are Growing in Number

The term “physician associate” seems to have cyclical comebacks, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. The American Academy of Physician Assistants changed its name in 2021 to the American Academy of Physician Associates and today simultaneously uses the acronym “PA” with both physician associate and physician assistant titles. However, the academy has changed its name before, reflecting membership and industry roles. The majority of urgent care visits—some 85%, according to Experity data—are delivered by either PAs …

Telemedicine Leads to Referrals

A recent JAMA Network Open Viewpoint article explored the frustrations resulting from the expiration of temporary regulatory changes that were implemented by almost all states to allow physicians to provide telehealth across state lines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the end of the public health emergency, many licensing waivers ended as well. Some argue that licensure should remain under control of the state while others advocate for a single federal license or full …

No Deal For WellNow and Excellus

WellNow urgent care and health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield were not able to reach an agreement on network status prior to the ultimate expiration of the 2023 contract year, according to a news report on Syracuse.com. Both companies say they’ve engaged in good-faith discussions in an attempt to continue the contract for 2024, and Excellus reportedly offered an increase in reimbursement during negotiations. WellNow is the sole storefront provider of urgent care in central New …

Sterling Opens New Locations in Idaho, Set to Enter New Markets

Sterling Urgent Care recently cut ribbons on 4 new locations in Boise, Idaho, with an additional location set to open its doors in the state in spring of 2024, according to a press release. The center openings will bring the total number of Sterling rooftops to 19 locations across Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah, with a new entry into Montana planned for the future. The urgent care operator has a unique model in that it’s owned …

State Laws Guarantee PTO for Employees In 2024

Starting January 1, 2024, employers in several states are implementing new laws regarding time off for employees. For example, in Minnesota, employers must provide paid leave under the earned sick and safe time law. Those working at least 80 hours in a year within the state—including part-time employees—are eligible for the benefit. An employee now earns a guaranteed 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 48 …

Study Shows Doxy PEP Did Not Reduce STIs

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine represents the first clinical trial to test whether doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) would prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among cisgender women. Researchers considered 224 subjects assigned to a doxycycline-PEP group and 225 to a standard-care group over 12 months. A total of 109 incident STIs occurred: 50 in the doxycycline-PEP group and 59 in the standard-care group. Chlamydia accounted for 85 of the STIs (78%) with 35 …

The Challenges of Billing Out-of-Network

Phyllis Dobberstein, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CEMC, CCC One of the biggest challenges for an urgent care is billing insurance as a non-participating provider. When opening a new practice or adding a clinic, completed credentialing and contracting is essential and has a direct impact on the overall success for a new business. Opening without effective dates may result in cash flow shortages due to the fact that most health plans will not offer retroactive effective dates. Additionally, …

Recharge Your Batteries

“Driving Change” is our overarching convention theme that we build on each year. When you are busy Driving Change in healthcare delivery, there aren’t a lot of breaks. In just the normal day-to-day of Urgent Care, you are anticipating, meeting, and exceeding the needs of your patients. You are doing the same for your occupational medicine employer customers. You are doing the same for your colleagues. You are doing the same for your strategic partners. …

‘What Happens If We Do Nothing?’ Is Still the Right Question

Joshua Russell, MD, MSc, FACEP, FCUCM “It only hurts right here,” Rich told me, pointing to a tender spot on his ribs under near his arm pit. I palpated his chest wall and observed as he winced when I hit the spot. “I just need to make sure I’m okay to go back to work.” Rich was middle-aged and had a mustache with hints of grey. He was a large man, but his potbelly was …

35-Year-Old With Heel Pain After a Fall

A 35-year-old man presents to urgent care complaining of severe posterior heel pain after a fall. He works for a local roofing company and fell a few feet from a ladder, landing on a hard surface. View the images taken and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the following page.