Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

When It’s More Than Just A Cough

Urgent message: Take vital signs and physical examination of the chest with the utmost importance when evaluating a patient with a cough. The common complaint of “cough” in the urgent care setting can be a symptom of a life-threatening pathology. Frank Schaller, DNP, APRN, FNP-C and Lauren Dunn, MSN, APRN, FNP-C INTRODUCTION Cough is a common complaint across healthcare settings including the emergency department (ED), urgent care, and primary care arenas—especially during influenza season.1 Cough …

Employer COVID-19 Testing Needs are Not Fully Met; Rapid Testing is an Unprecedented Opportunity for Urgent Care

Urgent message: The critical role of rapid COVID-19 testing in keeping Americans working presents a unique, time-limited opportunity for urgent care centers to develop relationships with local employers. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care Online news magazine Vox recently reported data from the Urgent Care Association that urgent care centers were performing 725,000 tests per week as of late October, which amounted to 10% of the nation’s total …

The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Making Burnout Worse for Physicians Already in Crisis

Urgent message: For several years, JUCM has reported on the national crisis of “provider burnout.” New data related to the COVID-19 pandemic indicate a need to revisit the topic. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Practice Management Editor of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. No part of the world has been left untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, many urgent care centers are in crisis …

The Role of Aseptic Technique During Repair of Traumatic Lacerations in the Urgent Care Center

Urgent message: The goal for urgent care clinicians tasked with treating patients presenting with traumatic lacerations is rapid and cosmetic resolution of the injury. Using aseptic technique while repairing traumatic lacerations will minimize the risks of infections. INTRODUCTION Myriad advances in wound repair have emerged since the pioneer of antiseptic medicine, British surgeon Joseph Lister, transformed the field of surgery by incorporating his research in bacteriology and wound infections to improve patient outcomes. Today large …

Best Practices for LGBTQ-Friendly Care in Urgent Care

Urgent message: LGBTQ individuals are subject to implicit and explicit biases in our society, ranging from antagonistic legislation and microaggressions to overt harassment. This can inhibit willingness to seek medical care—and, subsequently, lead to worse health outcomes. Understanding how word choice and other subtle cues communicate competency in working with LGBTQ patients can help us engender trust. Benjamin Silverberg, MD, MSc, FAAFP, FCUCM INTRODUCTION The goals for treating LGBTQ patients (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and …

How to Protect Your Urgent Care’s Reputation from Online Trolls and Social Media Terrorists

Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Practice Management Editor of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Urgent message: The anonymity of social media enables disgruntled patients, former employees, and/or community members to take out vengeance on an urgent care center through negative reviews and postings, typically out-of-proportion to the actual “offense.” Because of the importance of social media as an advertising and marketing channel, urgent care …

Update: The Civil Rights Act Applies to LGBTQ Employees; What Does This Mean for Urgent Care Centers?

Urgent message: The United States Supreme Court ruled recently that LGBTQ discrimination is prohibited under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Urgent care centers may cultivate a tolerant and diverse work environment while protecting themselves against claims of discrimination by adopting and consistently following policies related to hiring, evaluation, promotion, benefits, etc. for all employees. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Practice Management Editor of The Journal …

What Are the Reporting Obligations of Urgent Care Centers for COVID-19 Patients?

Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Practice Management Editor for The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Urgent message: Many patients are deterred from getting a COVID-19 or antibody test because they fear being added to a government “surveillance list” or harassment (tracing) of their “contacts.” While urgent care centers or their third-party labs are required to report individual test results, they can assure patients that datasets …

The Psychology of Why Your Patients Love You or Hate You

Urgent message: Often, it seems that patients and families either love you or hate you. There’s a science to why they feel those extremes, though—and understanding it can increase your chance of engendering patient loyalty and positive reviews. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Practice Management Editor of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. As a measurement of patient satisfaction, operations execution, and future business success, …

What the Families First Coronavirus Act Means for Urgent Care Operators and Employees

Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Senior Editor, Practice Management of The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Urgent message: The Families First Coronavirus Act creates an obligation for small- and medium-sized businesses to pay employees who take time off work for specified reasons caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Affected employers must be prepared to implement the Act’s leave programs on or before April 2, 2020. Urgent …