As a medical society of physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, The College of Urgent Care Medicine is deeply committed to combating healthcare misinformation. This commitment stems from our collective dedication to ensuring the health and well-being of our patients and communities. Healthcare misinformation, including the marketing and/or distribution or prescribing of medications not backed by research and evidence-based medicine, poses significant risks to public health.

Why We Must Act:

1. Patient Safety: Misinformation can lead to harmful health decisions, such as the use of unproven treatments, including medications, which may result in adverse effects or delay appropriate care.
2. Trust in Healthcare: The spread of false information undermines trust in healthcare professionals and institutions, making it harder for patients to seek and adhere to medical advice.
3. Public Health: Misinformation has led to vaccine hesitancy and rejection of public health measures supported by clinical research, exacerbating the spread of disease and leading to unnecessary and tragic consequences.
4. Ethical Responsibility: As healthcare providers, we have an ethical obligation to base our practices on sound scientific evidence and to advocate for treatments that are proven to be safe and effective.

Our Actions:

• Education: We will proactively educate our patients and the public about the dangers of misinformation and the importance of adhering to evidencebased medicine.
• Advocacy: We will advocate for policies that promote the dissemination of accurate health information and regulate the sale or prescribing of unproven medications.
• Collaboration: We will collaborate with community groups, media and other stakeholders to address misinformation and promote health literacy.

Together, we can build a healthier, more informed society. By combating healthcare misinformation, we protect our patients, uphold the integrity of Urgent Care medicine, as well as the clinicians who practice it and contribute to the overall health and well-being of the communities we serve.

1. HHS.gov
2. Oxford Academic
3. AMA Journal of Ethics
4. The Conversation