September 12, 2024
The Urgent Care College of Physicians (UCCOP) submitted its application to the Specialty and Service Society (SSS) of the American Medical Association (AMA) last week. It is a key strategic initiative to amplify the voice of Urgent Care clinicians within the AMA. As more clinicians choose Urgent Care medicine as a career, it is important to acknowledge the uniqueness and value of the services we provide. Urgent Care medicine has a tremendous impact on the health of our communities and access to cost effective medicine.
The application is simply the first step toward specialty recognition. We await the decision of the SSS which should be forthcoming in November. Entrance into the SSS requires a percentage of our physicians be active members of the AMA. Thank you to those physicians who recently signed up to assist us with this important initiative. It is time to be recognized.
As a member of the Concussion Awareness Now (CAN) Steering Committee, UCA is excited to announce the launch of the new resource hub on the CAN website for healthcare professionals, focused on aggregating high-quality resources from trusted sources and CAN coalition members.
We plan to highlight resources shared by CAN coalition members and hope you will help us in promoting this important resource, aimed at being a “friendly front door” for concussion-related education, tools and resources for healthcare providers and allied professionals.
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is still adding new resources, so if you have a resource you’d like to include, please contact Gina Peattie at gpeattie@biausa.org.
Hippo’s OUD (opioid use disorder) Decoded covers everything you need to satisfy the new eight-hour DEA training requirement. This engaging audio course offers practical guidance on managing pain and treating opioid and substance use disorders, all in an easy-to-digest format. Stay compliant and stay focused on patient care with Hippo.
NERUCA – North East Regional Urgent Care Association Conference
September 22 – 24, 2024, Mashantucket, CT
SERUCA – Southeast Regional Urgent Care Association Conference
October 24 – 26, 2024, Atlanta, GA
CalUCA – California Urgent Care Association Western Regional Urgent Care Conference
November 6-8, 2024, Irvine, CA
With the addition of three new Fellows (DeVon Dahlke M.P.A.S., PA-C, FCUM; Ahmed Elbedewy, MD, MBA, CPE, DNBPAS, CHCQM, FAAP, FCUCM; and Stephanie Mercer, PA-C, FCUCM), Tracey Davidoff, MD, FCUCM, Chair of the CUCM Fellowship Committee, stated, “We are excited to have two highly distinguished physician assistants earn their FCUCM status as well as a physician who already has earned so many distinctions elect to pursue becoming a Fellow. Congratulations to all!”
Becoming a Fellow is open to physicians and APCs in Urgent Care medicine. Click here to learn more about becoming a Fellow or to view the growing list of your colleagues who have achieved the status.
DeVon Dahlke M.P.A.S., PA-C, FCUM is an Urgent Care clinician, Provider Manager and Clinical Operations Manager for Sterling Urgent Care in Logan, UT. He is an active clinician providing Urgent Care services, occupational health and DOT physicals, while also serving as a managing partner of Sterling Provider Group. As the Clinical Operations Manager, he oversees clinical practice and processes for the multi-site, multi-state Sterling Clinics organization. DeVon received his Bachelor of Science degree and his master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Idaho State University.
Ahmed Elbedewy, MD, MBA, CPE, DNBPAS, CHCQM, FAAP, FCUCM is the newest physician to achieve the Fellow in the College of Urgent Care Medicine distinction. He has 10-plus years of experience as a pediatrician and has also attained an MBA in health informatics. Originally medically trained at Cairo University, Egypt, Dr. Elbedewy completed his residency training at Nassau University Medical Center in NY. He also obtained a fellowship in Pediatric Urgent Care Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians and is a Certified Physician Executive. Dr. Elbedewy has served in various roles which include Executive Medical Leader, Medical Director and Physician Reviewer. Tracey Davidoff, MD, FCUCM, Chair of the CUCM Fellowship Committee, stated, “We are excited to have someone who already has earned so many distinctions also elect to pursue becoming a Fellow in the College of Urgent Care Medicine.”
Stephanie Mercer, PA-C, FCUCM is a PA with GoHealth Urgent Care in New York state and serves as GoHealth’s National Chair of Coding and Documentation. As such, Stephanie is involved in education on coding and documentation related issues as well as making changes to the EHR templates to address the evolving state of documentation and coding. She received her Bachelor of Science degree and her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Missed the live webinar on September 12? Not a problem. Download the training on Monday, September 16, to hear from Debbie Harrell, MSN, RN as she explores the critical aspects of burn care management. This training will cover the prevalence and types of burns from thermal injuries to chemical burns and provide essential knowledge on treatment protocols. Learn about the nuances of accidental vs. non-accidental scald burns, the role of smoke detectors in reducing burn severity and the latest advancements in burn treatment, including autografts and dressing applications. Whether you’re dealing with minor burns or complex cases, this session will equip you with the skills to provide effective and compassionate care.
The Urgent and Convenient Care Associations have partnered with DKBmed to offer you this educational activity. Today’s landscape of healthcare delivery reveals a shift towards on-demand care, with more patients seeking care in Urgent Care and convenient care settings. Many individuals do not have a regular source of health care, and they rely on this accessible form of healthcare. Unfortunately, people who do not have a regular source of healthcare may miss out on routine screenings and preventive health interventions. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is our primary tool against HIV, but it remains underutilized among those most susceptible to HIV.
This dynamic infographic empowers Urgent Care and convenient care clinicians to stand on the frontlines of prevention. Start the activity to learn how PrEP can prevent HIV, safeguard the health of our communities, and create a healthier, more equitable future.