What are the most common urgent care visit types?

Top 20 Urgent Care Sick Visit Types

The most common urgent care visit types are respiratory infections, musculoskeletal injuries, skin conditions, gastrointestinal complaints, and urinary tract infections, which together account for approximately 70-80% of all urgent care visits.

Respiratory Conditions

1. Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs)/Common Cold

   • Characterized by nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, cough
   • Predominantly viral in etiology
   • Antibiotics generally inappropriate 1

2. Acute Bronchitis

   • Characterized by cough with or without sputum production
   • Predominantly viral, yet often inappropriately treated with antibiotics
   • Studies show antibiotic prescribing rates have decreased from 57% to 44% for conditions where antibiotics are inappropriate 2

3. Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis

   • Requires appropriate testing (rapid strep) to determine bacterial vs. viral etiology
   • Antibiotic-appropriate only for confirmed bacterial infections 1

4. Sinusitis

   • Acute vs. chronic presentation determines management
   • Antibiotic-appropriate based on specific diagnostic criteria 1

5. Asthma Exacerbations

   • Severity ranges from mild to life-threatening
   • Management includes bronchodilators, systemic corticosteroids
   • Severe cases may require emergency department referral 3

Musculoskeletal Conditions

1. Sprains and Strains

   • Particularly ankle, knee, and wrist injuries
   • Management includes RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)

2. Back Pain

   • Acute mechanical back pain is a common presentation
   • Requires assessment for red flags indicating serious pathology

3. Minor Fractures

   • Facilities with X-ray capabilities can diagnose and initially manage
   • Often requires orthopedic follow-up

Skin Conditions

1. Skin Infections (Cellulitis/Abscesses)

   • Requires assessment for systemic involvement
   • May require incision and drainage for abscesses

2. Rashes

   • Includes contact dermatitis, allergic reactions, and viral exanthems
   • Management depends on etiology

3. Minor Burns and Wounds

   • Assessment of depth, size, and location guides management
   • Includes wound cleaning, dressing, and tetanus prophylaxis as needed

Gastrointestinal Conditions

1. Gastroenteritis

   • Viral etiology most common
   • Management focuses on hydration and symptom control

2. Abdominal Pain

   • Requires assessment to rule out serious conditions
   • Common diagnoses include gastritis, constipation, and IBS

Genitourinary Conditions

1. Urinary Tract Infections

   • More common in women
   • Typically managed with empiric antibiotics based on local resistance patterns

2. STI Screening and Treatment

   • Includes testing and empiric treatment based on exposure history and symptoms

Eye Conditions

1. Conjunctivitis
   • Viral vs. bacterial differentiation guides management
   • Bacterial conjunctivitis may warrant topical antibiotics

Ear Conditions

1. Otitis Media/Externa
   • Common in pediatric populations
   • Appropriate antibiotic use based on diagnostic criteria

Systemic Conditions

1. Influenza-like Illness

   • Seasonal patterns
   • Testing and antiviral treatment in appropriate time windows

2. Allergic Reactions

   • Range from mild to severe (anaphylaxis)
   • Management based on severity

3. Hypertensive Urgency

   • Elevated blood pressure without end-organ damage
   • Requires assessment and appropriate referral

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns in Urgent Care

Studies show that antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in urgent care settings remains problematically high at approximately 61% of visits 1. While there has been improvement in pediatric prescribing practices, adult ARTI patients continue to receive inappropriate antibiotics at high rates 1.

Provider characteristics appear to influence prescribing patterns more than patient characteristics:

• Physicians are more likely than advanced practice practitioners to prescribe antibiotics (OR 1.31) 4
• Provider seniority correlates with increased antibiotic prescribing (OR 1.03 per year) 4
• Significant variation exists between providers, with top quartile prescribers averaging 54.3% antibiotic prescription rates versus 21.7% in the bottom quartile 4

Virtual vs. In-Person Urgent Care

Recent evidence suggests similar antibiotic prescribing patterns between virtual and in-person urgent care for ARTIs 5. Providing direct access to evidence-based guidelines and electronic health records during virtual visits may support appropriate diagnosis and management 5.

Effective Interventions

Combining provider education on appropriate antibiotic use with patient education interventions has shown success in reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in urgent care settings. One study demonstrated reduction in antibiotic prescriptions for acute bronchitis from 58% to 24-30% after implementation of such interventions 6.