October 8, 2026

Each year, National PA Week provides an opportunity to recognize the remarkable contributions Physician Associates (PAs) make to patient care across the healthcare industry. In Urgent Care, their impact is especially significant.

PAs are often among the first healthcare professionals patients encounter when seeking care for illnesses, injuries and unexpected health concerns. Their clinical expertise, adaptability and commitment to patient-centered care help ensure patients receive timely, high-quality treatment when they need it most.

Beyond direct patient care, many PAs serve as leaders, educators, mentors and advocates within the Urgent Care profession. Their contributions help shape clinical best practices, support workforce development and strengthen the future of healthcare delivery.

During National PA Week, UCA proudly celebrates the Physician Associates whose dedication, compassion and expertise make a lasting difference every day. Thank you for the care you provide, the lives you impact and your commitment to advancing the Urgent Care profession.

Behind every great Urgent Care center are team members who go the extra mile. UCA and Experity are proud to recognize those remarkable individuals through the Staff Excellence Award at this year’s Limelight Awards.

If someone on your team consistently demonstrates excellence in patient care, teamwork and service, now is the time to give them the recognition they deserve. The nomination deadline is October 15, 2026. Don’t miss the opportunity to shine a spotlight on an outstanding colleague. Submit your nomination today.

The UCA Convergence 2027 Call for Proposals is now open, and we invite clinicians, operators, executives, educators, researchers, innovators, advocates and industry partners to help create an engaging and impactful learning experience for our community.

We’re looking for practical, credible and engaging contributions that help attendees:

We’re seeking contributors who can share real-world lessons, actionable strategies and practical solutions that attendees can immediately apply.

Important Dates

Submit your proposal by November 15.

As vaccine hesitancy continues to influence pediatric healthcare, a recent study examined the attitudes of families seeking care in Urgent Care centers. Researchers found that concerns about vaccine safety, effectiveness and necessity remain common, underscoring the ongoing challenges clinicians face when discussing immunizations with parents and caregivers.

The findings highlight the important role Urgent Care clinicians can play in building trust, addressing misinformation and supporting informed decision-making. By understanding the factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy, clinicians can strengthen patient conversations and help improve confidence in recommended childhood vaccinations.

Ottehr is a revolutionary EHR for Urgent Care practices.

Our AI-enabled platform bundles all of the most important features – Ambient Scribe, AI-assisted charting/coding/billing, RCM support – into one low monthly fee on one platform.

Solutions.Vantage are sponsored content.

UCA’s Industry Perspectives series brings practical ideas, trends and insights from companies working alongside you in the Urgent Care space.

This issue spotlights bioMérieux’s video resource (60-min watch), Pathogen Surveillance Today: Why It Matters and Where We Need to Go (Episode 1), which explores how stronger surveillance, connected data sources and modernized reporting can help healthcare organizations improve situational awareness, identify emerging threats faster and make more informed operational and clinical decisions.

Industry Perspectives are sponsored content.

The College of Urgent Care Medicine is proud to welcome Lindsay Bishop, MSN, APRN, FNP, FCUCM, in our latest class of Fellows.

An experienced Nurse Practitioner and clinical leader, Lindsay has built an impressive career spanning Urgent Care, occupational medicine, clinical operations, quality improvement and clinician development. Throughout her career, she has successfully bridged frontline patient care with strategic leadership, helping organizations improve clinical performance, enhance quality and patient safety and strengthen clinician engagement and development.

Lindsay’s ability to connect organizational strategy with the realities of frontline care exemplifies the leadership, innovation and dedication recognized through Fellowship. We congratulate Lindsay Bishop, FCUCM, on this well-deserved achievement and welcome her as the newest Fellow of the College of Urgent Care Medicine

The College of Urgent Care Medicine is proud to welcome Christina Helsby Ray, MMSc, PA-C, FCUCM, in our latest class of Fellows.

Christina is an accomplished healthcare executive and clinical leader whose career has been dedicated to strengthening clinical operations, clinician development, quality improvement and patient care across the Urgent Care setting.

A collaborative and forward-thinking leader, Christina has played a key role in fostering strong partnerships between clinical teams, healthcare systems and operational leaders. Her dedication to clinical excellence, workforce development and innovation has helped shape the future of Urgent Care while maintaining a steadfast commitment to patient-centered care.

We congratulate Christina Helsby Ray, MMSc, PA-C, FCUCM, on this well-deserved achievement and look forward to her continued contributions to advancing Urgent Care medicine.

The College of Urgent Care Medicine is proud to welcome Colleen Marzilli, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, PHNA-BC, CNE, MedSurg-BC, CCM, FCUCM, in our latest class of Fellows.

Dr. Marzilli’s career reflects a remarkable dedication to healthcare leadership, nursing advocacy, academic excellence and patient care. An accomplished academic leader, Dr. Marzilli has served in faculty and program leadership roles, helping to develop innovative educational programs, support student success and advance evidence-based practice.

In addition to her academic and leadership accomplishments, Dr. Marzilli remains actively engaged in clinical practice, providing care across Urgent Care, primary care and emergency settings. Her commitment to quality improvement, clinician education, patient-centered care and professional advocacy has made a lasting impact on both the nursing profession and the communities she serves.

Through her leadership, scholarship, clinical excellence and dedication to developing future healthcare leaders, Dr. Marzilli exemplifies the values recognized through Fellowship. We congratulate Colleen Marzilli, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, PHNA-BC, CNE, MedSurg-BC, CCM, FCUCM, on this well-deserved achievement and celebrate the impact she continues to make across clinical practice, academia and healthcare leadership.

If you are interested in becoming a Fellow, use the link below.

When it comes to diagnostic testing, the right decision can have a significant impact on patient care, operational efficiency and your bottom line.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗯: 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 explores the real-world considerations behind building an effective testing strategy in Urgent Care. This on-demand course covers topics including CLIA-waived versus CLIA-moderate testing, common pitfalls, platform selection, reimbursement considerations, clinician education and more.

You’ll gain practical insights to help strengthen diagnostic decision-making and optimize testing in your center.

Explore this free resource and elevate your testing strategy

The College of Urgent Care Medicine (CUCM) and the Urgent Care College of Physicians (UCCOP) were proud to participate in this year’s Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care (RNZCUC) Bootcamp and Fellowship Ceremony — an event made even more meaningful as RNZCUC marked its 25th year of Urgent Care’s recognition as a specialty. The occasion underscored the growing international momentum behind Urgent Care as a distinct clinical field.

A highlight of the program was a panel discussion on the global perspective of Urgent Care, featuring CUCM/UCCOP’s immediate past president Dr. Cesar Jaramillo and past president Dr. Chris Chao, Journal of Urgent Care Medicine’s (JUCM) Editor-in-Chief and CUCM/UCCOP President Dr. Lindsey Fish, and the Urgent Care Association’s President Dr. Cassandra Donnelly, alongside guests representing other countries. The conversation offered a rare side-by-side look at how Urgent Care is developing across different health systems, and where international colleges can learn from, support and collaborate with one another.

On the clinical education side, Dr. Chao delivered a well-received presentation, “Right Test, Right Patient, Right Time: Point-of-Care Testing for Respiratory Infections in Urgent Care,” sharing practical, evidence-based guidance for frontline Urgent Care clinicians.

The CUCM/UCCOP team also attended the Fellowship Ceremony, celebrating RNZCUC’s newest fellows, and took part in a research network workshop aimed at building collaborative infrastructure for Urgent Care research. JUCM’s continued participation added to a strong multi-organization presence at the event.

CUCM/UCCOP shared updates on the Colleges’ work and strategic planning, and explored avenues for future collaboration with international partners. The energy in the room was contagious; colleagues from around the world engaged deeply with topics directly shaping the future of Urgent Care practice, united by shared goals and a shared commitment to high-quality care.

Moments like this remind us why international representation matters so deeply to our specialty. Urgent Care looks different in every health system, and every delegation that crosses an ocean to sit at the same table brings back perspective, expertise and relationships that no single country could build alone.