Patient Expectations in Urgent Care for Infectious Disease Complaints

Meeting Patient Expectations for Infectious Disease Complaints in the Urgent Care Setting

Clinicians practicing in urgent care settings frequently encounter patients presenting with infectious disease complaints, including respiratory infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, and influenza-like illnesses. These encounters often involve complex clinical decision-making, particularly when patient expectations for antibiotic treatment may not align with evidence-based guidelines.

This educational activity addresses the clinical and communication challenges associated with managing infectious disease complaints in high-volume urgent care environments. The program will review current evidence-based guidelines for the evaluation and management of common infectious conditions while emphasizing antimicrobial stewardship principles.

Faculty will also discuss practical communication strategies that help clinicians effectively address patient expectations, improve patient understanding of appropriate treatment plans, and maintain patient satisfaction when antibiotics are not clinically indicated.

Through case-based discussion and expert insights, learners will gain practical tools to improve prescribing practices, strengthen clinical documentation, and integrate guideline-based care into urgent care workflows. The goal of this activity is to enhance clinician competence and performance in the management of infectious disease complaints while supporting responsible antibiotic use and improved patient outcomes.