Urgent care facilities experience medication and staff shortages

If you are in need of urgent care treatment there are some factors to consider before visiting one during cold and flu season.

Quickmed Urgent Care (QUC) in Liberty is working to overcome issues of staffing shortage, scarce medications, including essential surgery items, and potentially longer wait times. 

Debra Wrenn, director of advanced practice providers at QUC, says they are low in stock of lidocaine and steroids but have found substitutions to compensate for lack of supplies.

"We are able to reconstitute a stronger strength of lidocaine to [reduce its strength] to where we need it to be for procedures," Wrenn said. 

They are also seeing shortages of medical professionals in the Mahoning Valley, specifically medical assistants and X-ray technicians.   

"I believe those shortages are due to early retirement and covid. These shortages are seen throughout the medical community." Wrenn said.   

Dr. James Kravec, chief clinical officer for  Mercy Health urgent care, says  they are seeing improvement in staff retention.

"Certainly it is not like it was in 2019, but it is also much improved than it was in 2020 and 2021," Kravec said.

Despite these issues, Wrenn says the best time to visit an urgent care is in the early morning, as they normally experience a rush in the afternoon and evening.