Antibiotic Stewardship in Urgent Care: An Operator and Medical Director Playbook

Steven Goldberg, MD, MBA; Sarika Aggarwal, MD, MHCM; Vasudha Gupta, PharmD • Published: May 26, 2026 • Last Reviewed: May, 2026

Urgent care centers are on the front lines of respiratory illness management, where fast-paced workflows, diagnostic uncertainty, and patient expectations can contribute to unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. Effective antibiotic stewardship programs help urgent care operators and medical directors improve prescribing accuracy, reduce variation in care, and support better patient outcomes.

• Understand the primary drivers of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in urgent care
• Learn how workflow pressures and diagnostic uncertainty influence clinical decisions
• Explore evidence-based stewardship strategies for respiratory infections
• Discover how diagnostic testing can improve prescribing confidence and accuracy
• Review real-world implementation of a multi-site antibiotic stewardship program
• Examine case studies focused on operational and clinical stewardship success

This webinar explores antibiotic stewardship in urgent care, from the scope of challenges to system-level solutions. Our expert panel examines the clinical, operational, and behavioral drivers of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, explores how diagnostic testing and shared decision-making support evidence-based care, and discusses the real-world implementation of a successful multi-site antibiotic stewardship program. Two case studies ground the discussion in urgent care practice. Designed for operators, medical directors, and clinical leaders looking to reduce prescribing variation and drive sustainable stewardship at scale.

• Title/Introduction: (00:11)
• Speaker Introductions: (00:21)
• Perspective 1, Vasudha Gupta, PharmD (3:00)
• Key Insights from Dr. Gupta: (17:21)
• Perspective 2, Steven Goldberg, MD, MBA (19:44)
• Case Study #1: Lower Respiratory Tract Infection: When Testing Changes the Conversation (29:28)
• Perspective 3, Sarika Aggarwal, MD, MHCM: (31:57)
• Case Study #2: The Provider Under Pressure (49:13)
• Key Takeaways (50:49)

Speaker Introductions: (00:21)

• Steven Goldberg, MD, MBA – Chief Medical Officer
• Sarika Aggarwal, MD, MHCM – Chief Medical Officer, Fast Pace Health
• Vasudha Gupta, PharmD – Medical Science Liaison, HealthTrack

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Designation Statement

The Urgent Care Association designates this activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Urgent Care Association (UCA) and the HealthTrackRx. UCA is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.