eMJA: Acute medical admissions in our hospitals: getting it right

Conference Report

Acute medical admissions in our hospitals: getting it right

Harvey H Newnham, Campbell H Thompson, Paul F Jenkins and Lauri T O’Brien

MJA 2009; 191 (1): 9-10

Acute medical units can help fast-track medical patient assessment and admission to hospital

Hospitals in Australia are experiencing increasing numbers of medical presentations (ie, patients requiring admission under the care of a physician rather than a surgeon) in a context of ongoing restriction of inpatient beds. The resulting pressure on emergency departments (EDs) causes frustration for health care workers and administrators alike, as they struggle to meet key performance indicators that are designed to minimise the time that patients spend on trolleys in the corridors of EDs. Many hospitals have responded to this challenge by developing acute medical units (AMUs) that are equipped to fast-track patients with medical problems to the care of inpatient physicians (ie, staff physicians and visiting medical officers) and multidisciplinary teams who can best plan the management, care and disposition (destination after leaving the AMU) of these patients.

NB: If you are registered with the eMJA, your username is the email address you have provided.
If you don't have a login, click here for subscription options. You will be prompted to create an account upon purchase.

AMA members can login using their AMA username and password.
If you don't know your AMA password, please contact the AMA on 02 6270 5400 or membership@ama.com.au, or try to retrieve your password at this address.

The Medical Journal of Australia eMJA

Username:
Password:

Password forgotten? Click here What is my username?