The name “acute care medical unit” is recommended by the Royal College of Physicians in its 2007 Acute Medicine Report. [2] Nevertheless, many hospitals use different names for the department. The common names of this department are: An acute care unit is a short-stay ward in some British, Australian and New Zealand hospitals that can be connected to the emergency department but acts as a separate department. [1] The AMU serves as a bridge between a patient`s primary care physician, the emergency room and hospital wards. The UAM helps the emergency department achieve a healthy turnaround time for patients and helps with the four-hour wait in the UK. A UAM usually consists of several bays and has a small number of auxiliary rooms and treatment rooms. They are fully equipped with emergency medical treatment facilities such as defibrillators and resuscitation equipment. The senior staff of an AMU typically includes a consultant in acute medicine, general medicine, emergency medicine or critical care. Often, a registrar of general practice and a nurse on duty have roles in the unit. A number of nurses work with senior managers to care for patients in the department. The service may also include pharmacists who perform tasks such as medical history.
When choosing the MAU team, you need to assess patients to prioritize an acute and stressful workload and put treatment plans into practice in collaboration with the medical team. They also work closely with the multidisciplinary team to provide patients with effective and holistic care. The successful candidate will be familiar with their communication skills and will have the desire to acquire advanced skills such as venipuncture, cannulation and catheterization. 1. Scott I, Vaughan L, Bell D. Effectiveness of acute care units in hospitals: a systematic review. Int J Qual Healthcare. 2009;21(6):397-407 shows only Science & Medicine definitions (see 27 definitions) Note: We have 60 other definitions of MAU in our acronym Attic Proven international evidence exists for an MAU located with ED with a general practice model, including1:MAU in New South Wales are short-stay inpatient units, usually located nearby or with an emergency service (ED). An AMU is specifically designed to improve the coordination and quality of patient care, increase the efficiency of inpatient management, and ultimately help improve patient flow in the hospital.
The difference between a UAM and a fixed unit is that the UAM always has a dedicated interdisciplinary team led by consultants. While the AMU has its own staff trained in patient handling and care, the AMU requires staff from other parts of the hospital to assess patients and make alternative diagnoses. Typical examples of staff that may be required at AMU include general surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, and a psychiatric liaison nurse. Ideally, a family doctor should also be part of the MAU team. Working as part of the team allows employees to gain valuable experience in acute medicine and builds your knowledge, skills and confidence in this field. While experienced nurses with post-registration experience are welcome, newly qualified nurses will be considered. Rotations can be offered to newly qualified employees of MAU, A&E and AAU who wish to get involved in the areas of emergency care. From the emergency room, patients can be transferred to the UAM, where they undergo further testing and stabilization before being transferred to the appropriate department or sent home. In addition, patients may be admitted directly to the UMA by their primary care physician if they believe the patient needs hospital treatment. A patient`s stay in the ward is limited, usually no more than 48 hours.
The team is also proud to have won several employee awards in 2018, with Nina Bayley, Older Sister, presenting the “Team Leader of the Year” award and Gill Burrows, UAM Nurse, the “Registered Professional of the Year” award. Other positive news for the region are investments in a family room and a new room for staff as well as 28 new beds. The IAC will conduct a broader consultation on the 2012 Medical Assessment Unit Model of Care to ensure that the components are achievable for current and future AMUs. The IAC then convened a working group on the AMU model of care and conducted an extensive consultation process. In 2014, an updated model of care was published. Resources supporting the implementation of the MAU model of care include: Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) were originally established in New South Wales in 2008. They were developed in collaboration with the Physician Task Force and the Acute Care Working Group to provide faster and safer care for seniors and people with chronic diseases and as an alternative to treatment in the emergency department. We offer a high level of on-resort support for newcomers as well as structured integration to help you develop your skills and give you the knowledge you need to succeed. Training is also offered and once you gain experience, there are opportunities for advancement in your career in the organization.
Some of the job titles working in the department are highlighted below: The model recommends that staffing for an AMU include: These documented benefits are plausibly generalizable to the NSW environment. It is also suggested that the NSWMAU model of care may provide additional benefits, such as: In 2012, the then New South Wales Department of Health conducted an assessment of the 29 MAUs across the state. The evaluation report published in 2013 recommended: The UMA only deals with admissions, patients are never transferred from a service to the AMU. Surgical procedures are also not performed in the unit; These are referred to relevant theatres such as cardiothoracic and general surgery. A typical patient eligible for treatment under the MAU model of care is an adult with an undifferentiated acute presentation who: Meet our MAU team. The MAU team works closely with the emergency department and treats a large number of patients in a rapidly changing environment. The department is very busy, with between 400 and 500 admissions per month in a 28-bed unit.
