Abstract
Background: There is an increased influx of patients needing admission. Introducing an acute medical unit (AMU) may increase the admission capacity without increasing the total number of beds.
Methods: Data collected during the first four years after implementation of an AMU in an academic tertiary care center in Amsterdam were analyzed.
Results: A 24 bed unit was realized. The total number of admissions increased in the first year with 977 (16%), with an additional 4.1% increase after 2 years with stabilization thereafter. The length of stay decreased, the absolute number of refusals declined, the number of readmissions remained unchanged.
Conclusion: Introduction of AMUs in overcrowded services could be beneficial in improving the strain on the acute healthcare systems
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