College proposes better deal for acute medical patients
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
London
The Royal College of Physicians has set out a new blueprint for providing acute care in the NHS in what it calls "one of the most important" reports it has produced in recent years.
The college believes its proposals will dramatically improve the quality and safety of people who are acutely ill, because it will ensure that those patients have the undivided attention of specialist acute care teams, rather than specialists in other types of care who are doing shifts on the acute ward on a rotation.
It recommends there should be at least three consultants with primary responsibility for acute medicine in each acute hospital, and more in larger hospitals, by 2008.
It also argues that a doctor with skills in acute medicine, usually a specialist registrar, should be present at all times in all units receiving medical emergencies.
All trusts admitting acutely ill medical patients should have a dedicated area (to be called an acute medical unit) where they can be managed, it states.
The college's president, Professor Carol Black, said; "I believe this to be one of the most important reports the college has produced in recent years. The college has taken a lead role in addressing the question of how best to provide acute medical care in hospital, and this report sets out the future direction for training, staffing, and service organisation aimed at better delivering healthcare."
Professor Ian Gilmore, the college registrar, added: "For too long, patients with acute medical problems have had a raw deal when admitted to hospital."
Some hospitals already have a specialist acute medicine team headed by a consultant, but a college spokesperson said that this is not yet widespread in the NHS.
Only about 100 consultant physicians currently work in acute medicine, either solely in this field or combined with another specialty. Most acute medicine done at consultant level is by consultants trained in another medical specialty, the report states. In hospitals without a specialist acute team, consultants from other specialities have to do "shifts" on the acute ward on a rotational basis.
The college calls for changes in medical training to ensure that appropriately trained consultants become available for these new roles.
It condemns the policy of managing acutely ill medical patients on non-medical wards, describing it as "unacceptable" and a "cause of major concern."
Among the report's other recommendations, the college calls for a review of each new patient by a consultant physician within 24 hours of admission; the appointment of a national director of acute medicine by the Department of Health; and dedicated time in the undergraduate curriculum for acute medicine.(Lynn Eaton)
The Royal College of Physicians has set out a new blueprint for providing acute care in the NHS in what it calls "one of the most important" reports it has produced in recent years.
The college believes its proposals will dramatically improve the quality and safety of people who are acutely ill, because it will ensure that those patients have the undivided attention of specialist acute care teams, rather than specialists in other types of care who are doing shifts on the acute ward on a rotation.
It recommends there should be at least three consultants with primary responsibility for acute medicine in each acute hospital, and more in larger hospitals, by 2008.
It also argues that a doctor with skills in acute medicine, usually a specialist registrar, should be present at all times in all units receiving medical emergencies.
All trusts admitting acutely ill medical patients should have a dedicated area (to be called an acute medical unit) where they can be managed, it states.
The college's president, Professor Carol Black, said; "I believe this to be one of the most important reports the college has produced in recent years. The college has taken a lead role in addressing the question of how best to provide acute medical care in hospital, and this report sets out the future direction for training, staffing, and service organisation aimed at better delivering healthcare."
Professor Ian Gilmore, the college registrar, added: "For too long, patients with acute medical problems have had a raw deal when admitted to hospital."
Some hospitals already have a specialist acute medicine team headed by a consultant, but a college spokesperson said that this is not yet widespread in the NHS.
Only about 100 consultant physicians currently work in acute medicine, either solely in this field or combined with another specialty. Most acute medicine done at consultant level is by consultants trained in another medical specialty, the report states. In hospitals without a specialist acute team, consultants from other specialities have to do "shifts" on the acute ward on a rotational basis.
The college calls for changes in medical training to ensure that appropriately trained consultants become available for these new roles.
It condemns the policy of managing acutely ill medical patients on non-medical wards, describing it as "unacceptable" and a "cause of major concern."
Among the report's other recommendations, the college calls for a review of each new patient by a consultant physician within 24 hours of admission; the appointment of a national director of acute medicine by the Department of Health; and dedicated time in the undergraduate curriculum for acute medicine.(Lynn Eaton)