Abstract
Background: Education, research, and Quality Improvement (QI) are key enablers for high quality care. We aimed to map the capability of Acute Medical Units (AMUs) to facilitate excellence in these areas.
Methods: AMUs were surveyed in an organisational questionnaire within the Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit 2021.
Results: 143 units participated. 80 units had a QI lead, 24 had a research lead and 99 had a medical education lead. 15 units had all three leadership roles. Most QI work considered service structure rather than changes in processes or care outcomes.
Conclusion: The organisational capability of AMUs in the strategic areas considered is variable. Improving leadership and disseminating learning could help build a strategic foundation for acute medicine to grow.