ACU full form in medical is Ambulatory Care Unit. Also known as an ACU, this care unit includes hospitals offering same-day care to patients. In simple terms, without overnight hospitalisation, patients are assessed, diagnosed and treated and can go home the same day. These units are designed to ensure patients are managed most efficiently and in the best possible way. In addition, they avoid unnecessary admissions into hospital beds.
The nursing team provides face-to-face care by recording observations of the patient’s temperature, blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc. Afterwards, they are seen by an advanced clinical physician or doctor. These units enable patients to be treated as day cases when they would be admitted earlier to a hospital ward.
The Ambulatory Care Unit is manned by a team of professional and skilled physicians, with inputs being provided by specialist teams. It also offers a mix of exam cubicles, reclining chairs, and procedure rooms.
The unit aims to provide the right patient care at the right location. Under the ACU, patients requiring emergency care, patients redirected from the emergency department, and patients offered assistance to go home in time are treated.