The Acute Ambulatory Care Unit (AACU) is a short stay medical unit that provides urgent assessment, investigation, and management for patients with new medical problems and those with chronic medical illnesses. This work up and management occurs within a 24-hour timeframe.
The unit is staffed by a physician who specializes in General Internal Medicine, as well as medical nurses. The unit also has access to a wide range of medical diagnostics and testing, and can arrange for urgent referrals to other medical specialties.
The goal of the AACU is to manage patients with chronic medical conditions so they can avoid lengthy visits to the emergency room and inpatient hospitalizations.
Contact Info
76 Grenville St
Ground floor
Toronto, ON M5S 1B2
Phone: 416-323-7302
Fax: 416-323-6094
Hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Referral
Patients must be referred by another medical doctor, and there is direct contact between the referring physician and the general internist to assess appropriateness before the patient is accepted.
Location
The entrance to the AACU is located at the Grosvenor Street entrance of Women’s College Hospital (between Bay St. and Queen’s Park Circle). There is a designated drop off area at the entrance to the AACU.
Referral Criteria and Services
The WCH AACU is a GIM-lead short stay medical unit run that provides:
- Urgent assessment and management of acute medical illness
- Management of exacerbations of chronic medical conditions
- Rapid diagnostic work-up of a new medical problem
- IV infusions
Examples of medical problems that can be managed in the AACU:
- Diagnosis of DVT/PE and initiation of low molecular weight heparin/warfarin
- IV antibiotics for cellulitis, pneumonia, diabetic foot infection
- Red cell transfusion for anemia
- IV lasix for congestive heart failure
- COPD/asthma exacerbation for steroid initiation and frequent bronchodilators
- Optimization of glycemic control in diabetes
- Management of new atrial fibrillation
- Work-up of syncope
- Work up of chest pain
REFERRAL CRITERIA:
- Patient must be medically stable
- Management of medical condition
achievable in 24 hours - Patient able to come for
outpatient followup
REFERRAL EXCLUSIONS:
- Patient is medically unstable
- Patient requires an inpatient admission
- Patient requires acute neurological
consultation - Patient requires surgical consultation
- Patient has end stage renal disease
and is on dialysis - Patient has a G/J feeding tube