Scoping review of medical assessment units and older people with complex health needs.
OBJECTIVE
To explore current knowledge of medical assessment units (MAUs) with specific reference to older people with complex needs and to stimulate new topics and questions for future policy, research and practice.


METHODS
A scoping review was conducted using an integrated-latent thematic approach.


RESULTS
This review provides a unique perspective on MAUs and older people which is framed using four themes: efficiency, effectiveness, equity and time. Eighteen articles were reviewed. Most (14) articles reported on efficiency and effectiveness while none reported explicitly on equity. Time was identified as a fourth, latent theme within the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this review indicate that future policy, research and practice relating to MAUs should focus on older people with complex needs, patient-centred metrics and those MAU characteristics most likely to deliver positive health outcomes to this particular cohort of patients.
Subacute and Aged Nursing, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.|School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Carole
C
Rushton
Emergency Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.|Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Julia
J
Crilly
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Central Queensland University, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
Adeniyi
A
Adeleye
Subacute and Aged Nursing, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.|School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.|The Education for Practice Institute, Charles Stuart University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Laurie
L
Grealish
Aged Services, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Robina Health Precinct, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Mandy
M
Beylacq
Diagnostics, Emergency and Medical Services, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Mark
M
Forbes
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D004526:Efficiency; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care
effectiveness; efficiency; equity; medical assessment units; older people; time