Acute Medicine Foundations: Practical Insights - Medical Series

Acute Medicine Foundations: Practical Insights is a comprehensive, workflow-driven guide to the core principles of modern acute medical care. Designed for clinicians working in high-pressure environments, this book provides a structured approach to the assessment, investigation, and early management of acutely unwell patients.

Acute medicine demands rapid decision-making, often with incomplete information. This book focuses on the essential frameworks that support safe and effective clinical practice, including systematic patient assessment, early warning scores, interpretation of key investigations, and timely escalation of care.

With over 80 flowcharts and 80 tables, complex clinical processes are translated into clear, practical, and reproducible steps. The content is aligned with real-world clinical workflows, making it suitable for both learning and immediate application in acute care settings.

Key areas covered include:

Acute Medical Unit (AMU) structure, patient flow, and the 72-hour model of care Initial triage, NEWS2, and risk stratification Structured history-taking and examination of the undifferentiated patient Interpretation of blood tests, arterial blood gases (ABG), ECG, and imaging Oxygen therapy, airway support, and escalation to critical care Fluid resuscitation, electrolyte management, and IV access Recognition and management of the deteriorating patient and shock

This book is written for junior doctors, trainees, acute physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, and multidisciplinary teams involved in front-line acute care. It serves as both a training resource and an on-call companion, supporting consistent, evidence-based decision-making in time-critical situations.

As the first volume in a planned series, this book focuses on foundational principles, with subsequent volumes addressing system-specific emergencies across cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and other specialties.

Whether used for structured learning, clinical revision, or real-time reference, Acute Medicine Foundations: Practical Insights equips clinicians with the tools needed to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality acute medical care.