On 1 September 2025, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) opened an Acutely Short Stay unit (AKV), a dedicated space designed to offer patients a calm and controlled environment for up to 12 hours following an admission through the Emergency Department (ED). This new facility is intended to enhance the care pathway and relieve pressure on emergency services, allowing time to arrange follow-up support without urgency.
A Transitional Space Designed for Patient Comfort
The AKV is a small-scale nursing ward comprising six beds. It provides patients with recovery time, space to await further care plans or discharge, or the opportunity to return home once their situation is stabilized. Importantly, the unit prevents inconvenient midnight returns home by allowing stays of up to 12 hours.
LUMC introduced the AKV as a solution to the so-called “wrong bed problem”, where patients linger unnecessarily on the ED due to delays in accessing home care, rehabilitation, or long-term care facilities. By shifting these patients to the AKV, the ED can remain accessible for new emergencies while continuing to provide personalized, unrushed follow-up care.
Read more here: https://www.lumc.nl/actueel/2025/nieuw-acuut-kort-verblijf-op-seh-soepele-overgang-naar-vervolgzorg-voor-patienten/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
