Effects of an Ambulation Orderly Program Among Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Hospital Management
• Patient Mobility

Background:

• Hospitalized patients often remain inactive despite the benefits of ambulation.
• Ambulation orderlies (AOs) are employees dedicated to assisting patients with walking.
• This study investigates the impact of an AO program on postcardiac surgery patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an ambulation orderly program in improving patient outcomes.
• To assess the impact of AOs on postoperative length of stay, complications, discharge, and readmissions.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post study design was used, comparing outcomes before and after AO implementation.
• Interrupted time series analysis was employed to control for temporal trends.
• Data included length of stay, complications, discharge disposition, and 30-day readmissions for cardiac surgery patients.

Main Results:

• The ambulation orderly group showed a reduced median postoperative length of stay (9 vs 10 days).
• A significant decrease in mean monthly postoperative length of stay was observed (-1.57 days).
• Variability in mean monthly length of stay was also significantly reduced (P = .03).

Conclusions:

• An ambulation orderly program effectively reduces postoperative length and variability of hospital stay.
• AO programs represent a practical and beneficial strategy for enhancing hospital outcomes.
• Further research may explore broader applications of AO programs in diverse patient populations.