Impact of a Mobility Team on Intensive Care Unit Patient Outcomes

Mobility for critically ill patients has been found to be safe, beneficial, and feasible, although a culture of immobility prevails in many adult intensive care units (ICU) because of staffing challenges and lack of physical therapy and occupational therapy involvement. Clinical practice guidelines recommended early mobility for ICU patients to improve long- and short-term outcomes. Addition of a mobility team to the licensed physical therapy and occupational therapy staff and interprofessional ICU team improved patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, and reduced facility cost related to employee injuries.