BOOSTing patient mobility and function on a general medical unit by enhancing interprofessional care

Area of Science:

• Quality Improvement
• Physical Therapy
• Hospital Care

Background:

• Low patient mobility during hospitalization is common and leads to negative health consequences.
• Existing interprofessional care teams can be enhanced to address mobility deficits.
• Quality improvement initiatives are crucial for optimizing patient recovery and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of integrating a physical therapist and mobility technician into an interprofessional care team on patient mobility and function.
• To evaluate changes in functional status and highest achieved mobility level from admission to discharge.
• To analyze the effects on hospital length of stay and 30-day readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project involving the addition of a physical therapist and a mobility technician to a hospital care team.
• Mobility technicians provided assistance based on physical therapist recommendations.
• Functional status and mobility levels were measured from admission to discharge.
• Difference in Difference analysis compared outcomes between treatment and control groups, including historical data.

Main Results:

• Patients in the treatment group showed statistically significant improvements in functional status and highest achieved mobility level.
• Bivariate analysis revealed a significant change in Length of Stay (LOS) Index compared to a historical group.
• No statistically significant differences were found in observed LOS, LOS Index, or 30-day readmission rates using Difference in Difference analysis.

Conclusions:

• Integrating physical therapists and mobility technicians can enhance patient physical function and mobility during hospitalization.
• Mobility technicians show potential for improving overall care quality and patient safety within hospital settings.
• Further research may be warranted to explore the broader impact on hospital resource utilization and patient outcomes.