Success in Supporting Early Mobility and Exercise in a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Quality Improvement Science
• Patient Rehabilitation

Background:

• Early mobility is crucial for enhancing patient recovery and shortening hospital stays in acute and intensive care settings.
• Implementing evidence-based practices is key to improving patient outcomes in critical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the key components contributing to sustained high patient mobility over four years.
• To evaluate the long-term impact of the Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool within a cardiothoracic intensive care unit.
• Participation in a nationwide evidence-based quality improvement initiative.
• Application of the Dynamic Sustainability Framework to analyze sustained performance.

Main Results:

• Sustained high levels of patient mobility were achieved and maintained over a four-year period.
• The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool facilitated consistent mobility engagement.

Conclusions:

• Sustained early mobility in intensive care is achievable through structured implementation and quality improvement initiatives.
• The Dynamic Sustainability Framework provides valuable insights into maintaining positive clinical practice changes over time.