Background: Research suggests that ambulation in hospital settings can help prevent functional decline in patients. Early ambulation also contributes to better patient outcomes and decreased length of stay. The purpose of this study is to investigate patient perspectives to learn about factors that influence early ambulation and recommended amount of ambulation while in the hospital. [...]

Background: Clinical practice guidelines state that mobility is supposed to play an important role in determining use and duration of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. This study examines whether measured mobility levels relate to pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis use among hospitalized older adults. Methods: Prospective observational data from a sample of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years, [...]

Background: The age-friendly hospital implements an evidence-based “4M” framework (what matters most, medication reconciliation, mentation and mobility) to minimize harm among older adults. Clinical outcomes of patients who receive bundled 4M’s care delivery remains a knowledge gap. We determined if the incremental benefit of more M’s was associated with reduced discharges to post-acute care facilities. [...]

Background: Gamification and social incentives, such as family/peer engagement in goal-setting and feedback, are increasingly used by employers and health plans to promote physical activity and lose weight in outpatient settings but these approaches have not been used to improve mobility and reduce hospital-associated functional decline after hospital discharge. Methods: 12-week randomized, controlled trial of [...]

Background: Few studies have demonstrated effective hospital mobility programs, despite the overwhelming evidence that hospital mobility leads to better patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore factors that contribute to whether or not patients move their recommended amounts while in the hospital. Methods: A convenience sample of 6 acute care nurses completed [...]

Background: Lack of mobility in the inpatient hospital setting hastens functional decline in elderly patients and is associated with increased risk of complications such as falls, delirium, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and skin breakdown. These adverse outcomes drive increased cost as patients spend additional time in both the acute and post-acute care settings. Physical activity is [...]

Background: Patients spend about 95% of their hospitalization in bed, increasing the risk of functional decline associated with adverse events and readmissions. Some hospitals track patients’ functional mobility trends using Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care 6-Clicks Inpatient Short Form (AM-PAC). We aim to understand the associations between functional mobility loss from hospital admission to discharge, [...]

Background: Prolonged immobility during hospitalization is associated with development of hospital-associated disability (HAD) and physical deconditioning. Physical therapy (PT) is important for HAD treatment and prevention but is a constrained resource in most hospital settings and planned sessions can be difficult to complete. Missing planned PT sessions, known as “PT non-treatment”, may compromise patient’s functional [...]

Background: Disposition planning is a vital part of clinical care in the hospital setting and requires a collaborative multidisciplinary approach. Physical therapy (PT) assessments are often a key part of this process but due to staffing shortages and high acuity – both of which were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic – therapists at a large [...]

Background: It is widely accepted that hospitalized patients warrant risk assessment for venous thromboembolism (VTE) upon hospital admission. Although many VTE risk assessment models include a patient mobility element for calculating risk, a standardized method of determining mobility is lacking. We sought to determine if physician assessment of anticipated patient mobility upon hospital admission using [...]