Affiliations

Advocate Christ Medical Center

Presentation Notes

Quality Improvement poster presentation at Empowering Nursing Excellence: Recognizing the Value and Impact of Nurses, Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2023; November 15, 2023; virtual.

Abstract

Background:

Patient mobility reduces complications and reduces length of stay, which improves patient outcomes and throughput.

Local Problem:

A 44-bed medical unit specializing in patients with neurological diagnoses at a large, urban, Level 1 trauma center experienced decreased patient mobility, resulting in longer length of stay and reduced throughput. The goal for the unit was to increase the number of steps measured in feet ambulated by patients and increase daily discharges.

Method:

An interdisciplinary team designed and implemented a workflow improvement process. The process initiated consistent use of the Comprehensive Mobility Evaluation Tool (CMET) when patients were admitted to the unit, daily Care Coordination Rounds (CCR), and established a new Mobility Coordinator role. The CCRs were daily meetings with nurses, social workers, care managers, and unit leaders to assess every patients’ mobility and address any barriers identified. One of the unit’s nursing assistants took on the role of Mobility Coordinator and ambulated as many patients as possible during the day shift from Monday through Friday.

Results:

From March 2023 to April 2023, the total number of steps measured in feet ambulated by patients increased from 49,291 in March to 69,031 in April. The total number of discharges increased from 178 in March to 195 in April. For weeks that consisted of greater than 10,000 feet of documented ambulation, a minimum of 50 patients were discharged.

Implications for Practice:

Early and frequent ambulation of patients minimizes complications and promotes self-care. Healthcare practitioners should focus on patient-centered approaches developed by a hospital’s multidisciplinary team. This approach optimizes patient management and improves discharge status. The short timeframe of auditing and inconsistencies in number of feet documented are noted limitations. Daily recognition for being a Top 5 Unit for most discharges was achieved, so this process is recommended.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

11-15-2023


 

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Nov 15th, 12:00 AM

Increasing mobility to increase discharges

Background:

Patient mobility reduces complications and reduces length of stay, which improves patient outcomes and throughput.

Local Problem:

A 44-bed medical unit specializing in patients with neurological diagnoses at a large, urban, Level 1 trauma center experienced decreased patient mobility, resulting in longer length of stay and reduced throughput. The goal for the unit was to increase the number of steps measured in feet ambulated by patients and increase daily discharges.

Method:

An interdisciplinary team designed and implemented a workflow improvement process. The process initiated consistent use of the Comprehensive Mobility Evaluation Tool (CMET) when patients were admitted to the unit, daily Care Coordination Rounds (CCR), and established a new Mobility Coordinator role. The CCRs were daily meetings with nurses, social workers, care managers, and unit leaders to assess every patients’ mobility and address any barriers identified. One of the unit’s nursing assistants took on the role of Mobility Coordinator and ambulated as many patients as possible during the day shift from Monday through Friday.

Results:

From March 2023 to April 2023, the total number of steps measured in feet ambulated by patients increased from 49,291 in March to 69,031 in April. The total number of discharges increased from 178 in March to 195 in April. For weeks that consisted of greater than 10,000 feet of documented ambulation, a minimum of 50 patients were discharged.

Implications for Practice:

Early and frequent ambulation of patients minimizes complications and promotes self-care. Healthcare practitioners should focus on patient-centered approaches developed by a hospital’s multidisciplinary team. This approach optimizes patient management and improves discharge status. The short timeframe of auditing and inconsistencies in number of feet documented are noted limitations. Daily recognition for being a Top 5 Unit for most discharges was achieved, so this process is recommended.

 

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