Early mobilisation in cardiac intensive care

Project completed as part of the 2017 Southampton Green Team Competition

Setting/Patient Group: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU)

Issue to be addressed:

Patient in CICU did not routinely receive physiotherapy despite evidence of benefits from early mobilisation. The aim of the project was to demonstrate the sustainable value of increasing therapy provision.

Intervention:

Recruitment of therapy technician to work alongside qualified physiotherapist, whose role included:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Educating CICU staff to use Motomed equipment to allow exercise for patients under sedation.
            2. Provision of 30mins of rehabilitation, twice a day until discharge for all patients meeting inclusion criteria

Outcome:

Clinical

• Early mobilisation reduced mean;
  • Days on ventilation by 4 days
  • Length of stay in CICU by 6 days

Social

• Great patient autonomy with more rapid recovery, improving patient wellbeing.
• Lower burden of care on relatives due to more rapid recovery of patients

Environmental

• Estimated carbon saving 48.5 tonnesCO₂e/year (equivalent of 18 return trips London - Sydney) over two year programme

Economic

• Estimated saving £1,266,327 over two year programme, taking into account therapy technician salary of £24,303 per year.

Key learning point

Focusing on prevention of de-conditioning and supporting patient empowerment, this project has resulted in large environmental and financial savings while adding social value and greatly improving patient outcomes.