Corona Update: SURGE CAPACITY SOLUTIONS – The mobi is a mobile headwall (equipment consolidator) that can be set up in any space that has an electrical outlet: next to a chair, a bed, a cot in a hallway, a cafeteria, or anywhere patients need to be located. Click here for more information.

Early Patient Mobility Key Article

Patient Ambulation and Secondary Infections

Doctors Performing Surgery In Hospital

Patient Ambulation and Secondary Infections

Patient Ambulation and Secondary Infections

Helping Hospitals Reduce Costs With Patient Ambulation

Patient Ambulation and Secondary Infections. Patient immobility is known to contribute to the buildup of fluid in the lungs and reduces the circulation of blood and lymph, which can worsen the effects of severe respiratory illness and increase the risk of dangerous and costly secondary complications, including delirium and pressure ulcers. These hospital-acquired complications make recovery harder for patients, but they also dramatically increase cost-of-treatment for hospitals. Fortunately, these costs and complications are avoidable though safe early patient mobility (patient ambulation).

Patient ambulation (patient mobility) may not have been feasible in the first wave of COVID-19, but now that designated wards and facilities have been re-established, returning to best-practice patient mobilization can only have positive outcomes for patients and staff, while significantly improving overall hospital cost-savings. Even incremental reductions in hospital-acquired secondary conditions are medically and financially beneficial for patients, staff, and hospitals. The benefits from patient ambulation are numerous, especially when it comes to positive patient outcomes, but the financial benefit across hospital operations is significant.

Key Facts:

  • A systematic review of medical studies found that because early patient ambulation decreases the risk of secondary complications (delirium, infection, pneumonia, death), it also dramatically reduces costs to the hospital, which is not remunerated for hospital-acquired complications. (Hunter 2014)
  • A study conducted at a community acute care hospital found that patients who received mobility intervention had fewer falls, ventilator-associated events, pressure ulcers, CAUTIs, delirium days. They also had lower sedation levels, improved functional independence, and lower hospital costs.  (Fraser 2015)
  • The implementation of a progressive mobility or ambulation protocol in a cardiothoracic surgery unit reduced patient length of stay (in ICU and overall), reduced ICU readmission rates, and decreased the risk of pressure ulcers. Overall, the new protocol had positive implications for both staffing and cost-savings. (Floyd 2016)
  • One hospital introduced a systematic schedule for their pediatric unit and found that patients experienced: shorter periods of bed rest, reduced pressure sores, fewer falls, and decreased length of stay. Overall, early mobilization resulted in cost savings for both the patient and hospital. (Letzkus 2013)
  • When an academic medical center implemented a comprehensive early mobility protocol for its cardiothoracic surgery unit, they saw a statistically significant reduction in patient length of stay (in ICU and in hospital), a decline in ICU readmissions, and a reduction in secondary pressure ulcers. The reduction of complications associated with immobility resulted in a net benefit for the hospital in terms of both staffing and cost savings. (Fraser 2016)

Bibliography:

The Case of Early Mobilization

Implementation of Early Mobility Program in the ICU

Progressive Mobility Protocol

Can Progressive Mobility Hasten Recovery

Livengood Mobility Solutions

mobigo for the ICU

mobilite for the Floor

mobikidz for Pediatrics

Surge Capacity Solutions


Learn more about Livengood Medical Mobi Solutions and Livengood PPE Products.

What Customers Say

Testimonials

“6 months ago we implemented 12 mobis into our early mobility program. We have a very diverse population on our ICU and having the option of mobilizing them in a way that is helpful and assistive to staff while instilling confidence in the patient and family is great. We’re still working to figure out our ideal workflow but it’s given us concrete examples of how even our sicker vented patients can get mobilized safely and efficiently.”

Mark Rohlfing
RN, BSN Clinical Operations Manager Intensive Care Unit
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital - Muncie, IN

“After completing a research study with the LIVENGOOD mobi on our post trauma/surgical floor, I realized its potential to decrease length of stay, help with staff efficiency and empower patients to be independent.”

Lorrie Henecke
MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNRN Clinical Nurse Specialist
Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland, CO

“We are so excited that the mobi helped us ambulate our very first vented patient.”

Esther Vandermeulen
R.N.
University Health System - San Antonio, TX

“The LIVENGOOD mobi is very user friendly, safe and a great solution to use minimal staff and be able to contain all of the patient’s equipment.”

Michael Saccone
P.T.
Saint Joseph's Hospital - Syracuse, NY

“I think the LIVENGOOD mobi will revolutionize the way we mobilize patients in the ICU. I saw patients mobilize sooner and with less anxiety with the mobi. One young patient was even able to walk outside with the mobi and her portable vent. Having the mobi made mobility a real team effort, not just a P.T. activity.”

Terra Terwilliger
PT, DPT - Adult Inpatient Physical Therapist
Rehab Services University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Health System

“The LIVENGOOD platform allows my patients to be active and independent without attention being diverted to multiple lines, an oxygen tank, and other medically necessary devices. It allows patients to have hope and a sense of “normalcy”, which so often is lost after trauma or surgery.”

Jessica Gilbert
DPT
Staff Physical Therapist - Medical Center of The Rockies -Loveland, CO

“Six years ago I was introduced to the LIVENGOOD mobi. This piece of equipment has been life changing for my patients. I am now able to consolidate all of the patient’s medical devices onto an easy to push mobile platform, therefore freeing up both of my hands to safely assist my patient.”

Tanya Kensley
P.T.
Poudre Valley Hospital -Fort Collins, CO

“Mobility is Life, the mobi platform will help patients move again.”

Blas Villa
CCRN
University Health System - San Antonio, TX

“I was at NTI in Boston (2013) and, during the exhibit portion, I wandered across the LIVENGOOD booth. At that moment, I knew our hospital needed this mobi for our open heart recovery program. I worked with a Clinical Nurse Specialist to write a grant for this product. I am so excited to bring the mobi to our program.”

Celina Adams
RN, MSN, CCRN (CVICU)
John C. Lincoln - Phoenix, AZ

“We walked a vented patient with the mobi and it was awesome! This helped her physically and emotionally.”

Natalie Hariel
R.N.
Tulane Medical Center - New Orleans, LA

“I am a nurse in a cardiovascular ICU… Our goal for patients is to ambulate to the chair 2 hours after extubation, often the evening of surgery day. Our patients are up and walking with central venous catheters, swan ganz catheters, chest tubes, foley catheters, and with IV medications infusing. The ambulation of these patients would not be possible without the mobi walker. Every bit of equipment that these patients need can be carried on the walker while providing the stability of a standard walker… It is an essential piece of equipment for us and we couldn’t provide the care and therapies we do without it.”

Katherine Whitfield
RN CCRN
Athens Regional Medical Center - Athens, GA

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Mobi Ambulation Specialist

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