A unit-based, multi-center evaluation of adopting mobility measures and daily mobility goals in the hospital setting

Abstract

Background: Promoting patient mobility helps improve patient outcomes, but mobility status is not widely tracked nor do patients have specific individualized mobility goals.

Purpose: We evaluated nursing adoption of mobility measures and daily mobility goal achievement using the Johns Hopkins Mobility Goal Calculator (JH-MGC), a tool to guide an individualized patient mobility goal based on the level of mobility capacity.

Method: Built on a translating research into practice framework, the Johns Hopkins Activity and Mobility Promotion (JH-AMP) program was the vehicle to promote use of the mobility measures and the JH-MGC. We evaluated a large-scale implementation effort of this program on 23 units across two medical centers.

Findings: Units significantly improved documentation compliance to mobility measures and achieving daily mobility goals. Units with the highest documentation compliance rates had higher rates of daily mobility goal achievement, especially for longer distance ambulation goals.

Discussion: The JH-AMP program improved adoption of mobility status tracking and higher nursing inpatient mobility levels.

Keywords: Goals; Hospital; Mobility; Mobility limitation; Patients; Quality improvement.