Early Mobility Strategies to Prevent Post-Intensive Care Syndrome

Written by: Rachel Smith, DPT

When you hear “ICU” or “medically complex”, what comes to mind? As a rehab professional, this is a really loaded question. The ICU is not only a place for medical stability – it is an opportunity to help people begin reclaiming their function and independence. It is an environment for healing, and Physical and Occupational Therapists play a pivotal role in the journey to recovery.

Our On-Demand continuing education course, Early Mobility Strategies to Prevent Post-Intensive Care Syndrome, aims to foster a deeper understanding of how rehab professionals can make a bigger impact when working with medically complex patients. This course is specifically geared toward PTs and OTs who want to elevate their clinical insights and knowledge of research on immobility and Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS).

In this session, we explore:

• The effects of Immobilization & PICS on the whole person you treat
• Clinical Practice Guidelines and evidence-based research
• Example safety guidelines
• Tools used for functional assessment
• And much more…

We also discuss common barriers encountered in critical care settings and discuss potential solutions. Collectively, we brainstorm treatment approaches with our colleagues, who can bring varied levels of experience and comfort to the table. We look at a few tools that can be used for functional measures and explore discharge dispositions.

Each individual patient is unique, and while there is not one single approach that can be used for all of them, we discusss a safe, functional progression through collaborative dialogue, discussion of current research, and case study review.

Elevate your knowledge in the role of rehab in critical care, whether you are new to the ICU or have a solid foundation in the critical care setting. Let’s make every effort to initiate movement and engagement early and improve quality of life – starting on day one.