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Aging Adult Track

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Research Snapshot Theater: Environmental Sustainability in the ICU, Adult and Pediatric

Implementation of Interdisciplinary ICU Early Mobility Program Across Four Adult ICUs

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Central Time

Location: Connections Central - RST 12

Natalia R. Torres-Acevedo, MD

New York

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
Daniela Feingold, MD

New York

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.
CH

Corinne R. Halvorsen, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
HL

Hana R. Lopez Quinones, MD

Attending Physician
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
VM

Vishes R. Mehta, MD

Attending Surgeon
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
DA

Dalia R. Alqunaibit, MD

Attending Surgeon
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
EC

Edward R. Chao, MD, FACS

Attending Surgeon
Jacobi Medical Center, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
SR

Srinivas H R. Reddy, MD, FCCM

Attending Surgeon
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
ML

Matthew R. Langston, MD

Attending Physician
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
ST

Sheldon H R. Teperman, MD

Attending Surgeon
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
JM

John McNelis, MD, FCCM, FACS

Attending Surgeon, Chair Department of Surgery
Jacobi Medical Center, New York

Disclosure information not submitted.
AL

Anna R. Liveris, MD, FACS

Attending Surgeon, Director of Trauma and Surgical Research
Jacobi Medical Center - NYCHHC

Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Early mobility is associated with improved ICU outcomes, yet program implementation remains challenging, particularly in high-acuity settings with frequent operating room (OR) trips and sedation-related barriers. We hypothesized that a structured, interdisciplinary ICU early mobility program with unit-specific coaching would achieve high patient participation and improve interdisciplinary care across four adult ICUs.

Methods: At our public safety net hospital, an interdisciplinary team composed of physical therapists (PTs), physical therapy assistants (PTAs), nursing, and ICU physicians developed a mobility program built around individualized interventions, including ambulation, resistance and transfer training, and range-of-motion exercises. PTs and PTAs participated in daily interdisciplinary goal rounds to identify and treat eligible patients 6 days per week. Weekly audits tracked enrollment and identified barriers, which were then addressed through targeted education and workflow modifications specific to each ICU.

Results: From 8/2022-7/2025, program enrollment reached 80% in Burn ICU, 91% in Surgical ICU, 80% in Medical ICU, and 100% in Cardiac ICU. Over this timeframe, 1/3rd of patients were screened and seen by PT within 24 hours and only 1/3rd were found to have contraindications. 5,290 patients were evaluated in total with 93.3% completing therapy. A key barrier identified was the discontinuation of mobility orders for patients undergoing frequent OR trips. This was addressed in the Burn ICU by educating staff and empowering PTs to advocate for continuity during daily rounds with an improvement from 71% enrollment to 80%. The Surgical ICU team is now undergoing similar coaching.

Conclusions: An ICU early mobility program that integrates PT into daily interdisciplinary workflows and applies unit-specific coaching can achieve high participation rates across diverse ICUs. Systematic identification of barriers and real-time team engagement enable consistent patient mobility, even in complex care settings. The program has supported timely mobilization, improved order maintenance, and encouraged better interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing overall continuity of care. This model is scalable and may be applied across other institutions seeking to enhance ICU recovery.