Electronic Health Record Tool to Promote Team Communication and Early Patient Mobility in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND Intensive care unit early mobility programs improve patients' outcomes while reducing costs for both patients and institutions. Inadequate interprofessional communication is a known barrier to achieving good early mobility program outcomes. Electronic health record communication tools promoting interprofessional communication have demonstrated improved patient outcomes, but have not been evaluated for mobility in the intensive care unit. OBJECTIVES To implement an early mobility collaboration program in an existing early mobility program, consisting of protocol education and an electronic health record tool designed to improve interprofessional communication and collaboration. METHODS In phase 1, staff members viewed an online educational module, the existing mobility protocol, and the "Mobility Levels" grading scale. In phase 2, an electronic health record communication tool displayed recently recorded mobility levels to all care providers. Staff knowledge of the early mobility program and perceptions of mobility-related communication were assessed by survey; patient outcomes including mobility goals, mechanical ventilation time, length of intensive care unit stay, and cost were assessed by records review. RESULTS Statistically significant increases were found for staff satisfaction with mobility-related communication (P<.001) and communication frequency (P=.02), but not for staff knowledge (P=.28). Hours to achievement of mobility goal (P=.02) and length of intensive care unit stay (P=.02) decreased significantly. Average ventilation time decreased by 27 hours. Discharge recommendations at higher functional levels increased. Total intensive care unit cost decreased significantly (-39.5%; P=.04). CONCLUSIONS Interprofessional communication and collaboration can lead to improved outcomes. Combining routine educational reviews and an electronic health record communication tool may improve patient and system outcomes for intensive care unit early mobility program patients.