Improving Mobility in Acute Care Patients with a Mobility Technician: A Quality Improvement Pilot Project

Background: Early mobilization during hospitalization remains an important element in the patient’s recovery and is associated with good clinical outcomes. Despite these benefits, nurses and physical therapists experience challenges from time constraints and competing responsibilities. Mobility technicians present an alternative for safe and early patient mobilization during hospitalization. Methods: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a mobility technician program to improve patients’ mobility during their hospital stay. The setting was a medical-surgical nursing unit of a hospital in South Florida. A protocol was implemented in December 2023. Patients who met the criteria for ambulation using the Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT) score were referred to the mobility technician for assistance with ambulation. Results: Since the implementation of this pilot project, 320 patients have ambulated with the mobility technician during their hospital stay. Fifty percent were males, 88% had medical (not postoperative) status, and 89% had a BMAT score of 4. Many of the patients required a gait belt and rolling walker (38%) and were able to ambulate in the hallway with assistance (92%). The distance walked ranged from less than 50 feet (18%) to 500 feet (67%). The mobility technician mobilized an average of 11 patients per day (min = 6, max = 16). Conclusion: Implementing a mobility technician program increases the opportunity for patients to ambulate early during their hospital stay. The program may contribute to a better patient experience, increased discharge-to-home rates, and decreased hospital length of stay.