SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Get Moving! Assessing Internal Medicine Physician Attitudes About Patient Mobility

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This document presents a survey-based assessment of internal medicine physicians’ attitudes toward patient mobility in hospitalized, non-ICU medical patients. The background emphasizes that delayed or absent mobilization is linked to worse health outcomes, poorer psychological outcomes, functional decline, and longer hospital stays. Common barriers to mobilization include patient pain, weakness, fatigue, inadequate staffing, and lack of assistive devices.<br /><br />The study aimed to identify center-specific barriers to early mobilization at an urban academic hospital and understand how these barriers may contribute to frequent requests for skilled physical therapy (PT). A multiple-choice survey on knowledge and beliefs about patient mobility was distributed to hospital medicine attendings and internal medicine interns/residents. Response rates were 61% for attendings and 30% for trainees.<br /><br />Results showed strong agreement that patient mobility improves outcomes, but few respondents believed patients are mobilized enough. Major perceived barriers included inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios, limited confidence in skilled PT referral criteria, lack of accessible equipment, uncertainty about when mobilization is safe, inaccurate EMR mobility orders, and poor documentation of baseline functional status. Notably, only a minority felt confident in their own ability to safely mobilize patients or regularly documented functional status.<br /><br />The conclusions highlight that physicians overwhelmingly support mobility in principle, yet important practical and systems-level barriers limit implementation. Recommended next steps include formal physician education on mobilization and skilled PT use, appointing resident champions to advocate for appropriate PT referral, and technology improvements such as better note templates and more accurate mobility order sets.

Asset Subtitle

Mitchell Gronowitz

Meta Tag

Author List Anne S. Linker, Mitchell Gronowitz, Olivia Fiscaletti, Rachita Das, Tuyet-Trinh Truong

Category Research

Concept Early Mobilization

Concept Patient Mobility

Concept Functional Status

Concept Mobility Barrier

Concept Inpatient Physical Therapy Referral

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Presenting Author Mitchell Gronowitz

Track Value in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

patient mobility

internal medicine

hospitalized patients

physical therapy

mobilization barriers

physician attitudes

early mobilization

functional status

hospital medicine

survey study

Early Mobilization

Patient Mobility

Functional Status

Mobility Barrier

Inpatient Physical Therapy Referral