title: Financial implications of starting a mobility protocol in a surgical intensive care unit.
abstract: A review of the literature revealed that there was a dearth of information regarding the financial impact of implementing a mobility program in an intensive care unit. The purpose of this article was to identify and quantify costs and cost-benefit from implementing a mobility protocol. Factors to be considered when implementing a mobility program in an intensive care unit are identified and discussed. The increased acuity and lengths of stay associated with this population and the unavoidable increase in the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers make it difficult to extrapolate the economic benefits of the mobility program at this time.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. dianejk@umich.edu
authors.forename: Diane J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Knoblauch
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bettis
authors.forename: Francene
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lundy
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meldrum
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004434:Early Ambulation / Q000191:economics*; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D008824:Michigan; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*