Abstract Introduction Early mobilization in the intensive care unit is associated with improved patient outcomes, whereas a higher patient census is associated with worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine whether a higher daily patient census was associated with lower patient mobility scores in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted to the MICU at an academic medical center in November and December of 2024. Chart review collected demographics, clinical status (including presence of sedation, mechanical ventilation, or renal replacement therapy), and maximum mobility per 24-hour period. Maximum mobility was determined using mobility scores documented in nursing assessments and mapped to the validated Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility Scale. Results We reviewed 60 patient charts for a total of 208 patient-days. Mean daily census in the unit was 22 patients. Patient demographics are presented in Table 1. Of the 60 patients in the MICU, 31 were MICU level of care, 15 were intermediate level of care, and the remainder were floor or comfort care upon their arrival to the MICU. Maximum daily mobility score was not associated with maximum daily mobility (p = 0.638) Conclusions There was no association between MICU census and maximum level of mobility among patients in the unit. This may be due to the small variability in MICU census within our cohort. Further studies with larger samples, longer follow-up, and greater variability may be needed to detect a significant association. This abstract is funded by: None
Jacobs et al. (Fri,) studied this question.