Designed for: Physical and occupational therapists and assistants working with acute care patients, including cardiopulmonary, medical/surgical and neurologic

Therapists are often challenged when presented with complex acute care patients who may have cardiovascular and/or pulmonary dysfunction or complications in addition to other medical conditions. Mobilizing these complex patients safely requires integration of the implications of lab values, diagnostic test results, patient history, medications and equipment. Signs of patient instability and when and how to modify or terminate treatment will be discussed.

This course provides therapists with the knowledge, problem solving skills, and all the red flags for assessing mobility as well as the tools to develop safe and appropriate intervention programs for patients in acute care no matter their diagnosis.

Participants will be able to apply course learning immediately to:
• Analyze cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions that may affect their patient’s response to mobility as well as the implication of lines, leads and monitors.
• Assess and analyze responses to activity and make appropriate adjustments and prioritize the plan of care based on lab values, diagnostic test results, medications and patient history.
• Using sound clinical decision making, develop appropriate plans of care for mobility activities based on chart data review and clinical exam.
• Select appropriate monitoring tools for mobility and interpret the results including outcomes and best practice documentation.
• Discuss the evidence for early mobility of complex acute care patients as well as evidence on bed rest and deconditioning.