GET UP

Early progressive mobility allows patients to return to function more quickly by preserving muscle strength, reducing delirium, improving lower extremity circulation and lung capacity and reducing length of stay. This strategy provides an opportunity for all disciplines to collaborate and participate in decreasing harm to patients; patients and families should be included in the care plan. The GET UP strategy impacts readmissions, worker safety and six patient harm areas: catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), delirium, falls, pressure injuries, ventilator-associated events (VAE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE).

FHA will focus on GET UP January - March 2018.

The acronym is a reminder of the practices an organization needs to have in place to effectively initiate an early mobility program:

G - GO: determine the resources in your institution and how you will implement a mobility program.
E - EVALUATE (patient capabilities): which scale/tool/evaluation method will you standardize on?
T - TEAM UP for progressive mobility: rehabilitation, nursing and respiratory join to implement the mobility plan.
U - UNITE: engage patients, families and friends in mobility progression.
P - PROMOTE PROGRESS: measure and report unit mobility performance.