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Description

Background:

In the postoperative course, patients are routinely encouraged to ambulate as frequently as possible. Typically in the hospital this can become burdensome to the staff and often becomes low priority. Patients are also not aware of the frequency and quality of the ambulation that is sufficient in the postoperative period. At present, patients on the surgical floor who are completely independent and without any devices (eg. Oxygen, nasogastric tubes, chest tubes) are freely able to ambulate at will although there is no reliable way to track this progress. Other patients with devices are limited to waiting for nursing or ancillary staff to assist them with securing the devices that they require in the postoperative period. Ambulation has been positively associated with decreased postoperative complications ranging from bowel function to deep venous thrombosis to pneumonia.

Publication Date

5-31-2017

Keywords

Ambulation protocols leading to decreased postoperative complications and hospital stay, Thomas Jefferson University, Abington Jefferson health, HOUSE STAFF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT SAFETY POSTERS

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Ambulation protocols leading to decreased postoperative complications and hospital stay

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