Exercise is Medicine: Implementing a New Initiative to Increase Patients' Activity and Functional Mobility in Pediatric Stem-Cell Transplant Unit

PURPOSE: Patients undergoing stem-cell transplants endure prolonged hospitalizations and aggressive medical treatments. This combination can quickly evolve into loss of functional strength and physical debilitation. We aimed to promote independent patient activity during hospitalizations, to improve compliance with prescribed physical therapy (PT) sessions, and to focus those sessions on resistance and endurance exercises. METHODS: We used the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model of Improvement as our quality improvement (QI) framework, and we implemented an initiative called Exercise is Medicine. The initiative included three key components: (1) educating staff and caregivers about the importance of early ambulation, (2) incorporating the Miles in Motion (MiM) program to encourage patients' daily activity, and (3) eliminating barriers to allow for higher completion rates of prescribed PT sessions. Data were collected for the completion rate of PT sessions, rate of high-frequency PT sessions, participation in the MiM program, and 1-minute sit-to-stand test scores on admission and discharge. RESULTS: Before intervention, 42% of patients required high-frequency PT because of significant debilitation, which decreased to 17% after intervention. The completion rate of PT sessions increased from 71% to 87%. By discharge, 79% of patients improved their 1-minute sit-to-stand test scores and 21% returned to baseline score, indicating stable or improved functional strength, and 92% of patients participated in MiM. CONCLUSION: The Exercise is Medicine initiative facilitated positive changes with patients showing stable or improved functional strength and endurance and increased participation in independent activity during inpatient stays.