Physical Therapy Utilization in Intensive Care Units: Results
from a National Survey
Katherine E. Hodgin, Amy Nordon-Craft, Kim K. McFann, Meredith L. Mealer, and Marc
Moss
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Physical Therapy Program, and
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Denver and Health
Sciences Center, Denver, CO
Abstract
Objective—Patients who survive admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) commonly complain
of fatigue, weakness, and poor functional status. This study sought to determine the utilization of
inpatient physical therapy for patients recovering from critical illness.
Design—Surveys were mailed to 984 physical therapists from across the United States. Each
survey included questions concerning staffing and availability of physical therapists for ICU
patients, and the utilization of physical therapy (PT) for six patient scenarios requiring ICU
admission and mechanical ventilation.
Main Results—Overall 482 physical therapists completed their survey. The majority of hospitals
(89%) at which the physical therapists were employed require a physician consultation to initiate
PT for ICU patients. Established hospital criteria for the initiation of PT in the ICU were present at
only 10% of the hospitals. Community hospitals were more likely to routinely provide PT on
weekends compared to academic hospitals (p=0.03). The likelihood of routine PT involvement
varied significantly with the clinical scenario (highest 87% status post cerebrovascular accident,
lowest 64% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, p