A new program focused on early mobilization of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is seeking participants for a 2-year program. A news release from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) notes that as physical therapists know the importance of early mobilization and rehabilitation for ICU patients, this new program aims to recruit hospitals to participate in a project to spread that understanding by facilitating practices that can more quickly liberate patients from mechanical ventilation and move them out of the ICU.

The Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program (CUSP) for Mechanically Ventilated Patients (MVP) and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is seeking “coordinating entities” interested in participating in a 2-year program to prevent ventilator-associated events, including VAP, according to the APTA news release. The program focuses on improvement in staff communication and teamwork as well as efforts to mobilize patients sooner.

The program also focuses on analysis of daily process measures and employment of low tidal volume ventilation strategies. Project content will be delivered through e-mail, webinars, and online resources. All materials will also be available on the CUSP 4MVP VAP project website, which can be viewed here .