Physical therapy in intensive care: quality assurance and future perspectives

Abstract

With the additional fee for early rehabilitation as specific ICU management in the revision of the medical treatment fees in FY2018, physical therapy in intensive care has received renewed attention in Japan. Physical therapy in intensive care covers early mobilization, airway clearance, improvement of physical functions, and prevention of complications. In addition, it also has an important role in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), as the respiratory function, physical functions, cognitive functions, and quality of life of the patients often continue to decline for a long time after discharge from the ICU. We published the“Minimum standards of clinical practice for physical therapists working in ICU in Japan” in 2020. This is expected not only to promote quality assurance of physical therapists working in ICU, but also enhance the understanding of the work of the physical therapists and serve as a tool for post-graduate education of physical therapists specializing in physical therapy in intensive care. The role of physical therapists in intensive care is clear. To ensure that their role in intensive care is fulfilled, physical therapists should strive to improve the quality of their work.