Using a Real Time Location System for Assessment of Patient Ambulation in a Hospital Setting

Publication date: Available online 9 March 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): In cheol Jeong, David Bychkov, Stephanie Hiser, Julie Kreif, Lisa Klein, Erik Hoyer, Peter Searson
ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of using an infrared-based Real Time Location System (RTLS) for measuring patient ambulation in a two minute walk test (2MWT) by comparing distance walked and Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility (JH-HLM) score to clinician observation as a criterion standard.DesignCriterion standard validation study.SettingInpatient, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.Participants25 Adult Neuroscience/Brain Rescue Unit patientsInterventionsNot applicableMain Outcome MeasuresRTLS and clinician reported ambulation distance in feet and JH-HLM score on an 8-point ordinal scale.ResultsThe RTLS ambulation distance for the 25 patients in the 2MWT was between 68 - 516 ft. The mean difference between clinician reported and RTLS ambulation distance was 8.4 ± 11.7 feet (2.7 ± 4.6%). The correlation between clinician reported and RTLS ambulation distance was 97.9% (p < 0.01). The clinician reported ambulation distance for two patients was +100 ft and -99 ft compared to the RTLS distance implying clinician error in counting the number of laps (98 ft). The correlation between the RTLS distance and clinician reported distance excluding these two patients is 99.8% (p < 0.01). The accuracy the RTLS for assessment of JH-HLM score for all 25 patients was 96%. The average patient speed obtained from RTLS data varied between 0.4 and 3.0 mph.ConclusionThe RTLS is able to accurately measure patient ambulation and calculate JH-HLM for a 2MWT when compared to clinician observation as the criterion standard.



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