To describe physical therapist (PT) practice for patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a tertiary hospital and to describe a novel clinical decision-making algorithm (nCDM) and its use in enhancing clinical practice for this patient population. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective chart review. An nCDM was formulated to assist with best practice. The Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care "6 clicks" (AM-PAC) score, highest level of mobility, discharge destination, and observed clinical complications at hospital discharge were collected. Results: Seventy-seven patients received ICU PT services. Of these, twenty-six patients were outside previously established parameters for initiating PT intervention and forty-four patients were on mechanical ventilation during the initial PT evaluation. All groups showed a statistically significant improvement in their respective AM-PAC scores from initial PT evaluation to ICU discharge. Conclusion: The authors have described our PT practice for this patient population in our setting. Patients who were outside previously established parameters for initiating PT intervention were able to participate with PT and showed functional improvement. This nCDM shows a promising use in enhancing clinical decision-making for PT practice while treating patients with COVID-19 in the ICU.

Background: Measurement tools are increasingly used to quantify impairments in mobility and muscle strength of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), yet little evidence exists to support the relationship between measurement tools and discharge destination. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether a relationship between the Perme ICU Mobility Score (Perme Score) and the Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS) exists between either of these 2 measurement tools and discharge destination for patients in the ICU. Design: The Perme Score and the MRC-SS were performed on patients during the initial physical therapy (PT) evaluation in 5 different ICUs. Data were analyzed to determine whether a relationship exists between either of these scores and discharge destination. Methods: Data were collected on 250 patients in 5 ICUs during the initial PT evaluation. Results: Patients in the ICU with a higher Perme Score or MRC-SS at the time of PT evaluation were discharged home whereas those with lower scores required postacute care placement. Conclusion: The results from this study demonstrate the potential use of the Perme Score or the MRC-SS as standardized measurement tools to assist physical therapists in providing discharge recommendations in the ICU.