Association Between Inpatient Steps Per Day and Patient Functional Status/Disposition

Association Between Inpatient Steps Per Day and Patient Functional Status/Disposition

This study will incorporate the use of wearable actigraphy devices (Fitbit) on research participants admitted to medicine inpatient units at Tisch Hospital and/or NYU Brooklyn. The investigator's sample size will be 600 randomized into two groups, with basic inclusion criteria including age greater than 65 years and pre-hospital ambulatory status. While both groups will be monitored in terms of their activity (specifically pedometer data), the intervention group will have twice daily encouragement of ambulation. Once a subject is enrolled, data will be collected daily and at time of discharge.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admitted to acute inpatient medicine unit
• Ambulatory without assistive device prior to hospitalization
• Medical clearance to ambulate on the unit
• Active MyChart account or willing to activate MyChart account
• iOS or Android device

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients less than or equal to 65 years old
• Not Admitted to acute inpatient medicine unit
• Ambulatory with assistive device prior to hospitalization
• No Medical clearance to ambulate on the unit
• Inactive MyChart account and not willing to activate MyChart account
• No iOS or Android device

In addition, an individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Oxygen requirement at rest
• Lower extremity prosthesis
• Admitted for joint replacement surgery
• History of frequent falls
• Admitted for syncope.
• If patients have specifically opted out of being contacted about research (visible in the Epic header while in their chart)
• Admitted from nursing home