Rehabilitation should begin as early as the intensive care unit (ICU). Early mobilisation of patients can be most effective when initiated within the first 48–72 hours of ICU admission.
In Ukraine, early rehabilitation is gradually developing. The Ministry of Health’s 2025 standard for rehabilitation care for people with spinal cord injuries, for example, includes early mobilisation, verticalisation, positioning, respiratory support, and passive range-of-motion exercises.
But making early rehabilitation a systematic practice requires data, trained teams, appropriate equipment, and system-level solutions, including sustainable financing.
This is what we are working on through our new TRUE — Trauma Rehabilitation for Ukraine project direction.
What exactly are we doing?
- Researching early mobilisation of patients in intensive care
Our experts are studying early mobilisation of adult patients in selected intensive care units in Chernivtsi and Odesa regions. We will compare current practice with a standardised protocol, assessing mobility, length of ICU and hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and adverse events.
We will also assess implementation costs and identify barriers and enabling factors for adopting the protocol in Ukrainian ICUs.
- Strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities
Based on the needs identified, we will provide selected departments with the rehabilitation equipment they need. We will also deliver specialised training for healthcare teams, ensuring that professionals have the knowledge, appropriate conditions, and practical tools to apply new approaches in their daily work.
- Supporting teams after training
Following the training, our experts will provide ongoing supervision and professional support to participating teams. Together, they will discuss complex cases, address challenges arising in clinical practice, and share experiences. This ongoing support will help teams consolidate new approaches and integrate them into everyday care.
- Working towards system-level solutions
The research findings and experience of participating healthcare facilities will help us develop recommendations and proposals for further system-level improvements. These may include amendments to the relevant Ministry of Health regulations governing intensive care and anaesthesiology departments.
Our goal is to build a seamless patient pathway from the acute phase of care through to recovery.
The Trauma Rehabilitation for Ukraine (TRUE) project is implemented by a consortium of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and the Patients of Ukraine Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Protez Hub Charitable Foundation, the Ukrainian Physical Therapy Association, and the Ukrainian Society of Speech and Language Therapy.
The project is made possible with the support of Switzerland.
