Cardiac Rehab Exercise Therapist

ProMedica•Defiance, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cardiac Rehab Exercise Therapist performs prescribed therapeutic and diagnostic procedures to support patients’ cardiac rehabilitation goals. The therapist helps create individualized plans of care, evaluates progress toward identified goals, records results, and communicates pertinent information to members of the health care team. The role also includes educating patients about cardiac rehabilitation and providing clinical instruction to nursing, medical students, residents, and ancillary students as needed. The therapist conducts comprehensive patient assessments; collaborates with patients, cardiac rehabilitation team members, and physicians to develop and update individualized plans of care; performs glucose sampling and analysis and noninvasive monitoring; provides individual and group instruction; and monitors patient progress and outcomes. The therapist safely operates and troubleshoots cardiac monitoring, oxygen, exercise, laboratory, and other patient-care equipment, and follows applicable policies, procedures, and professional guidelines to deliver safe, efficient, cost-effective, evidence-based care. Patient education is tailored to each patient’s understanding, learning style, and discharge needs. Topics include disease processes, tobacco cessation, cardiac services, risk-factor and lifestyle modification, home-care equipment, and exercise programs. The therapist contributes to staff orientation and development, performance-improvement and safety initiatives, accurate documentation and billing, and other duties within the scope of training and practice. The position may require work in other business units as part of a shared staffing plan.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an Allied Health or Science area is the minimum qualification.
Comprehensive knowledge of exercise physiology.
Thorough knowledge of cardiovascular pathology, testing, and treatment.
BLS and ACLS certification are required at some business units.
Ability to occasionally move heavy materials, equipment, or patients with assistance.
Effective verbal and written communication and ability to collaborate with physicians, nurses, care navigators, administrators, and other professionals.
Ability to understand directions, respond to inquiries, and input and retrieve computer information.
Ability to move efficiently and effectively throughout the hospital and between workstations.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
Ability to take ownership of problems, manage stress professionally and healthily, and make informed decisions.
Adherence to the code of ethics.
Ability to function with constant interruption and in stressful situations.

Nice To Haves

Membership in AACVPR and other professional organizations.
Two years of experience.
Specialist certification through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive subjective and objective assessments of cardiac rehabilitation patients.
Collaborate with patients, cardiac rehabilitation team members, and physicians to develop and update an individualized plan of care based on evaluation and ongoing assessments.
Perform glucose blood sampling, analysis, and reporting, and conduct noninvasive monitoring.
Provide individual and group education and instruction as appropriate; arrange interdisciplinary education when needed, including nutrition and pharmaceutical education.
Monitor patient progression and outcomes.
Safely assemble, operate, and troubleshoot therapeutic and diagnostic equipment used for patient care.
Apply hospital and department policies and procedures and applicable AACVPR guidelines and evidence-based best practices.
Educate patients and their support systems about disease processes, tobacco cessation, cardiac care services, risk-factor and lifestyle modification, home-care equipment, and exercise programs.
Assist with clinical instruction for ancillary services, nursing, medical students, residents, and ancillary students as needed.
Participate in the orientation of new staff and contribute to the growth of others.
Participate in performance-improvement initiatives and collaborate with other disciplines to enhance patient and employee safety.
Complete accurate patient documentation, including billing and productivity standards; contribute to plans of care, evaluate goals, record results, and communicate pertinent information to the health care team.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested by leadership within the scope of training and practice, and follow the appropriate chain of command.
Perform essential duties in other business units as required by a shared staffing plan.