Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Schuylkill•Hellertown, PA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Exercise Physiologist supervises and oversees inpatient and/or outpatient stress testing or exercise and physical fitness testing in lieu of physician presence. The role assesses the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of exercise on cardiac and/or high-risk patient populations and collaborates with physicians and other healthcare team members to deliver high-quality diagnostic testing and interventions. The position performs a range of stress testing and interventions, monitors patient responses, recognizes abnormal findings and testing endpoints, and contributes data for physicians’ final report interpretation. It also supports onboarding and supervision of new employees and student interns and provides education on exercise, health, and lifestyle modification as appropriate. The position is onsite at the Health Center at Hellertown, with a variable schedule of eight hours per day, three days per week, on the day shift.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology.
Strong knowledge of cardiac anatomy and physiology and hemodynamic response to exercise, including testing and intervention endpoints.
Strong knowledge of cardiac exercise protocols and ability to select the most appropriate protocol for a patient.
Strong knowledge of cardiac rhythms and ability to recognize arrhythmias.
Critical thinking and judgment skills to evaluate patient response to exercise during testing or intervention.
Ability to multitask and work well under stress and in emergency situations.
Ability to work interdependently.
Ability to use PC software programs.
Ability to develop individualized exercise prescriptions for cardiac, pulmonary, and vascular patients based on clinical assessment and/or exercise stress test results.
Ability to evaluate patient responses to exercise conditioning.
Strong patient education and teaching abilities, both individually and in groups as indicated.
Strong knowledge of cardiac risk factors and lifestyle modifications.
ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), State of Pennsylvania, required upon hire.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support, State of Pennsylvania, required upon hire.
ACSM-Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist or equivalent listed credential (ACSM-Certified Therapeutic Exercise Specialist, Health/Fitness Instructor, or Exercise Physiologist), State of Pennsylvania, required within one year; alternatively, CCRP (Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional), AACVPR, State of Pennsylvania, required within one year.

Nice To Haves

Clinical internship in diagnostic stress testing with a diseased population.
Basic and advanced ECG courses, with performance of a 12-lead ECG evaluation and dysrhythmia recognition.
One year of cardiovascular stress testing experience or one year of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation experience.

Responsibilities

Determine the appropriate stress exercise protocol based on the patient’s medical history, evaluation, resting EKG, and test or intervention indication.
Recognize indications and contraindications for stress testing or intervention, and communicate with a physician when questions, appropriateness concerns, or changes in the patient’s condition warrant discussion.
Prepare patients for testing or intervention, explain the procedure, confirm patient understanding, and place leads properly.
Supervise inpatient and/or outpatient treadmill exercise stress tests, nuclear exercise and pharmacological tests, stress echocardiography, and graded-progressive cardiopulmonary exercise testing, using critical judgment and monitoring for inappropriate responses.
Evaluate patient anatomy and physiology, hemodynamic and vital-sign responses, and detect abnormal responses, including blood pressure and arrhythmia responses.
Recognize endpoints for testing and treatment sessions.
Integrate exercise testing data into documentation for final report interpretation by a physician.
Recognize when physician presence is appropriate during stress testing or intervention.
Perform Holter monitor scan analysis as needed.
Participate in and support the supervision and onboarding of new employees and student interns.
Provide education on exercise, health, and lifestyle modification as appropriate.
Develop individualized exercise prescriptions for cardiac, pulmonary, and vascular patients based on clinical assessment and/or exercise stress test results, and evaluate responses to exercise conditioning.