Cardiac Rehab Exercise Physiologist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Baccalaureate or higher degree in physical therapy, exercise science, or equivalent required.
• Knowledge and experience in techniques of Cardiac Rehabilitation.
• Knowledge in exercise physiology, exercise testing, exercise prescription, group leadership, and cardiac monitoring techniques (including both in-person as well as monitoring techniques for in-home virtual cardiac rehab settings).
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and enjoy working with groups of patients and be a part of a multidisciplinary team including cardiac nurses, registered dietitian and referring cardiologists.
• BLS - Basic Life Support Required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification - American Heart Association (AHA) (Including courses offered through SSH), INSTRUCTOR- Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association (AHA) (Including courses offered through SSH)

Nice To Haves

• Masters degree in exercise science or exercise physiology or equivalent preferred.
• Experience preferred with working with cardiac patient population with multiple co-morbidities.
• Pursue knowledge and skills needed to become CCRP (Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional) through the AACVPR (American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Selects appropriate evaluation tools consistent with patient’s history, diagnosis, and medical status.
• Conducts exercise therapist assessment and documents findings on multidisciplinary assessment form.
• Identifies any orthopedic, neurological or medical problems, which may interfere with patient's successful completion of the program and notes any of these problems in initial patient admission assessment.
• Conducts pre-program patient measurements within first week of the program.
• Plans to accommodate special limitations appearing in patient admission assessment.
• Reviews patient's goal for exercise within the first week of program and documents exercise goals in initial evaluation.
• Reviews and evaluates results of GXT (when available) and medical data prior to patient admission.
• Calculates patient's target heart rate before first exercise session and documents on patient's exercise record.
• Participates in educational activities outside department (nursing, physicians) regarding individual patient needs.
• Demonstrates behaviors supportive of departmental standards for productivity with occasional variance due to patient volumes.
• Maintains communication with the referring physician or primary care physician regarding patient’s progress.
• Demonstrates in-depth knowledge about equipment/materials/ utilized in patient care.
• Selects therapeutic techniques that reflect integration of therapists clinical knowledge and theory.
• Performs therapeutic techniques that are consistent with the problems and medical standards in a safe manner.
• Develop and provide treatment plans for complex patients with increased medical considerations such as LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Devices), Heart Transplant, Renal Dialysis, Stroke, Stage 3-4 Heart Failure, Diabetic patients with Insulin Pumps.
• Manage and create safe environment for assigned patient groups of up to 12 patients per group.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team when appropriate (participates in rounds/ team meetings/ consults with team members) and adjusts treatment appropriately.
• Takes advantage of learning opportunities for professional development including in-services, conferences or courses.
• Modifies/adapts activities/length of treatment in response to patient’s status in collaboration with involved team members.
• Provides patient/family education.
• Presents group education classes related on principles of exercise and documents entry on Pt/Family Education Record.
• Explains principles of exercise prescription, safety guidelines and overview of program at first exercise session and documents teaching within first week of program.
• Provides patient support with behavior modification and risk reduction plan.
• Develops a safe and effective exercise prescription for the patient utilizing appropriate mode, intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise.
• Instructs patient to monitor heart rate and perceived exertion during exercise and documents in patient record.
• Demonstrates appropriate clinical decision making skills in reporting of signs and symptoms by patient to supervising RN.
• Advances patient's exercise prescription weekly, based on target heart rate, patient's perceived exertion and patient's medical condition.
• Prepares patients for telemetry, takes blood pressure and monitors heart rate, RPE when necessary.
• Performs Virtual Cardiac Rehab visits using Zoom technology for patients who prefer a home-based or hybrid exercise program.
• Documents patient program and progress.
• Maintains up-to-date evaluations, individualized treatment plans (ITP), and discharge reports.
• Updates all exercise prescriptions for assigned patients in Scottcare System.
• Completes patient care information on a daily basis.
• Is responsible to independently write clear, concise, relevant and inclusive documentation that facilitates communication of the patient’s status and ongoing needs.
• Therapist adheres to all procedures and documentation standards.
• Therapist takes responsibility to provide coverage information on all patients for whom they have primary responsibility when absent.
• Requests change for physician’s orders as needed.
• Accurately receives and documents department order from physician as appropriate.
• Documents patient education documentation completely per department and JCAHO standards.
• Documents entry for orientation session on Patient/Family Education Record.
• Follow–through for plans are acknowledged in patient progress notes on a weekly basis.
• Reviews orientation equipment safety checklist with patient during first week and documents review.
• Documents patient progress with increasing activity tolerance and advances exercise prescriptions based on patient’s THR, RPE and medical condition.
• Documentation will include home exercise program review at least once every week.
• Demonstrates ability to obtain multisession data reports from Scottcare system as needed.
• Documents exercise prescriptions on the patient exercise record considering target heart rate and patient’s perceived exertion.
• Documents treatment and progress in patient's chart with each session.
• Documents all related patient outcome data in the AACVPR Outcome Data Registry pre- and post-program.
• Demonstrates timely discharge from treatment with appropriate documentation.
• Enters daily charges in a timely and accurate manner.
• Communicates effectively with staff, peers, colleagues, patients, and family members.
• Plans and actively participates in department projects/events/activities.
• Participates in Shared Governance including being an active member of the Unit Based Council.
• Serves as ambassador for department to visitors (tours/observation of patient care).
• Assists with continuous Quality Improvement and Lean activities, as directed.
• Evaluate Patient Outcome Data from AACVPR Outcome Registry as part of process improvement initiatives.
• Takes responsibility for continuing professional development education as well as the required competencies for AACVPR Program Certification.
• Actively promotes profession to referring providers, frontline staff, patients and families.
• Pursue knowledge and skills needed to become CCRP (Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional) through the AACVPR (American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation) preferred.
• Participates in continued learning and possess a willingness and ability to learn and utilize new technology and procedures that continue to develop in their role and throughout the organization.
• Embraces technological advances that allow us to communicate information effectively and efficiently based on role - for example, EPIC, Scottcare Telemetry and Documentation System and Outlook, Virtual CR visits using Zoom as needed.
• Demonstrates willingness to identify and/or assume activities relative to the developmental needs of the department and hospital.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintain a professional and appropriate manner of conversation.
• Maintain composure during stressful situations.
• Able to complete clinical and non-clinical tasks as well as assigned activities according to policies, practice guidelines and assigned deadlines.
• Utilizes critical thinking and problem solving in day to day operations as well as in emergent situations.
• Communicates appropriately and effectively following chain of command.
• Demonstrates dependability and flexibility in meeting scheduling needs of the department.
• Has maintained required licenses/certifications.
• Completed other required mandatory and educational requirements.
• Reports to work on time and meets acceptable standards for attendance.

Benefits

• Compensation Pay Range: $28.79 - $38.74