The exercise physiologist is responsible for patient intake and exercise prescription formulation for new cardiac rehab and industrial patients. Also assists with daily supervision and monitoring of patients as well as participating in the continuing education process for those not only enrolled in outpatient cardiac rehab, but also for inpatient Phase I participants. Responsibilities extend across the continuum of cardiac rehab services, beginning with Phase I and through to Phase IV.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications:
• Educational Requirements: Bachelors Degree in exercise/health related field.
• Minimum Experience: Completion of a Cardiac Rehab internship or minimum of one (1) year’s experience in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (Phase II) including testing experience, exercise prescription, and conducting exercise therapy sessions.
• Other:

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:
• Preferred Educational Requirements:
• Preferred Experience:
• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must have competency in performing EKG’s and in the recognition and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias
• Must have knowledge of operation of computer assisted testing equipment.
• BLS/ACLS Knowledge and Skills
• Must be in excellent physical condition and exemplify a healthy lifestyle as evidenced by not smoking, taking dangerous drugs, and be within normal/average percent body fat

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provides for the patient’s therapeutic exercise needs by formulating an exercise program based on the outpatient’s entrance ability and past and immediate medical history.
• Provides the patient with a thorough explanation of the exercise program along with comprehensive instruction on the use of each piece of equipment that will be utilized, along with safety information.
• Assists patients in their cardiac based exercise program by monitoring their exercise activity at each session and providing them with direction for progression in activity(rehab and home ) as well as verbal encouragement and support.
• Insures compliance with the physician’s medical regimen by providing timely updates in the progress of the patient’s exercise program and making adjustments as directed by the physician
• Provides for the patient’s medical needs by interfacing the exercise program with the medical monitoring and interaction provided by the cardiac rehab nursing staff.
• Provides the immediate post-CABG patient (inpatient) with initial, supervised activity instruction and continued activity progression throughout admission.
• Provides for the patient’s education needs in regards to exercise, risk factor reduction, warning sign recognition and cardiac rehabilitation
• Researches the latest material related to exercise and cardiac rehabilitation and keeps the patients updated through presentations in weekly educational sessions.
• Provides the patients with an opportunity to verbalize educational needs and adjusts educational presentations to address those needs
• Evaluates, through discussion and observation, the level of the patient’s understanding of exercise as it relates to cardiac disease, and provides for individual education as needed.
• Provides individualized home exercise instruction to the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation participant (and to those referred for consultation), including instruction on monitoring, warning sign recognition and progression.
• Presents information to Phase I patients and their families that will increase their level of understanding of cardiac disease and its treatment, as well as their understanding of outpatients cardiac rehabilitation
• Manages individual and collective patient/program data for physician, management and national reporting, review and monitoring.
• Performs initial, final and post-rehab evaluations and data collection at periods designated by cardiac rehab policies/procedures. Evaluations include clinical, behavioral, economic and health assessments.
• Responsible for both data entry and database management for all evaluation measurements.
• Provides regular individual updates to physicians and collective updates to cardiac rehab management and national reporting center.
• Assists in promoting community wellness and education by providing instruction on the cardiac disease process and available therapy.
• Participates in presentations sponsored by the speaker’s bureau.
• Provides for community education through written material provided to local media for community distribution.
• Serves as/or assist the internship supervisor for prospective exercise physiology/health and wellness students electing to complete course requirements in cardiac rehab.

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 100 lbs, Frequently 31-65% of time
• Weight Carried: Up to 50 lbs, Frequently 31-65% of time
• Vision: Light, Frequently 31-65% of time
• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Frequently 31-65%
• Standing/Walking: Frequently 31-65%
• Pushing/Pulling: Frequently 31-65%
• Intensity of Work: %
• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding, Driving