Exercise Physiologist

Job Description

The Exercise Physiologist is responsible for the administration, clinical planning, development, and operations of the Baptist Health Care cardiopulmonary rehab program and staffing. The position works directly with the program manager to update and improve patient-centered care based on changing trends in cardiac and/or pulmonary rehabilitation. The position participates in the processes of assisting the patient with cardiovascular risk factor reduction and performs initial and ongoing assessments of patients' individualized treatment plan (ITP) in collaboration with other health care team members. The position fosters patient learning by providing ongoing patient education based on their needs and wants. The Exercise Physiologist works with students and/or collegiate interns to cultivate continuous learning to meet their educational goals as determined by their clinical experience requirements to include initial patient care assessments, evaluations, and appropriateness to modify patient goals and individual treatment plans.

Responsibilities

• Assesses and evaluates new patients at intake into program.
• Assists cardiac and pulmonary patients in goal-setting during the initial evaluation and throughout the program, and participates in discharge planning.
• Conducts orientation session with patient, which includes interpretation of graded exercise test (GXT) results if available, performs fit testing of exercise prescription, guidelines for safety, and overview of program.
• Assesses and evaluates the patient's GXT, fitness assessments, and medical data, and develops a safe and effective exercise prescription for the patient utilizing the appropriate mode, intensity, duration and frequency of exercise.
• Conducts and monitors each exercise plan to include implementing safety parameters when appropriate.
• Coordinates and provides educational and training classes for patients/family/support system as needs are identified.
• Monitors equipment daily and alerts department leadership and Bio-Medical Services for repair as needed.
• References and complies with BHC Organizational and BHVI Program policies and protocols.
• Assist in other duties as assigned to support the operational needs of the department and organization.
• May be required to remain on campus immediately before, during, and after severe weather and/or disasters.

Qualifications

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's Degree Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health Leisure & Exercise Scie, Kinesiology Required.

Minimum Work Experience

• Completion of Collegiate Internship or 1-3 years Cardiac or Pulmonary Rehab experience Required.

Licenses and Certifications

• BLS for Healthcare Providers (BLS) American Heart Association within 30 Days Required.
• National Institutes Of Health Stroke Scale (NIH) within 30 Days Required.
• One of the following certifications: ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist or CCRP-Certified Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Professional; CPT-Certified Personal Trainer; PES-Performance Enhancement Specialist; CES-Corrective Exercise Specialist within 18 Months Required

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge and/or experience in techniques/skills required for Cardiac and/or Pulmonary Rehabilitation (Medicare/AACVPR guidelines).
• Knowledge in exercise physiology, exercise prescription, nutrition, risk factor modification, counseling techniques, behavioral modification techniques, ability to perform individual and group educational programs for patients/ family members.
• Ability to lead individual and group exercise programs to include needed educational sessions to maximize the patient experience.
• Uses the Intradisciplinary approach and hospital and/or community resources whenever a patient might present with unique needs: Health Literacy; Dietary; Smoking/Tobacco/Vaping cessation; psychosocial; socioeconomics and/or medical compliance.
• Skill in educating patients, families, students and peers using various learning techniques and verifies/confirms understanding/comprehension
• Ability to identify learning needs and foster learning.
• Ability to implement and enforce safety measures for patients and peers.
• Ability to communicate constructive feedback to optimize learning and establishes expectations.
• Ability to interpret cardiac rhythms and work with ScottCare/Versa Care telemetry monitoring system.

About Us

Baptist Health Care is a not-for-profit health care system committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in northwest Florida and south Alabama. The organization includes three hospitals, four medical parks, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, and an extensive primary and specialty care provider network. With more than 4,000 team members, Baptist Health Care is one of the largest non-governmental employers in northwest Florida.

Baptist Health Care, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. BHC maintains and enforces a policy that prohibits discrimination against any workforce members or applicants for employment because of sex, race, age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, religion, genetic information, or other category protected by federal, state or local law.

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