What are the responsibilities and job description for the Exercise Physiologist position at Physicians Regional Healthcare System?
Job Summary
The Exercise Physiologist supports the health and wellness of patients by assessing fitness levels, prescribing safe and effective exercise programs, and providing education to promote long-term health improvements. This role collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to develop and adjust individualized care plans, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through exercise interventions, risk factor management, and education.
Essential Functions
The Exercise Physiologist supports the health and wellness of patients by assessing fitness levels, prescribing safe and effective exercise programs, and providing education to promote long-term health improvements. This role collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to develop and adjust individualized care plans, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through exercise interventions, risk factor management, and education.
Essential Functions
- Assesses patients’ fitness levels and develops individualized exercise prescriptions based on physician orders, diagnostic testing, and patient goals.
- Supervises group and individual exercise sessions, ensuring safety, adherence to exercise protocols, and achievement of patient-specific goals.
- Monitors patient responses to exercise, including telemetry, oxygen saturation, and vital signs, and adjusts exercise plans accordingly.
- Educates patients and families on exercise techniques, health maintenance, and lifestyle modifications, addressing topics such as nutrition, weight management, diabetes control, and tobacco cessation.
- Collaborates with physicians, registered nurses, and other healthcare team members to optimize care plans and ensure continuity of care.
- Responds to medical emergencies within the rehabilitation setting, implementing emergency care protocols as needed.
- Participates in discharge planning, including reassessment, education on home exercise programs, and referrals to ancillary services.
- Demonstrates expertise in cardiac anatomy, biomechanics, pathophysiology, and risk factor modification to tailor interventions for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation participants.
- Maintains accurate documentation of patient assessments, exercise prescriptions, progress notes, and education provided.
- Actively contributes to the development and delivery of outpatient education classes to maximize program utilization and patient outcomes.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
- Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, or related field required
- Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology, Training Exercise Science, or Allied Health field preferred or
- Other additional coursework related to Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation preferred
- 0-2 years of experience in cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation or a similar healthcare setting preferred
- 1-3 years of EKG and cardiac monitoring interpretation classes or experience preferred
- Comprehensive knowledge of exercise physiology, cardiac rehabilitation, and risk factor modification.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively educate and motivate patients and families.
- Proficiency in monitoring and interpreting telemetry, oxygen saturation, and other physiological responses to exercise.
- Ability to design and adjust exercise programs based on patient assessments, goals, and clinical progress.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for patients of all fitness levels and health conditions.
- Organizational and time management skills to handle multiple patients and responsibilities effectively.
- BCLS - Basic Life Support required
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred
- ACSM - Clinical Exercise Specialist certification obtained within 1 year of employment preferred